This article was submitted by Matiniah Yahya and AbdulMalik Negedu of X.
A youth recognition celebration was held on Dec. 11, 2016 at the New Haven YMCA. This festive event marked the accomplishments of New Haven area youth who took part in the annual statewide Youth Islamic Knowledge Competition organized by the Bridgeport Islamic Cultural Center (BICC) and held at the University of Bridgeport.
The competition was under the guidance of BICC President, Ahmed Ebrahim, who was also the guest speaker for the youth recognition event co-sponsored by Basic Arabic, Qur’anic and Islamic Studies (BAQIS) and the Malik Human Services Institute, Inc. (MHSI), a a New Haven non-profit organization co-sponsored the event.
“In a very complex time for Muslim youth, they continue to grow and be productive with the support of their families, teachers, and community,” Chaplain Matiniah Yahya, vice-president of MHSI, said.
“The future of Muslims as peaceful and productive citizens in New Haven is a promising one,” AbdulMalik Negedu, a Muslim Chaplain who served as master of ceremonies at the event, said.
Ahmed Ebrahim, president of Bridgeport Islamic Community Center, addressed the youth by emphasizing four basic points which were:
1. Islam encourages Muslims to seek knowledge since the first word of the Holy Quran (Read) was revealed,
2. The Quran encourages Muslims to seek not only religious knowledge but all other fields of study. The Quran includes a lot of references to sciences like biology, astronomy, and others,
3. being deeply-rooted in religion helps Muslims to understand and practice being better human beings. Knowledge helps to focus on the substance of the religion, not just on the formalities and rituals,
4. Knowledge also helps with explaining Islam to Non-Muslims and responding to any misconceptions about the Islamic way of life. It makes Muslim youth to be proud of how much of a contribution an Islamic way of life can provide to the entire community.
Negedu said he found Ebrahim’s speech powerful and inspiring.
“Efforts such as BAQIS need to be commended, supported and celebrated.” he said. “Knowledge is the key for this and future generations of Muslims to combat the evils of terrorism and Islamophobia here in the United States and everywhere. These evils all stem from ignorance.”
MHSI was represented at the program by its vice president, Chaplain Matiniah Yahya, who also is a certified elementary school teacher. Yahya expressed her love for each and every one of the students and emphasized how important the youth and family are for the health and well-being of society.
“It is crucial that youth, especially Muslim youth, continuously hear and see positive reinforcements of who they are due to the negative social climate that they have to weather,” she said.
Most of the younger generation that were present at the event were part of the BAQIS program which is offered in New Haven. It is designed to teach young Muslim boys and girls the basics of their faith, and to plant the seeds tor being productive Muslims and conscientious citizens.
Ustaz (the word means “teacher” in Arabic) Turay established the BAQIS program in 2012 after he “received countless requests from the Muslim families” seeking true knowledge of their Islamic faith and how the children can grow up to be true models of productive and peaceful Muslims in a multi-cultural society. Turay, educated at the world-renowned Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, was approached by the families because they recognized the major role he has played in educating Muslim children in the New Haven area for over 10 years. Knowledge, he said, was enjoined by the Prophet Muhammad for worldly and spiritual success
During the celebration, BAQIS students were recognized by their names and given certificates for studying hard. After they were recognized, the other young ones in the audience were asked to join them. They all were met with verbal acknowledgment, encouragement, handshakes, hugs, compassion, along with a special lollipop. It was a full day of smiles and appreciations.
At sundown, the call to sunset (Mahgrib) prayer was made and people gathered to keep their obligatory duty to the creator. Once the prayer was over, the final event occurred. Then the communal table spread was ready. The fragrance and aromas of the food filled the air. Traditional food looked as good as it smelled.
At the close of the program, it was agreed upon that this was another BAQIS event that had a great turnout of parents, youth and community members. Parents left the event feeling proud of their children, appreciative toward their teacher and thankful for those who volunteered and co-sponsored the event
