3rd, 4th and 5th Sha'ban 1434 AH / 13th-15th June 2013
On the auspicious occasions of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sha'ban celebrating the Wiladat anniversaries of Imam al-Husayn (as), Hadhrat Abbas (as) and Imam Zain al-Abidin (as), Wessex Jamaat held Majalis programmes and a special Qasida program with guest speakers/reciters, including a competition organised for the children, youth and the young adults of the community. Details of the programmes and the competition can found here.
There were four age groups:
The age-categories 5-7 and 8-11 years had to make a drawing in relation to the three personalities whose birth anniversaries we were celebrating. The drawing had to depict anything to do with the 3 personalities (Imam Husayn [as], Hadhrat Abbas [as] or Imam Sajjad [as]).
The 12-18 years old had to write a short essay of 450-550 words on 'How the life of Imam al-Husayn (as) has inspired me'; and the 19-30 years old, for which we did not have many entries, due to exams, had to write an essay of 1450-1550 words discussing three common characteristics among the 3 personalities as well as one differing characteristic in each of them.
Top 3 entries in each age-category were awarded prizes and a participation award was presented to all entries submitted. The presentations took place on the 4th of Sha'ban on the wiladat day of Hadhrat Abbas (as). The judging was quite difficult and onerous for all the ages and all entries were marked anonymously. Great learning could b
e seen derived as a result of the children's entries alhamdulillah.
The youngest 2 age groups were judged on Theme, Effort and Creativity.
Winners of the 5-7 years age-category included:
1st prize: Ahdeya Arifi
2nd prize: Ali Karim
3rd prize: Mohamed Nurmohamed
Please click here to see the winning entries
Winners of the 8-11 years age-category included:
1st prize: Fatema Alkadhimi
2nd prize: Mikail Ali Nurmohamed
3rd prize: Saleha Moledina
Please click here to see the winning entries
The judging for the 12-18 years was once again difficult. Where 1 entry exceeded the word count, the others took lead in the ideas of inspiration derived from Imam Husayn. Some presented the theme more than others. All the entries nonetheless were very close mashaAllah!
Winners of the 12-18 years age-category included:
1st prize: Aliya Nurmohamed (Click here for the essay)
2nd prize: Abbas Ali Moledina (Click here for the essay)
3rd prize: Ahmed Canani (Click here for the essay)
The participation essay for the 12-18 years age-category can be found here and the special participation essay for the young adults category can be found here.
Expressing his delight at the tremendous efforts put in by the participants, Alhaj Sibtain Bhai Versi - President of Wessex Jamaat - commented: 'The 3 day grand-wiladat celeberations with various majalis and an excellent qasida program were a great way to show our love and passion for the holy personalities of the Ahlul Bayt (as). The competition organized for the children and youth of the community was a brilliant initiative to engage the young members to reflect on the lives of these noble personalities and dedicate them as role models on the days of celebrating their wiladat. The children have done us and Wessex Jamaat proud AlhamdulILLAH.'
Shaykh Fazle Abbas Datoo - Resident Alim of Wessex Jamaat - shared the following thoughts: 'Through such initiatives of drawing, essay-writing competitions and Qasida recitations the different age groups in the community are catered. This adds to the jovial atmosphere on these auspicious occasions of wiladat as we celebrate our love for the Ahlul Bayt (as); making it a khushali for all.'
We pray Allah (swt) blesses the works, enthusiasm and efforts of these young children and youth of our community and enable them to soar to greater heights on the path of the AhlulBayt (as). Ameen.
