Trust, Clear Roles Key To Success Of Mosque Youth Committees – ABIM

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Jan (Bernama) -- The establishment of special youth committees at mosques is a strategic move to restore the mosque’s role as a centre for religious education, ummah (Muslims') development and the moral formation of the younger generation, said Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin.

He said the success of the initiative depends greatly on clear mandates, trust in young people and the courage to implement it meaningfully, so that it does not end up as a mere administrative structure that fails to instil a sense of ownership among youths.

In this regard, he said ABIM proposes that Mosque Youth Committees be given real roles in the planning and implementation of mosque programmes, rather than serving as symbolic appointments, and that mosques be shaped into youth-friendly spaces that educate and engage through wisdom, dialogue and continuous guidance.

“Additionally, youths should be empowered as drivers of dakwah (propagation) based on wisdom and community engagement, including through approaches such as the Mosque Tour Guide programme, which has proven effective in fostering understanding and harmony in a plural society,” he said in a statement here today.

He said ABIM welcomes the government’s commitment to strengthening the role of youths in mosques through the proposed establishment of special youth committees, describing it as a strategic step towards restoring mosques as centres of worship, knowledge and community unity.

He said the initiative, supported by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, is in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call to ensure that youth involvement in enlivening mosques is implemented in an impactful and inclusive manner nationwide.

Ahmad Fahmi said inclusivity must be a core principle in the implementation of the initiative, by ensuring access and participation for youths with disabilities so that no group is marginalised from religious and community life.

To ensure more structured and consistent implementation, he opined that the effort should be strengthened at the national level through a shared guiding framework that respects the jurisdiction of State Islamic Religious Councils, while also considering the organisation of a National Mosque Youth Conference as a platform for coordination and the sharing of best practices in amplifying youth voices.

“ABIM believes that youths are not distancing themselves from mosques; rather, they need space, roles and trust to rise as movers and leaders capable of revitalising mosques with fresh energy without compromising their spirit, decorum and sanctity as the heartbeat of ummah development,” he said.

Yesterday, Zulkifli said his ministry fully supports and will study the Prime Minister’s proposal on the establishment of special youth committees at mosques together with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (JAWI).

Last Saturday, the Prime Minister proposed that every mosque establish a special youth committee to provide opportunities for young people to plan and implement community and religious programmes.

Meanwhile, Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) will organise the National Young Asatizah Gathering (HAMKA) as a platform to align the thinking and understanding of young asatizah (religious teachers) with national policies and the direction of the administration of religious affairs.

Its chairman Datuk Dr Hasan Bahrom said the programme, inspired by Zulkifli, is scheduled to take place this February at the Federal Territory Mosque, with the participation of nearly 1,000 young teachers and preachers.

He said the organisation of HAMKA is in line with YADIM’s proposal that the establishment of mosque youth committees nationwide be supported by mosque youth leadership training modules, training of trainers (ToT) programmes, as well as continuous mentoring at the district and qariah levels.

“This approach is important to ensure that appointed youths are truly prepared to shoulder the responsibility, and not merely to fill organisational structures.

“HAMKA is also seen as a strategic platform to produce trainers, facilitators and young mosque leaders capable of guiding youths at the grassroots level, in line with the need to establish mosque youth committees nationwide,” he said in a statement.

He said YADIM is ready to serve as a strategic partner, trainer and provider of mosque youth leadership development by sharing expertise, training modules and field experience through YADIM’s Daie Muda alumni across the country.

“This is to ensure that the implementation of this initiative is carried out in a structured, prudent manner and delivers long-term impact,” he said.

-- BERNAMA