Punctuality in Ansar Programs
Three Reasons to Start and End Ansarullah Programs on Time
Faheem Younus Qureshi, Sadr Majlis
Last year, if you counted all the Ansar who attended the monthly meetings, the number was less than 700. Our goal for 2014 is to take that number up to 1,000 per month, Insha’allah. With our monthly meeting agenda becoming more interactive and relevant, attendance is increasing and we are gaining momentum.
But one thing could kill this momentum: not ending our meetings on time.
Ending the meeting on time is the responsibility of the highest ranking officer of the Majlis who is chairing the meeting. I believe it is deeply Islamic to remain punctual. Need data? Here are my top three favorite reasons:
The Holy Qur’an on Promises
As a Za‘im, when you say that the meeting will start at 11:00 A.M. and end at 12:30 P.M., many minds register this information as a “promise” you made with them. When the meeting drags on to 12:45 P.M., they feel betrayed. The Holy Qur’an states, “...fulfill the promise; for the promise shall be questioned about.” (The Holy Qur’an, 17 [Bani Isra’il]:35)
The Holy Prophet on Making Things Easier
The Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said, “Make things easy for the people and do not make them difficult for them. And make them calm and do not repulse them.” (Bukhari, 6125; Book 78; Hadith 152) America runs on the clock; we all know this. When our events drag on, it makes things difficult for our members—it repulses them. That is not good. We must be compassionate to the needs of our brothers.
The System of Jama‘at on Punctuality
The issue of punctuality has come up so many times, that the 2013 Majlis Shura of the USA Jama‘at inquired, “How can we make our Jama‘at programs more effective for all (i.e. punctual, engaging, well prepared in advance, more relevant to the audience,…)?” [Proposal 4]. Majlis Shura, in part, recommended: “Practice punctuality. i.e. start/finish Jama‘at programs on time.” [4-B]
Punctuality, based on the above, is not just a Western value; it is an Islamic value. We must reclaim it.
Continue the great work with the monthly meetings and we will share with you when, not if, we reach the 1,000 mark. Insha’allah!
