Here it is... Presenting ITQAN 21: Murshidin

Just after my downfall.. Facing an unpredictable & unexpected failure.. When my smile turns upside down.. becoming a frown..

My beloved.. Allah.. had turned it around.. making me smile again.. slowly healing my pain..

14th of July, it began.. 16th of July, it ended.. ITQAN it was named.. It's 21st..

The 1st day, the 1st one to arrive.. At the registration table.. sat a lady.. thought she was the organizer.. but she wasn't.. so she knew nothing.. nothing about the event.. I was surprised.. amazed.. & even felt uneasy for a while.. because there wasn't anyone except me..

So there i was.. waiting.. waiting.. & waiting. Then, came one guy. After a while, there were more.. & more people arriving.. Non stop till the night..

Everyone were restless.. Clueless.. Unsure of what’s next in line for them.. But, their uncertainty didn't seems to last long.. Because..

Here comes the dynamic duo.. Pak Utih & Ustaz Hassan.. Lively.. Experienced.. & they're good!

Began with a very warm welcome.. They start the ball rolling.. Introducing themselves.. Introducing ourselves.. Introducing the 'star' rewarding system.. Introducing the way we gonna clap (banging the table) & the important thing.. Introducing ITQAN..

I- Integrity
T- Teamwork
Q- Quwwah
A- Ambassador
N- New Age

But before they began with the I-T-Q-A-N, they broke us up into 5 groups.. Mine was called Al Fityan Assuja' (The Courages Youth). Then, they wanted more. They wanted an amir (leader) for everyone. But we only know each other by name.. Nothing more.. When Ustaz Hassan asked for the leader, Isa stood up. As for the guys, we don't really mind that he was going to be the amir. But, some of the girls were uncertain when they were questioned on why he was the amir. Thus, feeling unsatisfied, he told us to elect a new leader but we must ensure that everyone will be involved in the decision making & agreed as one voice. My bro, Saiful, wanted me.. I was unsure because i wanna chill in this camp. So, he told everyone about it.. making others agree.

Ustaz Hassan, then, stepped into the room & asked for the amir. I stepped up to him. With confidence, i told him, i was the amir. He was uncertain, looking unsure. But, i took his hand & whisper to him, 'I am the amir' & 'Hidup mesti mahu konfiden'.. Killing away his uncertainty. Further more he was made aware that everyone agreed. There i was as an amir & my 1st job was to give a speech. Next, taking care of others.. their discipline.. their welfare.. & their movements. There came the ground rules.. not set but me.. but by all of them..

When they began to introduce one by one, from the I to the N.. My inner voice suddenly said, 'Hey, isn't this the same things that I’ve organized before..' I thought it will be another cliché.. But I was wrong..

Morning.. 2nd day.. We finished the I-Integrity module.. Going into the T-Teamwork module. The initial wish of becoming a full pledge participant didn't come true. As the amir, I was liked an organizer in a participant's suit. But, that wasn't an issue. The issue was to strengthen the bonds between us so as to make the camp a happy, hip & happening camp. It became more & more fun when some little cute kids came visiting our camp. One of them was my youngest cousin. Awwww... It was so touching when he called out my name out loud.. Just to find me..

Just as the camp was going fine, something not-so-nice happened.. Making me furious..

It was after one of the breaks. I found out some of the participants went out of the mosque.. Actually i don't really mind.. Because they're big enough to take care of themselves.. What really trigger the switch was.. They went out without my or any other senior permission.. What's gonna happen if a mishap occur?.. Where's the respect that we had agreed upon?.. Those were the questions I’ve asked them.. But, thank God, there were no finger-pointing & it all ends there.

The 2nd day was actually exhausting.. Physically & mentally.. There were team building games & there were mind enriching modules as we covered both T-Teamwork & Q-Quwwah modules. Ending the day, with me giving a short tazkirah. Hopefully, it's beneficial. Insya Allah.

3rd Day.. The last day.. The day where there exist 2 different feelings.. One opposite the other.. It was Happy.. It was Sad.. Happy that we were finally going home.. Sad that we were going to part from each other.. But before it all ends there 2 highlights for the day.. Making my memories even more colorful!

1stly there was the skit. With SALAM MESRA as our theme, my group, Al Fityan Assuja', acted out a comedy.. Not just heart tickling & enjoyable.. But it was meaningful.. Conveying the message of 'Ambassadorship'.

The Scene:
A game show with 2 participant. 1 bad guy. 1 good guy. 3 mosque visitors. This 2 guys have to show the audiences on how they welcome & treat those mosque visitors. But, the funny thing was our dialogs & actions were spontaneous.. Making funny punch lines.. & laugh-able movements..

The skit was a funny memory. But there was 1 thing.. That touched my hard lil' heart & soul..

It was time.. When all of us were asked to draw.. Visualize our visions.. Short term.. Long term.. Present them in pictorial form.. Visions for 4 aspects.. Self.. Family.. School & Da'wah..

Then, without expecting it, they called upon Sis Sabrina, to come out & explain her visions to others.. All of us can see that she was caught surprise.. After explaining, Ustaz Hassan, lead us to du'a for her & her visions..

Later, surprisingly, caught unaware.. They called upon me.. To come up front.. Explaining my visions.. To be a better servant & caliph to Allah.. To have a happy family now.. To have my own happy family with a solehah wife.. Then, came the touching part.. The Du'a session.. Alhamdulillah, i felt that everyone were commited in the prayer session.. Praying for me.. It was so meaningful.. Till it left the deepest mark in my soul.. Making me cry with dry tears in silence..
Thanks everyone..

Alhamdulillah.. When my smile turns udside down.. Allah turns it around!

'But lo! with hardship goeth ease, with hardship goeth ease.' Ash Sharh Verse 5-6

-The End-

You Are Never Alone
Munsyid : Zain Bhika

Sometimes, when the world's not on your side
You don't know where to run to
You don't know where to hide.

You gaze, at the stars in the sky
At the mountains so high
Through the tears in your eyes.

Looking for a reason,
to replace what is gone.
Just remember, remember
That you are never alone.

You are never alone (you are never alone)
Just reach into your heart
And Allah is always there.
You are never alone (you are never alone)
Through sorrow and through grief
Through happiness and peace
You are never alone.

So now as you long for your past
Prepare for your future
But knowing nothings going to last
You see this life is but a road
A straight and narrow path
To our final abode

So travel well O Muslim
And Paradise will be your home
And always remember
That you are never alone.

You are never alone (you are never alone)
Just reach into your heart
And Allah is always there.
You are never alone (Allah is there)
Through sorrow and through grief
Through happiness and peace
You are never alone.

You are never alone (you are never never alone)
Just reach into your heart
And Allah is always there.
You are never alone (you are never alone)
Through sorrow and through grief
Through happiness and peace
You are never alone.