In my final post about Alkhaadem Youth Camp 2023, I’d like to give recognition and du’aa for the heroes: the awesome volunteers that made AKYC23 a success.
Volunteering for AKYC is a huge commitment. One whole week, they fully immerse in the camp… Away from their family, taking leave off their work, on an intensive, physically demanding activity that would deprive us from our sleep and time from our families. Without being paid. When they could have gone for a well-earned year end vacation and just chill out.
Yet somehow - SOMEHOW - more than 50 volunteers stepped up for it: From the speakers, coaches, Game Masters, Media, to the important-though-unseen FLOW team (Food, logistics and welfare), the organizing miraculously managed to muster up this sizable team towards this cause. And a good chunk of them - at least ten - flew in all the way from overseas (Maldives, Australia, Fiji, India, Papa New Guinea) just to volunteer.
Let that number sink in - fifty people. That’s bigger than an entire bus load; the entirety of a medium-sized private company and an entire department in a Fortune 500 corporation.
One would think that if they don’t get paid, they’ll probably give it minimal effort. But you’d be wrong. I’m constantly amazed - and inspired by - these amazing team, and how everyone shows up and gives it 110% as team players & displaying amazing ownership (sometimes, even more than paid employees at work 🥲).
How on Earth is this possible? WHY are they doing this?
This is - insha Allah - the power of Barakah (blessings from Allah):
1. Sincerity & High Aspirations - Ask anyone and they will tell you, they do it “for the sake of Allah”. For their investment hereafter. To be part of an event that can potentially make a difference in the lives of our youth & inspiring our future leaders among them: to inspire them, instill self-confidence in them as they grow outside of their comfort zones, and hone their leadership abilities, and motivate them to achieve their full potential.
2. The Barakah of Collaborating as a jamaah - Each of us are created different: we all have our own set of unique skills, talents, and abilities that we can contribute for each other. And the beauty of it is, in Islam, everyone who collaborates and plays their respective roles towards the same greater goal, is entitled to the SAME rewards as the guys at the front lines.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُدْخِلُ بِالسَّهْمِ الْوَاحِدِ الثَّلاَثَةَ الْجَنَّةَ صَانِعَهُ يَحْتَسِبُ فِي صَنْعَتِهِ الْخَيْرَ وَالرَّامِيَ بِهِ وَالْمُمِدَّ بِهِ
“Allah will cause three people to enter Paradise, by virtue of one arrow: The one who makes the arrow, seeking reward by making it well; the one who shoots it; and the one who hands it to him.” (An-Nasa’ee)
Our human tendency is to only give credit to the guys at the front (i.e. the shooter of the arrow) - the guys who scored the goals, CEO of the company, speakers at a conference, etc.
But in this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ describes that when we all collaborate for the same cause for the sake of Allah, the guys behind the scenes deserve the SAME reward as those at the front lines.
To put things into perspective: the drivers receive virtually the same rewards as the speakers and the shaykh onstage, without overlapping or undermining either.
And it doesn’t stop there. This also includes our families who supported us, behind the scenes. The Prophet ﷺ said,
مَنْ جَهَّزَ غَازِيًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ غَزَا، وَمَنْ خَلَفَ غَازِيًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِخَيْرٍ فَقَدْ غَزَا
“He who prepares a fighter for struggle/war in the Path of Allah (on the battlefield), has also fought (i.e. receives that same reward).
And whomsoever takes care of a fighter’s family when he fights for the cause of Allah, then in fact has fought” (Al-Bukhari)
To all the supportive wifeys, husbands and parents who took care of the household, and covered our responsibilities while we were away: Yes, with the right intention, Allah rewards you, too.
Whatever positive impact that comes from these efforts, we get this together!
3. Strengthening one another as a jamaah - When we see others stepping up, we too, feel inspired to step up. When we see others who are more sleep deprived than us, more tired than us, yet are still able to keep going, we kinda feel embarrassed to slack off. We feel a sense of belonging as a team.
4. Leadership that inspires Loyalty - It’s a testament to the AKYC leadership, to successfully inspire the team by instilling trust, facilitating teamwork and camaraderie, consistently the talk by they themselves getting their hands dirty to help the team (yet skilfully, without micromanaging and undermining their team leaders) - and at the end of the day, volunteers WILLINGLY want to come back for more.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best of your rulers are those whom you love and who love you, who pray for Allah’s blessings upon you and you pray for His blessings for them.” (Muslim)
During the camp Postmortem, the Camp Commander remarked, than in all his years participating in AKYC since 2009, this team was - by far - the best team ever. Alhamdulillah, I am honoured to have the chance to collaborate with this Dream Team - and enriching my 2023 experience to end on a high. JazakumUllahu khayran!
To the team: Keep up the great work. Remember, if Allah rewards you, this one week was NOT a “sacrifice”. It’s an INVESTMENT - for your akhirah.
May Allah reward you and grant barakah to all your efforts, and inspiring others to also play their part to volunteer and contribute to the ummah.
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