Spiritual and Moral Training
One of the principal objectives of the organization is the moral and spiritual training of Ahmadi Muslim men and boys. Through a mixture of religious and secular activities, Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organization is dedicated to ensuring its members develop and excel in qualities such as piety, honesty and fair dealing. Its primary aim of all moral training is to ensure that these young men can be good citizens and better contribute to the communities in which they live.
Service to Humanity
Community service projects and activities is the hallmark of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organization . For years, Muslim youth and young men have organized blood drives to save lives of those in medical need, food drives to feed the hungry, clothing drives to provide warmth and comfort to those in need, adopt-a-highway cleanups to keep our environment clean and adopt-a-family services to provide support to at-risk families around the United States.
MKA has a longstanding reputation of working with American charities such as WhyHunger, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Club, Humanity First & MEND. These works range from assisting charities with fundraising to organizing events that support their causes. In recognition of their tireless hard work, members of MKA have received Presidential Service Awards as well as proclamations from various other government offices.
MKA is involved in many more service oriented projects, which include but are not limited to the following:
Walk for Humanity
MKA’s largest initiative is an annual drive consisting of a 5-mile walk. Launched in 2012, it has raised more than $150,000 to help fight hunger in America. The event is organized and run completely by unpaid youth volunteers.
Muslims for Life
Launched in 2011, this campaign aims to collect more than 10,000 bags of blood annually in honor of the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001. In general it underscores the sacredness and sanctity of life that all people value both Muslims and non Muslims.
Muslim Youth Against Hunger
MKA’s latest initiative, which aims to fight hunger in America by helping to feed one million Americans who are in need.
Interfaith Dialogue
In its local communities, MKA is well known for promoting interfaith dialogue by working with various faith groups and public sector organizations to promote peace, respect and harmony. The organization’s efforts include peace conferences, interfaith Q&A sessions, as well as youth support groups. MKA works with the greater Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to open up its mosques and community centers to the general public. It also hosts regular grassroots activities to promote mutual respect by working on social projects to help tackle problems facing today’s youth, such as drugs, alcohol and other social issues. It welcomes the opportunity to work with other youth organizations in order to bridge divides between people of various backgrounds and faith traditions.
Islamic Awareness
MKA actively engages local communities in presenting the peaceful message of Islam by removing common misconceptions and misunderstandings. It firmly believes that tolerance, engagement, interaction and scholarly debates are a vital part in understanding the true teachings of Islam. Thousands of American Muslim youth of MKA have gone out into the streets to speak with their fellow Americans about Islam and its true teachings of peace. Its members also setup book stalls and other booths around the country to provide everyone an opportunity to have their questions about Islam answered.
MKA participates in a number of programs with the aim of providing Islamic training via courses at schools, colleges, universities and organizations such as the US Army and local Police. The organization extends invitations to visit local mosques, churches, synagogues and other facilities for public lectures and Q&A sessions to help further the community’s understanding of Islam.
Health and Fitness
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organization cares not only for the spiritual and moral well being of its members, but their physical well being as well. Sporting events such as soccer, cricket and basketball tournaments are held at the local, regional and national levels on a regular basis.
MKA holds its annual national retreat in different cities each year in an effort to help train its membership in the skills needed to organize, serve, and lead the community. Around 1,000 young men and boys from across the country come to this retreat to compete in sporting tournaments as well as academic competitions. Apart from the physical competitiveness of these events, members have the opportunity to meet, network and, most importantly, develop the bonds of brotherhood with fellow members from across America.
MKA also hosts an annual sports tournament known as the Masroor International Sports Tournament (MIST). MIST brings young Muslim men from across the United States and abroad together for a competitive and uplifting weekend of spiritual and physical excellence.