Dammam: 'An Anti-dowry Pldge and Campaign' by Jami’iyyatul Falah
Media Release
Dammam, Mar 23: Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And the way was revealed in a form of an Event organized by Dammam and Jubai unit of Jami’iyyatul Falah (JF) which was held on March 19, 2009 at Sabia Istirah in Dammam, the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The event carried the slogan of “Anti-Dowry Campaign” to bring the awareness in the community to revive the youth in particular and the whole nation in general. Every edge of the marquee was demonstrated with posters and banners which were describing the facts and figures of down-trodden families and the success story of Jam’iyyatul Falah since its inception in 1988.
An Anti-Dowry pledge and campaign to restore Islamic marriage values was held under the patronage of AMACO (Jubail, Saudi Arabia) in association with Jam’iyyatul Falah. Large crowd of spectators was in attendance at the Event, mostly youngster from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts and proved their deep concern and pledge against dowry to restore Islamic marriage values.
Keeping in mind the anti-social activities in the community and the increasing rate of unmarried girls in the community, the program was started with the recitation of Quran by Mohammad Mubeen and explained the meaning & value of marriage in Islam. Shabbir Ahmed, President of JF-Jubail Unit addressed the audience with his welcome note and valued their presence. Shahul Hameed, Advisor of JF Dammam Unit gave a brief introduction of Jam’iyyatul Falah and its activities.
A documentary CD titled “Parivarthane” was released on the occasion by Mohammad Asif (Amaco, Jubail), Mahmood Saad (President, JF Dammam), Shabir Ahmed (President, JF Jubail) and M. H. Hameed (Advisor, JF Dammam). Each copy of Parivarthane CD was distributed to the audience.
In the dark hall, the audience stayed quiet for more than one hour and viewed the documentary CD of “Parivarthane” which showed the pathetic lives of the community back in the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, and in addition the latest development status of JF’s endless and massive effort. Immediately after the show, Khasim Ahmed came on the dais for the review of the documentary film and uttered the milestones that were achieved after filming of “Munnade” and “Aakrandana”. He further continued saying many have become aware after viewing the documentary film and many came forward with a helping hand to uplift the rural community.
In the course of the presentation, Khasim Ahmed recapitulated the recently taken bold step by Mohammad Ashraf, who got engaged to a very poor family girl from Ujire. Mohammad Ashraf is the younger brother of Mohammad Asif (Amaco), a well known business tycoon of Jubail (Saudi Arabia).
Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Ashraf shared their personnel experience with the spectators. Asif stated that he happened to meet some of the effected 61 families of “Akrandana” and found those families in pitiable condition. After seeing the unfortunate families, he decided to take one of the girl from a poor family. In this present world, parents play the major role and most of the parents are running behind the well-off status in society. At this point, his parents were convinced and were ready to accept the girl.
In order to break the chain of anti-social activities, Asif further continued by saying that by giving some financial support and arranging the marriage of that girl will not solve the problems. Therefore, to stop such routine practice in our community some rich or middle class guy should come forward to marry such poor girls and then at some extent the problems will be solved. He urged the youngsters to set an example and come forward to unite and fight against the dowry system.
After making the obvious point by Asif & Ashraf, Ahmed Hussain, Advisor of JF Dammam Unit, came on the stage and asked the young unmarried audience to prove their wholeheartedness to fight against the dowry. A huge response came from the crowd of 600 and witnessed the 22 young bachelors aged around 25 years came forward voluntarily with a promise not to take dowry when they marry and JF Dammam & Jubail members have registered their names for this purpose. The emotional words from the young bachelors proved that they are ready to join hands to eradicate the system of dowry from the community.
On the occasion, Br. Ashraf invited all the attendee to grace with their presence for his marriage ceremony on 5 April, 2009 in Milagres Hall. He presented his marriage invitation card to all the units of Jam’iyyatul Falah.
On behalf of AMACO Jubail, Asif presented the memento to Khasim Ahmed recognizing him as a “Man of the Community”. The event was hosted by Mansour Ali Ahmed, Gen. Secretary of JF Dammam. A beautiful poem was narrated by Mohammad Mubeen describing some of the milestones achieved after “Munnade”, “Aakrandana” and “Parivathane”. The vote of thanks with an Islamic note was presented by Mohammad Ishaq.
The event was ended with the hope that “Parivarthane” will be adopted in the community by all individuals and different organizations.