From 30 October until 2nd October 2024, Huffaz Leadership Program along with members from Persatuan Islam Saintis Muda (PERINTIS) joined a three days and two nights leadership camp called “Summit of Future Leaders: Empowering Excellence”. In that camp, there was several talks by notable figures in order to enhance our leadership skills in the scope of the Quran and Sunnah. There was also team-building activities in order to increase our leadership efficiency, teamwork abilities and most of all, our resilience.
Day 1: 30 September 2024
The first workshop of the day was attended by none other than Prof. Dr. Nordin bin Yahya, who discussed creative thinking and problem-solving. He highlighted the era of Islam’s Golden Age, explaining how that period thrived due to an environment where people from different cultures interacted with one another. This integration of diverse experiences provided valuable life-long lessons, all under the unifying framework of Islam. He also noted that critical thinking skills were enhanced during this time, as living in a new and foreign environment required adaptation and quick thinking for survival.
The second workshop was led by the esteemed Dato’ Hamidon Bin Abd Hamid. His insights were profound and thought-provoking, leaving us questioning our life purpose and reeling from the depth of his concepts. He discussed stress management from an Islamic perspective and methods to mitigate it. Although the topic may seem simple and common, he addressed aspects that many liberal psychologists might not emphasize. His talk certainly encouraged us to think from a fresh and new perspective.
Day 2: 1 October 2024
The morning began with a workshop by the admirable Prof. Dawood AbdulMalek Yahya Al-Hidabi. He enlightened us about the attributes of a Muttaqin youth leader as described in Surah Ali-Imran, verses 133 to 136. The session was both beneficial and insightful, filling my heart with happiness as it highlighted clear evidence from the Quran regarding the qualities of a true Muttaqi leader.
In his words, a leader should be able to influence others with humility and convey Islam to people, even if it is just one ayah. Listening to the opinions of others is also important, as it can provide a fresh perspective on how to approach various situations. Leaders are expected to forgive themselves, manage themselves, and act wisely in all aspects. After all, how can one lead effectively if they themselves are in disarray? Most importantly, as Muslims, we should prioritize what matters most—our akhirah. Prof. Dawood explained all this with remarkable charisma and energy, making us sit up and listen attentively. His words opened our hearts to absorb more knowledge and sparked a thirst for understanding, leaving a profound impact on all of us.
In the afternoon after Zuhr, there was a forum of student leaders from IIUM, USIM and UKM. We gained a lot of knowledge from the Islamic and the contemporary perspectives and how it was applicable to our daily lives.
Day 3: 2 October 2024
We began our day with a visit to the Petronas Twin Towers. Our first stop was Level 30, where we received guest name tags and passed through security checks. We were seated in a comfortable lounge area, allowing us to relax and absorb the information being shared while remaining alert to the fact that we were in a professional workplace environment.
IR Faisal began the talk with an inspiring story about the owner of Al-Rajhi Bank. Despite not being a billionaire and starting out in poverty, he was able to rise to the top through Allah’s grace, becoming one of the richest people in the world. What made his success even more remarkable was that he used his wealth for the greater good of the Ummah, in Islam’s path. This story illustrated the importance of taking accountability for our success. To be a good leader, one must utilize resources wisely. If failure occurs due to poor resource management, the responsibility lies solely with oneself. Potential and talent are meaningless if not properly harnessed.
He also shared key traits necessary for success. These include love for Allah and sincerity in everything we do. Intelligence alone, he emphasized, is not enough. Without these two essential elements, true success cannot be achieved. The speaker also discussed the importance of not letting our achievements change who we are. First and foremost, everything we achieve comes from Allah, not from ourselves. We must avoid becoming boastful or showing off, thinking that our success is self-made. In reality, whatever Allah gives us is only temporary.
Finally, the speaker emphasized the spirit of togetherness and brotherhood. It doesn’t matter if one possesses all the qualities of a good leader—responsibility, accountability, or good faith—if they are doing it alone. To execute something good, there must be strong, concrete support behind you.
After the talk, all of us Huffaz Leadership members, along with the Perintis Youth Club, went to the 41st level of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre bridge. It was truly a memorable experience, filled with shared insights, laughter, and gratitude. All members of this program felt deeply honored to be part of this journey so far.
