Project Majalis was set up to teach children all aspects of the Majalis process, from setting up the hall, to reciting noha and marthiyya to making the ‘alam and tabout. This helped to engage children in what work goes into the majalis process and familiarised them with different roles so that inshallah they are able to conduct similar roles in the future.
We focussed on Bibi Zainab (s.a) as the role model for Project Majalis as she set up the institution of Majalis, and thus one of the majalis’ the children conducted was dedicated to her.
To make the majalis process interesting for the children we devised certain roles that they could participate in, this included the following. The children had to chose what they would like to do when they had to RSVP to their Majalis invite:
– Setting up the hall
– Reciting majalis: x 3 children (5min or less per child)
– Reciting marsiya & matam: x 6 children
– MC: x 1 child
– Making & distributing Sabil
– Making & arranging niyaz/tabbaruk
– Welcoming Azadari’s & arranging shoes
– Cleaning up: x 5 children
– Car park volunteer: (with adult supervision)
– Audio/visual system
– Majalis Guide: (to show the children who have just walked in around the life size displays)
– Quran recitation: x1
– Dua recitation: x1
– Ziyarat recitation: x1
– Imam Hussain Anthem (all children)
We also recreated certain parts of Ashura day and Shaam-e-Ghareeba so that the visual stimulus will engage children in the stories of Karbala & Shaam, this included:
– Tent with burnt cloth on top (which the children helped to make)
– Spears on heads with blood (which the children made)
– Cut outs of the shaheeds, this included Hazarat Abbas (a.s), Imam Hussain (a.s) with Ali Asghar (a.s), Dome and minaret of Imam Hussain (a.s), Zuljina, helmet of Hazrat Qassim (a.s), Ali Akbar (a.s) bidding farewell to Imam Hussain (a.s) . This was printed on A1 paper and stuck on corrugated card.
– Mannequin with abaya and chains
– Taboot and cradle
We had three main activities on the day that all children participated in during Project Majalis!
– ‘Alam making
– Handkerchief: writing Ya Hussain on black handkerchiefs
-After the ziyarat all the children had to declare their loyalty for Imam Husayn through a poem (Anthem) they all recited together which was circulated to them a week before to practise.
Here are the words to the anthem:
Hussain you are the symbol of strength
Hussain you are the symbol of strength
And brave you will always be x2
Hussain your name is in my heart
And your life will live with me
All of your family received the pain
Your sister, your brother, your son and wife
Hussain your name is in my heart
And your life will live with me
Hussain you are the symbol of strength
And brave you will always be x2
Hussain your name is in my heart
And your life will live with me
My eyes will weep for your brother Abbas
He never lost one arm but he lost two
Hussain your name is in my heart
And your life will live with me
Hussain you are the symbol of strength
And brave you will always be x2
Hussain your name is in my heart
And your life will live with me
Comments:
– The Imam Hussain (a.s) anthem was a great finish to the Majalis, and was truly amazing to watch children pay their allegiance to the Master of Martyrs.
– We provided Project Majalis certificates at the end of the Majalis, this helped to legitimatise the children’s had work and they truly appreciated it.
– The pocket money that we requested if children wanted to donate went to 2 different options: ‘Helping little Hussaini’s & Zainabi’s who are poor’ which The Zahra Trust will distribute to orphans and vulnerable children. And the second option was ‘Spreading the message of the Ahlulbayt (a.s)’ which went to Safeer TV as they are showcasing majalis.
– Here is a powerpoint on Azadar that was made – some slides were used as posters also. Download: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12898635/What%20is%20Azadari.pptx
Procedure for the day –
- As the children walked in they were welcomed by a child who took their shoes.
- Children then had to register their names at the registration table.
- At the registration table there was a large flag on paper where children could sign their names or write their wishes to Hazrat Abbas. This flag will be taken to Hazrat Abbas’ s shrine in Arbaeen 2014.
- The children were then taken in groups to see the displays produced by the Zahra Trust.
- Thereafter the children could make their very own Alams and Hankerchiefs (with Ya Husayn written on it. These activities were supervised by the older children.
- The children who had chosen various jobs like preparing the tabarruk and sabil also had the opportunity to do so. Children made Milk Sherbat or squash.
- Some children helped to prepare the take home tabarruk bags.
- Some children made Chocolate Ladoos (chocolate oat truffles) the night before ready for the majalis.
- Once the children had set up everything for the majalis the MC started the majalis.MC
Tilawat of Qur’an 
Marsiyas
Speeches
- Noha/Lutm
- All the children pledging allegiance to Imam Husayn
- At the end tabarruk was served. Children waiting for their Tabarruk.
- As the children were leaving they were given their take home back with various goodies and gifts from the Zahra Trust. They were all presented with a certificate to legitimise their hard work in taking part in the project.
- They were also requested to write their thoughts on the project on a large drawing of a dome.
*Here is the text sent out to parents:
PROJECT MAJALIS!
In conjunction with The Zahra Trust child’s name would like to invite you to Project Majalis.
Project Majalis is an initiative to teach children all aspects of the majalis process; from setting up the hall, arranging the food, reciting Majalis/noha, making the ‘alam, to cleaning up at the end!
Also there will be an exhibition of life size cut outs of the shaheeds to help the children learn about the story of Karbala.
Date:
Time:
Venue:
for boys under 10 (non baligh) and girls of all ages.
Following roles are open for the children:
– Setting up the hall: x 5 children
– Reciting majalis: x 3 children (5min or less per child)
– Reciting marsiya & matam: x 6 children
– MC: x 1 child
– Making & distributing Sabil: x 4 children
– Making & arranging niyaz/tabbaruk: x 6 children
– Welcoming Azadari’s & arranging shoes: x 4 children
– Cleaning up: x 5 children
– Car park volunteer: x 2 (with adult supervision)
– Audio/visual system: x 2 children
– Majalis Guide x2
– Quran reciter x1
– Dua reciter x1
– Ziyarate reciter x1
If children wish to they can bring in a small amount of money as they will be given an opportunity to donate to a worthy cause.