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Report on Challenges in Todays Society |
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On Saturday 23rd February the Abbasi Youth Committee of Birmingham organised an event with Haji Hussein Walji of Minnesota. Haji Hussein was reciting lectures in the English hall during the Ashre Zainabiya period and his topic was based around character building in today’s society. In order to build on his topic the following questions were posed:
- What do you think makes a good parent-child relationship?
- How do you think Muslims are stereotyped in today’s society? What should we do about it?
- What do you think of the traditional matchmaking systems and how can they be better suited to today’s society?
- What is the role of a community in today’s society?
The session was made more interactive by putting the participants into small groups and giving them 35 minutes to discuss one of the above questions. Their findings were then presented to the rest of the audience and an open discussion on that topic followed.
Haji Hussein hovered around the discussion circles and gave his input both during the circles and during the presentations.
The results and discussions at the event have been typed up and have been attached to this report.
The Abbasi Youth Committee objectives that were fulfilled in this event are as follows:
- To bring better community cohesion elders and parents were specifically invited.
- To allow fruitful open discussion the participants were put into groups and given a pertinent question relating to society today to talk about.
- To develop confidence in public speaking some of the participants from each group were asked to present their findings to the rest of the audience.
- To encourage open debate and discussion the audience was allowed to give their thoughts on the findings of the presenting groups. An atmosphere of openness was created so as to allow everyone to talk.
Question 1: What do you think makes a good Parent – Child relationship?
Example:
The child is offered a cigarette by his friend. The child must have the trust and be able to approach his/her parent and have an open conversation. Then should trust their parent’s judgement and experience.
- Trust
- Freedom
- Respect
- Communication
- Breaking barriers – Spending time with family
- Making yourself available
Question 2: How do you think Muslims are stereotypes in today’s society? What should we do about it?
Terrorists – Explain through media (internet, newspaper, word of mouth) about TRUE ISLAM!
Oppression (Sisters) – Educate people about sister’s rights.
Alienated –
- Don’t pressure children! Educate/encourage in ways of sharia.
- Educate boys about what HIJAB is! What is means to wear hijab for our sisters!
Isolation –
- We should encourage other faiths to come visit our community.
- Juloos – use media to let everyone know about the event. Have spokesmen to broadcast about the Ahle bait (A.S).
Question 3: What do you think of the traditional matchmaking systems and how can they be better suited to today’s society?
- Need to know someone before you get married- learn a lot from friendship
- Families should know each other
- We should be introduced to people and have freedom to negotiate
- No forcing
- Long term friendship with opposite sex with possible view that marriage can be a slippery slope.
- Every individual can choose their own way to meet the right person
- Traditional marriages in our experience survive longer per-se
- People don’t value relationship- for some its a burden/ less tolerable.
- Boys need to be educated about being good husbands/fathers
- A bit of difference -> good between partners
- Parents should empower children to allow them to figure out their own preffered way of meeting
- Mix, traditional and new systems-no pressure in 2nd meeting, but 1st is necessary
- How did you know he/she is the right one-> you just know + leap of faith
- No right or wrong: individualistic; as long within sharia
- As a community we be more open minded and not assume/not judge.
Our definition of ‘traditional’ is:
when 2 people are introduced through family/family friends
Things have been to suit us because:-
(+ve):
- Seminars
- khoja match
- You don’t have to say yes to person you meet
- There is more communication/understanding between ‘some’ parents + children
(-ve):
- Attitude needs to be changed towards divorced people (education)
- Confidentiality issues
- Make youth uncomfortable about the whole process(make it less formal)
- Lack of emphasis on education on marriage(boys)
- Pre marriage counselling
- Need more positive attitude towards meeting via new methods e.g.: internet
Question 4: What is the role of a community in today’s society?
What is a community?
- A place where members can gather for an event
- A religious centre
- A place where a youths can gather for recreational purposes
- A multicultural centre
- A place where faith is practised and humanity is upheld
- A centre
- A place of refuge
- A Family
- A socialising centre
- A centre that caters for all types of people
- Should promote Islam in good light
- Should be inviting
What is a society?
- A nuclear family
- A global village
- Materialistic
- Laissez Faire (Let it Be)
- Self interested
- No Ideals
- Diverse
- Open
- Democratic
After having brainstormed about what a community is and what a society is, you can now define the role of a community.
A Community should promote:
- All aspects of Human Development and Welfare such as,
- Spiritual
- Intellectual
- Physical
- Professional
The community should be accessible to all kinds of people.
- This will then lead to a good centre and good facilities.
To view or download the report click here
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