Students of Stanmore’s Hujjat Workshop and Shia Ithna’asheri Madressa (SIM) recently participated in a 100-word essay competition entitled ‘If I was President of The World Federation, I would...’ The winners were invited to present their essay to The World Federation Executive Councillors at the meeting held on 02 March 2008 in London:

Winner from Hujjat Saturday Workshop:  Zain Abbas Syed (Class 11, Boys):
If I were president of The World Federation, I would aim to continue to unite the Muslim ummah through successful coordination of the Shia Ithna-asheri Jamaats across the globe. Since many Jamaats are located in non-Muslim countries, I believe that it is important to use this as an opportunity to spread the message of Islam through effective communication with other sects of society. This could be done for example by organising a juloos or procession during Ashura where nauhas would be recited in English and leaflets would be distributed to members of the public in order to raise awareness and commemorate the sacrifice of Imam Hussain and his family. I would also aim to establish links with local Churches and Synagogues by inviting them to debates which would be organised at a centre where priests can attend to share their religion’s views. This would be successful because it would help for society to realise its similarities in religion thus spreading the message of Islam as a well-established and peaceful religion. Such ideas are one of many which will help to promote the peaceful message of Islam where its image has been tainted due to extremism in a western society.

Winner from Shia Ithna’asheri Madressa (SIM):  Ali Gokal:
I strongly advocate that the bonds and relations that The World Federation has with young Muslims should be of great precedence. If I was the President of the World Federation, I would push for an improvement in youth-administrative relations. In the challenging environment in which Muslims, not only in Britain, but around the world grow up, it is vital that young people are reassured that there is somewhere they can go for assistance. I would recommend more World Federation workers giving one to one counselling to youths, and promoting of more youth based activities.

The second aim I would pursue would be an improvement in inter-community relations. This is of particular importance for the Ithna-asheri community as a minority Shia sect. From my own experience, relations with my own community and neighbouring ones are not just distasteful, but rather hostile and cold. I believe that if we as Muslims are to successfully answer the questions put up to us by the world, we must be united within ourselves first.

If I was President of the World Federation, pushing for communal accord would be of utmost importance. From there, more adventurous goals can be set. 

For more information, email education@world-federation.org