COTABATO CITY—To strengthen the Bangsamoro Government’s call for Moral Governance among the youth, the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) convened young Muslim women in the 1st Young ‘Ālimāt Conference held on Friday, May 27, in Cotabato City.
Around 150 young ‘ālimat or Muslim women scholars from Maguindanao, Cotabato City and the Special Geographic Areas of North Cotabato attended the conference themed “Our Ulama: Our Guidance and Councils”.
BYC Commissioner Mohammad Faizal Alih said the program was aimed at strengthing the youth’s knowledge that contributes to achieving Moral Governance through the guidance of Muslim scholars.
“Ito ay upang pagtibayin pa ang ating kaalaman na siyang magsisilbing gabay sa pagkamit ng Moral Governance,” Commissioner Alih said.
“Maganda itong oportunidad sa atin na nasa early generation upang mapalakas ay magabayan ng sapat na kaalaman […]. Sabi ng isa sa mga ‘kaka’ natin ‘the physical strength of youth and [the] elders’ wisdom will make the Bangsamoro [a] progressive region’,” he added.
The conference also served as an avenue for the young ‘ālimāt to define their important roles in achieving peace and development in the Bangsamoro society.
BYC Chairperson Marjanie Macasalong in his message—which was delivered by BYC regional staff Settie Ivy Ampatuan—called out the youth “to continue working for peace and to influence other young people to do the same.”
“Find avenues that you can call your own to advocate for youth engagement and participation in the peace process,” Macasalong noted.
“It is through the minds and hearts of the youth that we will be able to build the foundations of a society that rejects conflict and violence,” he added.
Several senior ‘ulamā and ‘ālimāt from Hay-ato Ulama El-Muslimina Fil-Bilibbin, Inc. and Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ delivered inputs on various topics during the program.
Sheikh Dr. Nadheer Ebil discussed the comprehensive roadmap of Moral Governance, including the roles of Islamic scholars in realizing the call in the Bangsamoro region.
“Our primary role is to instill Islamic values in the Bangsamoro people. Islamization—this is the late [MILF] Chairman Sheikh Hashim Salamat advocated,” Sheikh Ebil said.
Bangsamoro Deputy Mufti Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani presented the qualities of ideal Muslim leaders that the youth should learn and emulate.
“We do not know what we become in the future, so we should prepare ourselves [to become leaders],” he told the youth participants.
Meanwhile, Ustadha Faudzia Musanip called for unity towards following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as an instrument to achieving lasting peace and development in the Bangsamoro society.
The program was also graced by the presence of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Member Engr. Aida Silongan and Women Affairs Head of Hay-ato Ulama El-Muslimina Fil-Bilibbin Inc. Ustadha Saguira Pendaliday — both dignitaries gave pieces of advice to the youth participants.
The Young ‘Ālimāt Conference was co-organized by the Union of Muslim Youth Organizations (UMYO), Hay-ato Ulama El-Muslimina Fil-Bilibbin Inc. and Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’. It was held following the 3rd Young ‘Ulamā Conference held on Tuesday, May 26. (BYC PR Unit)
