Qatar Leadership Academy leads students on pilgrimage

Qatar Leadership Academy (QLA), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), recently arranged a life-enhancing, six-day pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for 23 of its students, aged between 11 and 15 years. 

The trip was planned primarily to bolster students’ Islamic awareness by giving them the opportunity to complete the Umrah, an important rite of passage for all Muslims.

During the first three days, the youths were accompanied by teachers to the city of Medina.  Together, they visited The Mosque of The Prophet (Al Masjid al- Nabawi), as well as The Quba Mosque (Masjid al-Quba), the first mosque built in the history of Islam.  They also visited the Martyrs’ Graveyard, dating from the Battle of Uhud, where many Muslims lie as the Prophet’s past soldiers and defenders.

The travelling party then journeyed to Makkah al Mukkaramah, visiting Mount Mercy in Arafat, Muzdalifa, Mina, the Cave of Hira and Mount Thor.

As part of QLA’s Department of Religious Counseling’s remit, the trip provided spiritual guidance to the students.  Activities and programs were designed to strengthen participants’ leadership skills, and were led by Sheikh Samir, a religious counselor for the school.

“The aim of this trip was to refine the students’ personal leadership, in terms of faith and the spiritual strength of their connections with Allah, and to respect the different symbols of Allah in all of their hearts,” said Sheikh Samir.  

QLA is a private boarding school for boys. The faculty has an emphasis on lessons taught outside of the classroom, in order to best prepare students for success after graduation. QLA also strives to promote ethical aspects and leadership skills through the  students’ school work. 

“While organizing this trip, we strived to focus on principles that would mold the students into upstanding, well-rounded individuals,” said Mr. Khaled Kasab, Public Relations Coordinator at Qatar Academy.

 “It was important to address the morals of discipline, honor and knowledge from a religious aspect, which undoubtedly allowed students to benefit from their pilgrimage to the absolute fullest,” continued Mr. Khaled.

Ahmed Saleh, a tenth grade pupil at the Academy, clearly found the pilgrimage to be a rewarding experience. He said, “As a participant and leader on the trip, the most important lesson that I benefited from was how to be patient, especially during the hardships of the journey and the routines of the religious rites. The grace of Allah certainly helped us throughout the trip.”