Another year has gone by and once again we are blessed to be given another opportunity during this Holy Month to attain forgiveness and proximity to our Lord, the Lord of all creation.
Yet again, I received an email which was echoing some of my feelings about the Sports Festival being organized. Here is the email I received: -
Dear All
Ramadan Kareem…
It's already one year now since we last protested about Sports Bonanza in the last holy month and now again the holy month of Ramadan has approached at our doors with its blessings and mercy. There was an overwhelming response and we thank all those who supported the truth.
This time we are writing this letter again with the hope that some action will be taken if more support is consolidated.
We would also not like to use verses from Qur'an or hadith to prove our point because facts will be accepted by those who are guided by Allah.
Since a few years now the Union Sports has been organizing Sports Bonanza during this holy month. Despite numerous resentment and opposition from majority, the organizers have gone ahead with their programs as usual. The organizers has justified their stand on dubious grounds of taking care of youths during this month of holy Ramadan by engaging them in health related activities so that they don't hang around at night clubs, Mujras, Casinos, sea cliff, oyster bay etc. etc. and other places of ill repute. There is no other valid reason. We would like to ask every member if this is valid against other facts which are not being considered.
The dangers of our youths loitering to places of ill repute still remains in its place, and on the contrary facilitated by Sports Bonanza as parents are left under the impression that their children are attending the sports whilst they may be else where.
We have the same question and argument against the organizers;
1] Why is Union Sports Committee dormant during the 11 months and insist on having Sports Bonanza only during Ramadan ? Is this deliberate?
2] Why importance on prayers, supplications and invocations are not encouraged in this blessed month, instead youths are diverted towards sports ?
3] Why everything said about the attributes of the month of Ramadan is neglected and all emphasis is focused on sports ?
4] Why the fact that children come home late from sports and then unable to attend the 'Fajr' prayers is not taken seriously ?
5] Why the laments of parents who get dragged in accommodating their children in drop off and pick up is taken lightly ?
6] Why the complains from all the neighbours residing in the vicinity of the complex who get disturbed by all the noise that lasts past mid night is not taken into account nor addressed to rectify ?
7] Important intellectual programs for youths are missed by youths so they can attend the Sports Bonanza. For instance, today (eve of 4 th fast) on 15th Sep there was a question / answer program for youths by Sheikh Nakhswani at the New terrace of Mehfile Abbas, but majority of Boys did not attend this invaluable program because the appeal of sports was stronger then academic and Spiritual matters while some players had a fear that their names would have been chucked off from the player list if they would not attend. Same incidence happened last year.
8] For the past 3 days, many lady volunteers of I. U. L. S have missed to attend Dua / Majlis as they had to make necessary preparation for the sports at Al muntazir girls primary school… see attach Printed Ramadhan Programme prepared by IULS Committee. Why organize such worldly entertainment in this holy month of Ramadhan at the expense of Duas & Ibadah of Ramadhan
Whole day people are busy at work & I believe that at night when one goes to mosque after 'Iftar', one gains back their energy, that's the time we recite Duas Quran and much more. but here things are going opposite direction. Energy is wasted in sports.
Security
Another disturbing fact is the security of our ladies.
Has anyone ever given a thought what can happen to our ladies who are alone at the complex past midnight. 2 incidences have already happened at Changombe Jamaatkhana where ladies were mis-handled and roughened by burglars in looting their jewelries & ladies were intimidated that they will be stripped naked if they would not hand over their valuable belongings. Are we not also vulnerable ?? are we waiting for a disaster to happen ?? This incidence can be verified by any member of Ismailia attending Changombe Jamatkhana.
Drowsy Children
Children who remained occupied till late night in the sports related activities are unable to perform well next day at school.
We can fill up volumes if all the negative points will be written here and the cons will definitely out weigh the pros, but yet the Union Sports Committee & IULS Committee will manifest its stubbornness and care less of public opinion.
The president of the community seems to be powerless and members of the Executive Committee are impotent in exercising their authority to put an end to this controversial subject .
It is in this regards that we appeal to all responsible parents and members of this community to raise their objection and put an end to the Sports Bonanza in Ramadhan, once and for all, and reserve all the time of Ramadan for the sake of prayers and dua only and encourage all others not to get diverted or attend any other activity during this holy month. The responsibility lies with every one and unless there is a collective attempt, there will be no improvement in the community.
What is the point of building Mehfile Abbas to a 5 star standard and in grand scale renovations of our mosque and imambara when youths are not even encouraged to utilize their energy in matters relating to spiritual importance.
Mind well, if we fail to invest in our manpower, then all of our sky scrapers and real estate construction and development will not be able to save us from an ultimate doom of this community which will become inevitable.
Last year we face a lot of challenge from mischief mongers all of them demanding to know the authenticity of the author, that is all they were concerned about, well we still prefer to remain anonymous because we strongly believe that our name and identity is immaterial as we are doing what ever we are doing with a pure intention and for the welfare of this community of which we are an integral part of it and God is enough as a witness and enough as a helper and anything else is of less importance. So those who want to take this matter seriously should do it now and those who wish to stay out of it will do so anyway.
Last year there were good supporters like Mariambai Meghji, Fatmabai Rajwani, Mohdtaki, Dr. Hussein Datoo, Captain Kassam, Akil Hirjee, Hanif Abdulrasul, Mushtaq Damji etc etc and many other well wishers, and we thank them of their time.
We feel we have done enough to draw every ones attention, the rest lies with you.
One more suggestion; Why Not start Dua Bonanza or Dua Marathon in our newly Constructed facilities instead of Sports Bonanza.?
I request that whoever reads this email would please forward to other concerned mo'mins so that necessary corrections can be done and save our youths.
Lastly the concerned parents are requested to Protest by sending a letter to the Jamaat president (
ard@trhtz.com ),
iuls committee (
Masuma16@hotmail.com ), Union Sports Committee, the members of Dar es Salaaam Executive Committee & a copy to
Concernedparentsdsm@yahoo.com
Concerned Parents
Member – DSM Jamaat.
Please participate with your thoughts. If this is truly taking us away from the benefits..then we can, using the correct and humble channels, effect some change, inshallah