Bhatkal Community Jeddah Organises Healthy Lifestyle Challenge to Promote Health and Well Being
The family focused initiative combined fitness guidance, sports, Islamic teachings and a 90 day challenge to encourage healthier habits among community members.
Jeddah: Bhatkal Community Jeddah successfully organised a Healthy Lifestyle Challenge at Firdous Istiraha in Jeddah, bringing together men, women and children for a day focused on health, fitness and well being.
The initiative was organised to raise awareness about healthy living and encourage members of the community to adopt healthier and more balanced daily habits.
The programme featured health and fitness sessions, sports activities for children, a volleyball tournament for adults and dinner for participants.
The event began with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Yessa Askari. This was followed by a rendition of the popular poem “Tu Kaun Besharam Ho, Kaun Besharam” by Usama Muniri, who also served as the master of ceremonies.
Maaz Barmawar, BCJ Sports Secretary, delivered the welcome and inaugural address. He welcomed the chief guest and participants and highlighted the importance of promoting health and fitness within the community.
Health and Fitness Session
The main session was led by Joy Joseph, Fitness Manager at BFit, who travelled from Riyadh to attend the programme as the chief guest.
Through a detailed presentation, Joseph explained the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and introduced the 90 Day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge. He outlined weekly plans designed to help participants gradually develop practical and sustainable habits.
The session covered several aspects of health, including calorie intake and energy balance, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Participants were also introduced to the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates and between saturated, unsaturated and trans fats.
The importance of drinking enough water, getting seven to eight hours of sleep, practising mindfulness, protecting mental well being and reducing excessive screen time was also discussed.
His practical advice and motivational approach encouraged participants to take the challenge seriously and make positive changes to their everyday routines.
Question and Answer Session
The presentation was followed by an interactive question and answer session.
Participants raised questions about diet, exercise and other aspects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Joseph responded to the questions in detail and addressed several common misconceptions, making the session particularly useful for the audience.
Healthy Lifestyle Guide Book Released
A Healthy Lifestyle Guide Book prepared specifically for the 90 day challenge was also released during the programme by Joy Joseph.
Mr Rehan briefly introduced the publication and explained how it would serve as a practical reference for participants as they work through the challenge.
Islamic Perspective on Healthy Living
BCJ General Secretary Naveed Hassan Ekkery addressed the gathering on the Islamic perspective of health and fitness.
Referring to Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he highlighted the importance of valuing good health before illness, maintaining moderation in food and drink and giving the body its due rights.
He also discussed Prophetic guidance on balanced eating, adequate rest and sleep and caring for one’s physical well being.
Ekkery emphasised that taking care of one’s health is not only important for worldly life but can also become an act of religious responsibility and a Sunnah when undertaken with the right intention.
Presidential Address
BCJ President Ubaidullah Askari delivered the presidential address.
Quoting the Hadith, “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, while there is good in both,” he spoke about the importance of developing physical and mental strength alongside spiritual growth.
Askari appreciated the BCJ Sports Committee for organising the initiative and thanked Joy Joseph for travelling from Riyadh to share his knowledge and expertise with the community.
Community Participation and Activities
The programme also gave participants an opportunity to share their personal health and fitness experiences, including their journeys and transformations. Their accounts added an inspirational element to the gathering.
The initiative included activities throughout the day. Lunch was served after Jumu’ah prayers, followed by the main Healthy Lifestyle session between Asr and Maghrib.
Children took part in special sports activities, while adults competed in a volleyball tournament before gathering for dinner.
The participation of the ladies’ section was also appreciated, highlighting the importance of making healthy living and the 90 day challenge accessible to women and families.
A Step Towards a Healthier Community
The Healthy Lifestyle Challenge marks an effort by Bhatkal Community Jeddah to encourage a more active and health conscious community.
By bringing together professional fitness advice and Islamic guidance, the initiative seeks to help participants make practical changes that can become lasting habits.
The programme ended with participants renewing their commitment to taking greater responsibility for their health, supporting one another and completing the 90 day challenge together.
BCJ organisers expressed hope that the initiative would become the foundation for a long term culture of health, fitness and well being among the Bhatkal community in Jeddah.