Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Research Association Annual Conference

Published on Feb 16 2010 

Annual Conference

Saturday 6th February 2010
Noor Hall, Baitul Futuh

 

  

Conference Report

 

 

By the grace of Allah the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Research Association held its first Annual Conference at Noor Hall Baitul Futuh on Saturday 6th February 2010. A total of 52 Khuddam and Ansar attended the event. 
 
 
 
The opening session started at 11:30am and was chaired by Mansoor Ahmad Sahib, Mohtamim Amoor-e-Tuluba.  Following the recitation of the Holy Qur’an (Ale-Imran 3:192) by Foaad Ahmad Tahir, the Khuddam stood up for the Khuddam Pledge. Tauseef Khan, Chairman Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Research Association welcomed all the Khuddam to the conference. He stressed on the importance of acquiring knowledge and its relationship with research. Afterwards addressing the Khuddam Mohtamim Amoor-e-Tuluba stressed on the important work Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Research Association was doing and how it forms the start of the renaissance of excellence in muslim science. He finished his address by giving a thought provoking excerpt from a speech by Dr Abdus Salam. 
 
The second session consisted of four presentations by eminent scholars. Dr Nadeem Malik Sahib from St Mary University gave a lecture entitled ‘Research: What, Why and How?’ He gave an overview of research as an excellent career option and explained the intricacies of this career particularly stressing on the importance of getting the highest degree possible. Dr Asim Mumtaz from Enecsys, Cambridge presented on ‘Research to Entrepreneurship’ and explained the importance of acquiring a PhD, which in turn can open doors to becoming an entrepreneur. He gave examples from history of researchers who turned their research into successful businesses including his own efforts. Ahmad Mannan, a PhD student from University of Surrey, gave an overview of ‘Systems Biology’ as a multidisciplinary field and highlighted the elegant use of mathematics in biological systems. Finally Naeem Ahmad Sahib gave a short lecture on ‘Which University?’ and elaborated that all Universities are not of the same quality - if an Ahmadi can get into one of the red brick Universities (or in the golden triangle Universities) he should and not just be satisfied by going to the nearest University. An extended version of this lecture was handed out to the Khuddam in printed format. 
 
After Zuhr Salaat, the poster session was held in which 16 Khuddam researchers and students presented 17 posters. Lunch was serve concurrently. For about 1.5 hours Khuddam and Ansar discussed the many research posters and exchanged valuable research ideas. This session was most productive for researchers who presented the posters as it enabled other researchers and some senior Ansar scholars to give valuable comments. Two senior Ansar (Dr Nadeem Afzal Sahib and Dr Nadeem Malik Sahib), acting as judges to identify the best posters, commented that the quality of Khuddam research posters was very high. 
 
After the poster session a discussion forum in Question Time format on topic of ‘Religion and Science’ was held. Eminent scholars from the Jama’at were among the panel: 1) Maulana Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan Sahib (Murabbi Silsila), 2), Akram Ahmedi Sahib (Chairman IAAAE Europe), 3) Dr Nadeem Malik Sahib (Queen Mary University), and 4) Dr Muhammad Iqbal Sahib (Novartis).  The questions ranged from how to us the Holy Qur’an in one’s own research to the issue of abortion. All Khuddam took active interest and the feedback was very positive. The event lasted for about an hour. Many Khuddam suggested that a similar discussion forum should be held later and given a longer time slot.  
 
The final session started at 4:15pm and was graced by Sadr Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK. After recitation of the Holy Qur’an and pledge, Tauseef Khan presented the conference report. In the report he gave an summary of the day’s events and also thanked the conference committee team for their hard work and prayers. 
 
Awards were given by Sadr Sahib to the best poster presentations in each category. In the bachelor’s category, Qasid Safir won the best poster award. In Masters category, Foaad Ahmed Tahir and in PhD category, Rashid Waraich Sahib won the best poster award. Mr Rashid Waraich Sahib is the Naib Sadr Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Switzerland and a PhD student and had come specifically from Zurich to attend the conference. 
 
In his address to Khuddam Sadr Majlis highlighted that science and its discoveries are not human theories but are of the many manifestations of God’s Will. He stressed that this Will of God is expounded by the Holy Qur’an and previously Muslims following these verities had made tremendous discoveries in all sciences. Sadr Sahib maintained that the quest for truth and scientific knowledge is fostered by this Association and is the reason for its formation. Explaining the future of human evolution as explained by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ra) from the Holy Qur’an, Sadr Sahib stressed that it is studies like these that form the starting point of greater understanding; it is studies like these that constitute higher learning, the dissemination of which should be pioneered by this Research Association. Near the end of his address, Sadr Sahib prayed that Allah blesses the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK Research Association for its efforts so far, exhorting that these are not yet achievements that warrant respite. He said that this is a time to march forward, to reinstate that Golden Age of Islam, to once again establish a dominance of Muslim intellectual contributions to society.
 
After leading the silent prayer, Sadr Sahib visited the poster area and listened to Khuddam researchers present their work. In the end a photo shoot was arranged with Sadr Sahib and the event came to a conclusion at 5pm. 
 
Report by Tauseef Ahmad Khan
 
I would like to thank MTA UK for (video) recording the whole event and Ishaat department of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK for taking photos. I would also like to thank the immense effort and hard work of the conference committee: Naveed Malik, Muddassar Rashid, Usama Riaz, Ahmad Mannan, Anas Rana, Rizwan Safir, Foaad Ahmad Tahir, Sabih Nasir, Tayyib Hayat and Jamshed Ahmad. 
 

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