| What is MAS Youth? |
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Work among the youthConforming to the Society's mission and ensuring a bright future for Islam in America, MAS considers Islamic work among all segments of Muslim youth a top priority. Youth work proved and continues to prove to be one of the most challenging yet effective areas of Islamic work. MAS believes that Tarbiya is a core process to build the Muslim society and this process must take place in the youth age, a very critical period of life. Youth are the ones who are going to lead the Muslim community in the future and MAS believes that it is its duty to prepare them for that critical and important role. All objectives and means of the Tarbiya Department are used to develop and train Muslim youth. MAS methodology and programs have always attracted Muslim youth. And after a short transition period, MAS is once again a hub for youth who aspire to fulfill all their potential and who are not satisfied with occasional and/or nominal participation in Islamic (community) activities/functions: those who subscribe to the belief that reform (enjoying what is good and forbidding what is evil) is an essential part of Islam and is both mandatory and necessary, and requires collective and organized efforts. MAS Youth Department has established dozens of chapters led by well-trained youth workers.MAS-Youth...a long term visionMAS Youth is a department of MAS is giving roots, nurturing, and establishing an organized, efficient, movement oriented Islamic work among all segments of Muslim youth based on the comprehensive understanding of Islam. MAS-Youth...as a division of MASThis means that the youth work is merely a part of the overall organization. It is not a separate entity, nor will it take on any characteristics as such. People do not join MAS-Youth; they join MAS. MAS-Youth does not sponsor activities, MAS does. MAS-Youth...giving roots, nurturing, and establishingThis means that our work involves imparting tarbiya to the youth, through murabbis and not merely teaching youth Islamic knowledge. This tarbiya aims to establish organized and efficient, movement oriented, Islamic work and nothing less. Not only must we be organized, but we must be efficient as well, a characteristic that unfortunately we seem to have lost over time. And this work should be Islamic movement oriented, i.e. work that will help move us into the future, and break our stagnation and decline. MAS-Youth...Amongst all segments of Muslim youthThis means that we will not fall prey to nationalism or racism and work with only a segment of the Muslim population. This is critical to the survival of our da’wah in North America that our members are truly North American, and not simply people transplanted from other parts of the world, unable to fully convey the message to the masses. Based on the comprehensive understanding of IslamThis defines the balanced path that our Creator has chosen for us, as He (swt) reminds us in Surah Al Baqarah: “Thus have We made you a just and balanced nation, that you may be witnesses over mankind, and the Messenger be a witness over you” (2:143) Mission StatementTo develop, through knowledge and practice, committed Muslim young men and women capable of spreading and giving root to the comprehensive understanding of Islam, and to prepare them to be at the forefront in the development of their communities.
In our view, the tarbiya produces the personality of the “true Muslim
activist” described by the Messenger, peace be upon him, when he said, “People
are like a hundred camels, you can hardly find amongst them one rahila (one
capable of sustaining energy throughout a long and arduous journey).” We want to
produce al-Rawaahil. Our objective is that within 8-10 years all of the youth
work is transferred to a new generation of du’aa who are part of the fabric of
this society but are the embodiment of the understanding of MAS methodology. MAS Core Tarbiya Programs:
MAS Halaqa: a weekly meeting, or study circle, of a few brothers or sisters.
It follows a strict and thoroughly reviewed educational program and timetable,
and serves as a nurturing ground for educational, spiritual, and intellectual
development. The Halaqa mechanism helps joining hearts by developing true
brotherhood and sisterhood (acquaintance and solidarity), trust and mutual
understanding, loyalty and a sense of belonging, and commitment to the service
of Islam and the community. MAS-Youth CentersMAS has been spearheading the establishment of Youth Centers across the States. It is a place that the youth can call theirs and that is equipped with all needed facilities to host various youth activities. We believe that this project is critical if we are serious about raising a generation of committed and disciplined Muslims who will not only preserve their identity but also impact mainstream America. Goals of MAS-Youth:
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