WALTHAM FOREST POST

THE

FEATURE:

ISLAM’S CUTTING-EDGE YOUNG SCIENTISTS

SCIENCE EDITION

THE HOLY QUR’AN

FRIDAY SERMON

YOUNG SCIENTISTS

LOCAL YOUTH ACTIVITES

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

FAHIM ANWER

SADR MKA UK

RIZWAN RAJA REGIONAL QAID MKA EAST

QASEEM AHMED HAYAT QAID MKA WF

ZUBAIR AHMED HAYAT CHIEF EDITOR

WALTHAM FOREST AMILA

TARIQ AKHTAR NAIB QAID

MANSOOR AHMAD NAIB QAID

SAJID RAJA MOTAMID

YAHYA KHALID NAZIM AMOOMI

ZUBAIR AHMED HAYAT NAZIM ISHA’AT

DANIEL SMART NAZIM KHIDMAT-E-KHALQ & TARBIYYAT NEW AHMADIS

IMRAN AWAN NAZIM MAAL

TAYYIB AHMED HAYAT NAZIM TABLIGH

KAMRAN SHAHID NAZIM TAJNEED

MUZAFFER HAYAT NAZIM TA’LEEM & TARBIYYAT

NASEER ANJUM NAZIM TEHRIK-E-JADID

QADEER AHMED NAZIM WAQAR-E-AMAL

FEBRUARY 2012 EDITION

CONTENTS

The views expressed in this newsletter by contributors may not represent the views held by Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK or the Ahmadiyya Muslim

Community.

THE HOLY QUR’AN

FRIDAY SERMON

YOUNG SCIENTISTS

LOCAL YOUTH ACTIVITES

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

“THE MEMBERS OF MY SECT SHALL SO EXCEL IN KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT

THAT THEY WILL CONFOUND EVERYONE WITH THE LIGHT OF THEIR TRUTH.”

- HOLY FOUNDER OF THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY

Welcome to the second edition of The Waltham Forest Post, a monthly magazine produced by the youth of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Waltham Forest. Our aim is to encourage young people towards furthering their moral development, righteousness, and having a peaceful, loving attitude. As members of the Ahmadiyya Community we carry the responsibility of propagating the message of goodness and invite everyone and anyone towards a more refined lifestyle. This edition of The Waltham Forest Post focuses on scientific research. This is one of the avenues to proving the existence of Almighty God. Those who have a firm footing in scientific research should use their knowledge and resources to benefit the world by uncovering even more of the endless Bounties and Graces bestowed upon us all by God Almighty. For anyone keen to learn more about a career in scientific research, please contact us for more information and assistance. May Allah bless you all. Wassalam,

Qaseem Ahmed Hayat walthamforest@khuddam.org.uk

MESSAGE FROM QAID MAJLIS

“ALL RELIGIONS, ARTS AND SCIENCES ARE BRANCHES OF THE SAME TREE”

- ALBERT EINSTEIN

“SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT IS THE COMMON HERITAGE OF ALL MANKIND”

- ABDUS SALAM

THE HOLY QUR’AN

We have made it a Qur’an in clear, eloquent language that you may understand. [Holy Quran, Ch. 43: V. 4]

In this verse of Surah Al-Zukhruf Allah says that the Holy Qur’an has been revealed in a clear language so it is our duty to recite, learn and think about the verses for our own benefit. The book of Allah, is full of knowledge and wisdom relating to everything in the world. It has the secrets of gaining nearness to Allah and keeping away from bad things. It also contains knowledge about the universe and its contents.

EXTRACT FROM THE HOLY QUR'AN

Hudhur said there are two types of people in this world. Those who walk the paths of Taqwa, and who do good works to attain God’s nearness, who try for every virtue, and do so to have God’s pleasure which would take them closer to God. The other kind of people are those who although do good but when doing good, they are not aware that God is watching

them. Among these are people who believe in the existence of God, believe that there is a Being Who sustains the heavens and the earth but while doing good they do not have God’s pleasure in view. This group also includes those who do not believe in the existence of God and deny His Being. Although God states that He is with the first kind of people, yet His Rabubiyyat (Divine quality to nurture and sustain) bestows on everyone, including those who do not abide by Taqwa. This bestowal is only of worldly significance, like sunlight, air etc. Both atheists and the righteous have similar measure of these beneficences. Likewise, fruits of worldly progress, inventions, advancement in science and achievements based on mental endeavours are similar for an atheist and a righteous person. Farmers, be they atheist or righteous, also receive corresponding benefits. If the Divine qualities of Rabubiyyat and Rahmaniyyat (Divine quality of being Gracious) were not in motion, life would be impossible even for a moment. Although God has established two paths, one of virtue and the other of evil, in many aspects He bestows in equal measure. [Extract from the summary of the Sermon delivered by Huzur on the 3rd of February 2012]

FRIDAY SERMON

Go to: alislam.org/friday-sermon for the full summary.

HEAD OF THE WORLDWIDE

AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY

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LOCAL ACTIVITES HERE’S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO

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The Waltham Forest Ijtema 2012 took place on the 29th of January 2012 at Baitul Ahad Mosque, Walthamstow. This year the Khuddam and Atfal Ijtema’at were held at the same location and on the same day with the Atfal run as a completely separate event. The day started at 9am with breakfast, setup and registration. The Ijtema formally began with the presence of Naib Sadr MKA UK, Farooq Mirza Sahib. An introduction to the activities of the Qiadat was presented by Qaid Sahib to all Khuddam and Atfal present. Shortly after, Naib Sadr Sahib gave a speech emphasising the need for obedience to our Qaid, Sadr and Jama’at.

The Khuddam and Atfal then split into separate halls and commenced the academic sessions including quiz competitions with good participation in tilawat, nazm and speech competitions. We then finished the morning session and broke for Zuhr and Asr prayers in congregation. A faith inspiring Talqeen-e-Amal was delivered by Local Sadr Sahib, Waltham Forest on the power of prayer. Lunch was then served which consisted of pizza, hot wings and chips.

All Khuddam then reconvened into a group at which point the Academic competitions were completed. The extempore speech was a particular highlight and all Khuddam participated demonstrating their knowledge, awareness and presentation skills. A discussion forum was then held on various issues including how to get a job, CV’s and student affairs which was chaired by Dr Daniel Smart Sahib.

The closing session was held at 4:30pm and included a prize distribution ceremony and closing remarks by Qaid Sahib. After a site clean up all Khuddam left and started preparing for next years Ijtema. The final attendance was 27 Khuddam and 12 Atfal.

WALTHAM FOREST IJTEMA 2012 REPORT

ABDUS SALAM AND "YOUNG SCIENTIST" HONOURED AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

Imperial College London held its 2011 postgraduate graduation and award ceremony for its students. In honour of the Nobel laureate and Professor of Theoretical Physics, Abdus Salam, a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the university used his golden maxim as the theme for the event:

"Scientific thought and its creation is the common and shared heritage of mankind".

Professor Salam obtained his Ph.D degree in Theoretical Physics, from Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University. His doctoral thesis contained comprehensive and fundamental work on Quantum Electrodynamics. By the time it was published in 1951, it had already gained him an international reputation and the Adams Prize. Salam went on to set up the Theoretical Physics Department at Imperial College London. I cannot and will not try to compress his illustrious career into one article.

I urge young, budding scientists to read his biography and works in depth, I am sure they will get inspiration by doing research into his work-ethic.

At the graduation in the Royal Albert Hall on the 4th of May 2011. A young scientist and Doctor, Tayyib Hayat of Waltham Forest, aged 26, was honoured not only for the successful completion his Ph.D degree but also for his services to humanity. Dr Hayat had worked on his Ph.D whilst simultaneously being heavily involved in humanitarian work. Being a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, he and the late Abdus Salam, were trained to know the significance of an individual’s role in society. With that knowledge comes great responsibility. Dr Hayat set up a free tuition centre for children in a deprived inner-city area of London. He teaches the national curriculum as well as trains the youngsters in much needed moral and social skills.

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He realised the need for children to receive free one-to-one tuition after he worked for a year in a private tuition centre. He saw that many parents could not afford expensive private tuition, so left to set up a free tuition centre for all with excellent standards and facilities. The prize, the Medal for Outstanding Achievement from Imperial College London was given to only two graduands from amongst the 2175 present. The recipients were Dr. Tayyib Hayat and Olympic athlete Dr. Oliver Mahony.

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BY ZUBAIR AHMED

Volunteerism and using one's expertise to serve humanity is key in the success of the coming generation. We hope, for the sake of children in London that Dr. Tayyib Hayat continues his humanitarian work for years to come and expands to other parts of the country. We also hope more professionals are inspired by his noble efforts to also make a meaningful, free contribution to the society.

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IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

Dr Daniel Smart read Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool (1998-2001) before moving to the University of Birmingham to complete an MSc in Toxicology (2001-02) and subsequently a PhD in Biochemical Toxicology (2002-06). He held a post-

doctoral research post at New York Medical College, USA (2006-07) and is currently employed by GlaxoSmithKline research and development, UK. Dr Smart recently joined the Ahmadiyya Community after studying it online.

Very few individuals at the inception of their academic life know immediately that they want to pursue a career in research, at least, that’s my personal view and the one shared by my peers. As a fresh-faced undergraduate I had a keen interest in learning about scientific concepts and theories but little clue on how these ideas are actually formed and developed. However, after attending ‘practical’ laboratory classes and talking to Faculty staff, I grasped a basic understanding of the principles of research. Yet it was only when I started to study subjects that provoked thoughts and spawned questions in my mind that I began to contemplate a career in it. I think this is the most common ‘way in’, often an over-enthusiastic Professor or a bizarre phenomenon sow the seed that germinates rapidly with one’s inquisitive nature and knowledge gained from subsequent lectures and reading. Typically, one’s first experience of research is in a final year research exercise conducted as part of a Bachelor’s degree; in science, it is usually laboratory-based although literature and computer studies are becoming more popular. A three month project with fixed, achievable aims give a real insight into what day-to-day research is all about - from the joys of molarity calculations, to reagent preparations, to experiment design and execution, to finally writing up the report as a scientific journal article. Immediately following the submission of your project for grading I’d suggest that you know whether research is for you, with people either loving it or never wanting to set foot in a laboratory ever again. Providing that you are a research lover and have attained excellent grades, the next logical step is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. PhD’s are solely research-based and, in order to graduate, one must furnish evidence of original research. They are an immense assignment as they take 3-4 years to complete with minimal financial support (up to £10k per annum) and are replete with ups and downs. One must remember that research is novel – perhaps you’re the only person in the world to be carrying out such investigations so, consequently, there is no set formula and things invariably go wrong.

The great Islamic teachings of perseverance, patience and steadfastness are characteristics absolutely necessary as a PhD student – but when experiments do work out and hypothesis are proved right, there’s no better feeling. It’s also thrilling to publish hard-earned data in scientific literature and present work at conferences worldwide. If one is unsure of committing to a PhD, a Masters degree is an ideal solution. They are usually one year in duration with both taught and research aspects – essentially, they focus on a specific topic and bridge the gap between undergraduate and PhD studies. Enrolling is expensive (greater than £10k) but funding for tuition fees and subsistence is increasingly available. A strong MSc degree can also increase the chances of succeeding and is sometimes a requisite in PhD applications in highly-competitive institutions. So what are the prospects following post-graduate education? If you want to remain in a university environment then post-doctoral research opportunities exist. These are temporary positions (1-5 years) and are designed for the in-depth study of specialised areas of science, and at this level you are expected to be the expert in your field. Many people considering post-doctoral work look to travel abroad – it’s a great chance to experience other countries, cultures and different ways of working. Post-doctoral experience is essential if you have aspirations of becoming a Reader or Professor. If staying at university is not the answer then the alternative is to move into industry, where research is aimed at solving practical problems. The scope of research is probably not as great as in academia but resources are abundant and salary (more than £30k) and benefits (holidays and share options) are appealing. A career in research has no boundaries. As technology and capabilities move forward, more questions than answers are uncovered; therefore researchers will always be in demand. There is something highly rewarding in postulating a new scientific theory backed by evidence derived from one’s own research – and it is this inspiration that keeps me faithful to my life as a researcher.

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BY DR DANIEL SMART

26th JUNE 2012

MKA UK MOUNT SNOWDON WINTER CLIMB 4th/5th FEBRUARY 2012

LOCAL TA’LEEM CLASS EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTER ISHA’A

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOU TO NOTE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

JALSA SALANA BANGLADESH 3rd/4th/5th FEBRUARY 2012

NATIONAL IJTEMA 2012

20th FEBRUARY 2012 MUSLEH MAUD DAY