Muslim Scouts- A surprise to some even after 30 years

Welsh, Muslim and Scouts

CARDIFF PROUD OF FIRST MUSLIM SCOUT GROUP

The Scout Association set up its first Muslim group in Wales in Cardiff.

It is not a surprise that Islam integrates with the principles of Scouting and the activities and ideals that the group promotes enhances the young that that have joined.

The Cardiff-based troop is the 10th Muslim Scout group to be formed in the UK and although it has taken seven years to reach that figure, it is expected soon the number will have doubled as more and more Muslims turn to Scouting.

It isn't generally known, but the Scout Association has a long record of working within the Islamic community and there have been individual Scouts from a Muslim background for more than 30 years, which may come as a surprise to those that thought Scouting was securely tied to Christianity.

New perceptions

Mark Waghorn, programme and development adviser to the Scout Association, says the general perception that the movement is for Christians only is wide of the mark. "Scouting is not a Christian-based movement," he says.

"As with many of the world's faiths, Christianity encompasses the main aims of Scouting."
As does Islam, according to Nazeed Rahman, leader of the 1st Cathays al Huda group. The Cardiff-based group was officially launched in March 2006 but has actually been operating for a year and has 90 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

"There were four or five of us that had been in the Scouting movement." he says. "We thought it would be good for our youngsters to be involved as well. The movement teaches much of what is central to Islam, such as discipline. We wanted something other than a youth club to occupy our young people's time and we thought setting up a Scout group would work well."

The Scout movement has always been welcoming of different faiths, says Waghorn, with an emphasis on the exploration of all faiths and general spirituality. "Part of this is about respecting and working with these identities," he explains. "There is always room for cultural and religious differences in the Scouting movement. When young people from other groups meet at activities, as they do regularly, they are able to explore their differences."

Rahman stresses that although the present members of 1st Cathays al Huda are all Muslims, the group is open to boys and girls from any religious background and the language spoken is English. "Obviously there will be times when we are apart from the rest, such as with prayers and only eating halal food, but this is a group for all."

Indeed, relatively few activities are specialist to any particular Scout group, according to Waghorn. "A group in a predominantly Muslim area would fundraise for Islamic Aid, or would help tidy the grounds of the mosque," he says. "But the majority of activities would be the same because young people enjoy discovering new things."

A broad base was the trigger for 1st Cathays al Huda. Rahman says: "We were attracted to being part of a large youth organisation, one that is open to everyone and sets high standards. It offers a range of skills and disciplines and being out in the countryside is brilliant as it offers a new experience for many young people."

BILAL DISCOVERS SCOUTING

Bilal Hussein is 13 and joined 1st Cathays al Huda when it was originally formed. "At present we are all Muslims," he says. "And we have the opportunity to discuss our religion. Scouting fits in very well because it teaches good manners and to be kind to your friends. It also says there is great quality in teamwork and that is very Islamic." There is a serious side, says Bilal, but the emphasis is on playing games and taking part in other activities such as tying knots. "We will soon be going for our badges and that will be more fun," he says. "And I can't wait to go away to camp again."