About
Background
WE ARE MKA
Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (MKA), literally meaning ‘Association of Servants of the True Islam’ and also known as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), was founded in 1938 by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) and is the youth section of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
MKA UK is a unique, dynamic and vibrant organisation serving not only the needs of its members but British society as a whole. It has over 140 local branches from Glasgow to Cornwall, with a membership of over 10,000+. Members are aged between seven and forty and its headquarters are in London.
Having its own executive cabinet, with representation from all over the UK, MKA is led by the National Sadr (President).
history
Objectives
One of its principal objectives is the moral and spiritual training of youth through a mixture of religious and secular activities. It is dedicated to ensuring its members develop and excel in qualities such as piety, honesty and fair dealing so that they can better contribute to the country in which they live.
The activities of MKA are not limited to the Muslim community. It serves the needs of all members of society irrespective of colour, race, religion or creed and promotes interfaith dialogue and co-operation in order to promote peace and harmony.
Health and Fitness
Sports events such as football, cricket and badminton are held on a national, regional and local basis. At national events, which are rotated annually with different regions given the responsibility of organising them, regions compete against each other for the crown in that particular sport. Apart from the physical competitiveness of these events, and regional or local rivalries, members get the opportunity to meet, network and, most importantly, develop bonds of brotherhood with other members from all around the UK.
Islam Awareness
MKA is actively engaged in presenting the peaceful message of Islam and removing common misconceptions and misunderstandings about the faith. It firmly believes that tolerance, engagement, interaction and debate are vital to understand the true teachings of Islam.
It is involved in a number of programmes ranging from providing Islamic training courses to schools, colleges, universities and organisations such as the Army and Police. Invitations are also extended to mosque open days, public lectures and question and answer sessions.
Interfaith Dialogue
MKA is well known for promoting interfaith dialogue and works with faith groups and public sector organisations to promote peace, tolerance and harmony in society. Activities include holding peace conferences where members of different religions exchange views on promoting mutual respect, working on social projects to tackle problems facing youth such as bullying and drugs, and organising visits and open days to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s mosques to promote social cohesion.
Service to Humanity
The MKA (MKA UK) takes its inspiration for its charitable initiatives from the example of the Founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He has been referred in the Holy Quran as ‘Mercy for all the Worlds’ and this is reflected in his teachings and practice. He was a source of peace and mercy for all and left behind teachings encouraging his followers to do the same.
He sought to protect the rights of the oppressed and subjugated, he elevated the rank of women in a society which despised them, he established the rights of animals and even trees.
Contrary to what some may believe about the founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) sought to help people regardless of their faith. He established a treaty within the city of Medina, where people of various faiths lived, and he laid the blueprint of interreligious tolerance by not differentiating between people based on their faith. His mercy extended to all and he taught kindness towards animals and said that even planting trees was a charity. Hence, Muslims find mercy was the very fabric of this holy person.
AMYA seeks to tread upon this noble path by helping those in need by actively partaking in charity challenges throughout the year. It seeks to promote integration as encouraged by the Holy Founder of Islam, who said that love for one’s country is part of faith. Each year thousands of its members, young and old alike, run, hike, cycle or walk to raise money for charities. Not only does this promote values of kindness and service to humanity amongst British Muslim youth, it serves to break barriers and brings our British society closer together at a time we seem to be moving further apart.