WAMY - Philippines

By Norhassan S. Curo (11-Apr-2010)

A one-day Educational Seminar-Workshop and Quiz Bowl for young male students was organized and successfully conducted last April 11, 2010 (Sunday) at the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao, Mindanao State University Marawi City.

In line with the World Assembly of Muslim Youth’s goal to preserve the identity of the young Muslims and help them overcome the problems they face in modern society, the Islamic seminar was conducted by the WAMY Philippines male scholars and participated by the invited 90 young male-representatives from various schools and organizations in Marawi City including Jamiatul Waqf Al-Islamie, Jamiatu Muslim Mindanao, Jamiatu Janubil Filibbin, Mindanao State University, Ibn Siena Integrated School, Mahadul Lughah, Mahad Angoyao, Lake Lanao College Foundation, Ittihadut Talabah, Insan Islamic Assembly and Quwwatul Okhuwa.

The event, conducted in a two-part (morning and afternoon) session, was purposely conducted as an avenue to clarify some issues and answer some questions commonly faced by the contemporary Muslim youth. During the morning session, the respected resource speaker Abo Hodaifah Mohammad Abdulqadir Alawi lectured about the “Proper Way of Performing Wudhu, Tayammum and Salah and the Islamic Rulings on Internet Surfing, Computer Games, Music, and T.V.”—basics of Islam and questions the young Muslims often have dilemmas with.  Dr. Abdullah Monib Hadji Ali on the other hand dwelt during the afternoon session of the program on the “Nullifiers of Faith in Islam”—another topic the Muslim Youth should be learned if not well versed about.

The program was formally opened at around 8:30 am with a Quran Reading by Farhan Basher, a representative from Jamiatul Janoubil Filibbin. Followed suit was the Welcome Remarks given by Muhammad Bani from WAMY Phils and the lecture proper given by Aleem Abo Hodaifah Alawi. To ensure more learning and retention on the topic, an interactive open forum was conducted after the lecturer’s talk. Such open forum was conducted by the participants’ raising questions and clarifications to the speaker and by the WAMY organizers to the participants with prizes given to them as reward for every question answered. Much participation from the latter was generated. Aleem Moctar Bato, the WAMY-Phil Chairman on Education was also present during the event. 
 
After the lecture and open forum, the activity organizers and participants offered their Salah Dohr altogether. A free lunch from WAMY was then enjoyed by them right after the prayer. 
 
At 1:00 pm, the lecture proper resumed with Dr. Abdullah’s talk on the “Nullifiers of Faith in Islam” which was followed by another round of lively open forum. At intervals, intermission numbers from Jamal Ombra from Jamiatul Janoubil Filibin and Abdulhamid Gunda from Insan graced the gathering.

Following the open forum, the participants were divided into 5-member groups representing the schools and organizations they are coming from for the Quiz Bowl on the topics lectured during the one-day program. The competition went tough as the participants gave their best in answering while aiming for the WAMY winner’s prize at stake. Not long, the Hizbollah group, students from Quwwatul Okhuwa Organization was hailed champion, finally bringing home the prize.

The program was formally concluded with a heartfelt prayer and handshaking of all participants and organizers—a symbol of a one day shared by the different, yet one united young Muslim brothers.