YOUTH KORERO

HELD SATURDAY ON THE 11TH FEBRUARY 2023

THE EVENT WAS ORGANISED AS A NEW INITIATIVE UNDER THE TALEEM DEPARTMENT AND BY THE GRACE OF ALLAH WAS ATTENDED BY 23 KHUDDAM AND 2 ATFAL AND 6 MEMBERS JOINING ONLINE.

THE SESSION WAS HOSTED BY MURRABI ASIF MUNIR SAHIB.

THE WORD KORERO IS THE MAORI WORD FOR DISCUSSION / CONVERSATION. HENCE KEEPING WITH THE NAME THE OBJECTIVE OF YOUTH KORERO WAS TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR AHMADI YOUTH TO COME TOGETHER AND HOLD CONVERSATIONS IN A SAFE, OPEN AND NON-JUDGEMENTAL SPACE. THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION THIS TIME WAS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PRESENTATION INCLUDE A MIX OF BOTH RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR APPROACHES TO DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES -

ON KEEPING GOOD COMPANY -

NARRATED ABU MUSA: ALLAH'S MESSENGER (ﷺ) SAID, "THE EXAMPLE OF A GOOD COMPANION (WHO SITS WITH YOU) IN COMPARISON WITH A BAD ONE, IS LIKE THAT OF THE MUSK SELLER AND THE BLACKSMITH'S BELLOWS (OR FURNACE); FROM THE FIRST YOU WOULD EITHER BUY MUSK OR ENJOY ITS GOOD SMELL WHILE THE BELLOWS WOULD EITHER BURN YOUR CLOTHES OR YOUR HOUSE, OR YOU GET A BAD NASTY SMELL THEREOF." (SAHIH AL-BUKHARI 2101)

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FIG 1: KNOWING YOUR SELF-WORTH. DEPRESSION AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAN CAUSE ONE TO SEE LIFE AND THEMSELVES NEGATIVELY. HENCE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE YOUR SELF ESTEEM AND TRY TO BE OPTIMISTIC AND CHEERFUL.

AND WE WILL SURELY TEST YOU WITH SOMETHING OF FEAR AND HUNGER AND A LOSS OF WEALTH AND LIVES AND FRUITS, BUT GIVE GOOD TIDINGS TO THE PATIENT. (SURAH AL-BAQARAH, 2:155)

ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY TESTS US IN THE WAYS CLEARLY STATED IN THE VERSE ABOVE AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BEAR EVERY HARDSHIP WITH UTMOST PATIENCE AND STEADFASTNESS SO THAT WE MAY BECOME RECIPIENTS OF ALLAH'S BLESSINGS

WHICH IS DEMONSTRATED VERY CLEARLY IN THE SUNNAH OF THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMUD (SAW)

ABDULLAH IBN AL-HARITH REPORTED: I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYONE SMILE MORE OFTEN THAN THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH, PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM

SOURCE: SUNAN AL-TIRMIDHĪ 364

FIG 2: IS SELF EXPLANATORY BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE AS IT REQUIRES ACTIVELY EXERCISING YOUR WILL-POWER TO FEED YOUR MIND WITH POSITIVE AND USEFUL CONTENT AS OPPOSED TO DRAMA, GOSSIP, NEGATIVITY WHICH IS EASY TO FALL INTO AND DESTRUCTIVE TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

HOW TO DEAL WITH SORROW AND SADNESS -