The UK’s biggest Muslim youth event is taking place at Old Park Farm in Sickles Lane, Kingsley, from September 9 to 11.

Thousands of young British Muslim men will gather to rally against all forms of extremism. A central feature of the gathering is the pledge of allegiance repeated after the worldwide Caliph and Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, which includes a promise to serve and protect Great Britain. This is further demonstrated with a flag hoisting of the Union Jack and the Community’s flag followed by a prayer from all present.

The residential event, organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, will bring together more than 5,000 young British Muslim men from England, Scotland and Wales to practise and demonstrate the true peaceful teachings of Islam and affirm their pride in being British and Muslim.

The participants make a pledge to sacrifice their life, wealth, honour and faith for the sake of their faith, country and nation, and this year the theme is reminding them to honour their pledge to serve Islam and their country - Great Britain and the British nation.

The Caliph, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said: “Recently terrorist organisations have started to regularly commit the most barbaric atrocities in Western countries by taking the lives of innocent people.

“The terrorists have no knowledge of Islam because otherwise they would realise that the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) forbade the murder of innocent people under any circumstances and even during a state of war. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited the targeting of innocent children, women and elderly people, and he forbade the targeting of religious leaders and places of worship such as priests and churches.”

Abdul Quddous Arif, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, said: “Some people have misused the name of our religion and completely distorted the peaceful teachings of the Holy Qur’an and example of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him.

‘’We would like to let all fellow Brits know that we stand with you against extremism and that our Islam, the true Islam, is a religion of compassion and kindness to all, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender or beliefs. We firmly believe in the power of integration and find there to be no conflict between being a Muslim and British at the same time.”

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be the first year since 2019 that the annual Ijtema is being held on a big scale. To make the event safer, all participants are requested to take a lateral flow test at home before attending, and lateral flow tests will also be available on site for volunteers involved in organising and running the event.