Camp Fatimiyyah s.a and Camp Baqiriyyah a.s 2016 reports
Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Shia (Europe) organized two camps this year during the Easter break: Camp Fatimiyyah (s.a.) for Girls, which took place 29th-31st March 2016, and Camp Baqiriyyah (a.s.) for Boys, which took place 8th-10th April 2016. The venue for both camps was Condover Hall, a prestigious and elegant Elizabethan manor house near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Both camps were for boys and girls, respectively, aged 11 to 18 years.
Camp Fatimiyyah (s.a.) was attended by 87 girls, as well as a staff of 10 team leaders and teachers, including Sister Dr. Rebecca Masterton, and the supervisor and coordinator Sister Syeda Umme Farwa. There was great enthusiasm from the community, but unfortunately the registration had to be closed early because no more places could be accommodated.
Various physical and spiritual activities were organized, including workshops on prayers, wudhu, responsibilities towards parents and the purpose of our creation. Congregational prayers were held outdoors, as well as the recitations of Dua-e-Ahad and Ziyarat-e-Ashura. The focal point of the camp was when the girls celebrated the birth of Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.), and this involved an Islamic quiz. This ceremony provided the girls an atmosphere of learning and rejoicing, as well as connecting with one another and the team leaders in an informal setting.
Similarly, Camp Baqiriyyah (a.s.) had a great attendance of 60 boys, as well as 13 staff members, including 4 scholars. Various physical activities were organized as well as spiritual and educational workshops and lectures, covering many areas of Islamic teachings, from Islamic laws to the Seerah of the Infallibles (a.s.). Lectures were delivered by Maulana Ahmad Mukhtar Najafi, Maulana Syed Asrar Kazmi, and Maulana Muazzam Ali Qummi.
The Boys’ Camp peak was the celebration of the birth of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.), in which they learnt about his life and his legacy. Thereafter, they were also given a quiz to test their Islamic knowledge and what they had learnt during the Camp.
Each of the Camps were concluded by a presentation ceremony, honoured with the participation of Allama Zafar Abbas Malik, the President of Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Shia. Trophies were presented to winners of the quiz, and attendance certificates were given to all girls and boys.
The participants in both Camps and their families gave very positive feedback, and many desired the extension of the camp to a duration of 5 days. The Camps provided an opportunity to the participants to reconnect with their religion and with God, as well as to form new bonds and friendships amongst themselves. They provided an uplifting experience for the soul and left an enduring impact on all involved.