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Jun 24 Transforming Your Reality Jun 17 A History of Muslim Americans’ Political Engagement Jun 17 My Brother is Gay: Navigating the Intersection of Religion and Family An interview with Imam Wesley Lebron Jun 10 Islam and the Romans: Early Muslim-Byzantine Interaction May 20 Reclaiming the Sunnah of Adoption and Foster Care: An Interview with Basmah Salam Apr 29 National Poetry Month: An Ode to Faith, Visibility, and the Conversations We Don’t Forget Apr 15 Beyond Ramadan: Taking Its Lessons Farther  Apr 15 The Power of Saying No: A Reflection on Boundaries

Tag: icna convention

  • December Conventions Set to Welcome Thousands

    December Conventions Set to Welcome Thousands

    It’s the holiday season, and Christmas festivities are everywhere. As Muslims, it can be hard to find anything else to enjoy during the holidays, but we’ve got you covered! Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and the Muslim American Society (MAS) are hosting regional and annual conventions, respectively, during the month of December. Both events – set for Atlanta and Chicago – are wonderful opportunities for attendees to join fellow Muslims for a myriad of educational and religious programs that foster community and drive positive change.

    Up first is the regional Southeast ICNA-MAS convention scheduled for Dec. 20-22 in Atlanta. This was preceded by the South Central regional ICNA-MAS convention in Houston the weekend after Thanksgiving and will be followed by a regional convention in San Francisco on July 4.

    The regional Atlanta convention, themed “Unshakable Faith: Trusting the Will of Allah,” will feature educational programming, a youth conference, matrimonial services, and a bazaar. For more information on this December event or to register, click here.

    ICNA’s annual convention, which takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, May 24-26, shares the same theme as its regional events. In addition to a host of educational and religious sessions, there will be a Quran competition and debate tournament, as well. For more information, click here.

    Also happening in December is the upcoming MAS-ICNA annual convention, set for downtown Chicago at the McCormick Convention Center. The mega event – 40,000 strong in 2023 – attracts people from across the United States to listen and to learn from esteemed scholars and community leaders. The 2024 convention runs from Dec. 26-28, including a knowledge retreat set for Dec. 24-25.

    For more information, including registration and ticket prices, click here.

    MAS-ICNA Convention Slate of Programming

    Amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, the theme of the convention is “Breaking Chains & Driving Change.” While the program’s goals is to center our hearts on the tens of thousands killed in Palestine, it also will help us to focus our minds on how we can be arbiters of change. According to the convention program, the aim is to “explore the process of breaking free from limitations, fostering unity, and methodically building a foundation for positive change.”

    As in years past, the convention offers a range of activities, special sessions, workshops, marriage events, and youth-oriented programming for children of all ages.

    Main Convention

    During the main session, programming will be based in a large hall to accommodate hundreds of people while parallel lectures and workshops will be happening in smaller spaces. These events convene some of the most reputable Islamic speakers from across the country and around the world. Insha’Allah, the knowledge they share will help attendees navigate any difficulties that come with being a Muslim in America. With lessons from the Quran and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), insha’Allah you will leave the lectures feeling uplifted and inspired, ready to navigate the stressors of everyday life. For a full list of programs, click here.

    2024 Knowledge Retreat

    If you’re looking for a more intimate setting and a deeper dive into Islamic learning, consider joining the Knowledge Retreat. The event, which will be presented in English and Arabic, is billed as a two-day lecture series and is scheduled a few days ahead of the convention Dec. 24-25. Seats are limited, ensuring in-depth discussions. These sessions are ideal for people who’ve engaged in formal Islamic sciences study as well as those looking to begin that type of learning.

    Another retreat component is the Marriage Rejuvenation track, which advises spouses about ways to improve their marriage. Here attendees will engage in lectures, role playing, as well as discussion and group exercises. The registration fee includes one textbook, two workbooks, and writing materials. The session is limited to 50 couples.

    Matrimonial Event

    For Muslims looking to wed, it can often be difficult to connect with good prospects or even to meet other singles seeking a spouse. With that in mind, MAS-ICNA Convention 2024 partnered with matrimonial service Pious Hearts to help marriage-minded singles find one another. During the singles event, folks will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with those looking for a partner. To attend, fill out a registration form and share a little bit about yourself and what you’re looking for. This helps the Pious Heart team to pre-select candidates to ensure everyone has a positive experience. Payment will only be processed if you are selected to attend the event.

    Bazaar

    In between lectures, workshops, and other learning opportunities, you can bet on a bit of fun! The bazaar, which features more than 650 booths, boasts shopping from a wide range of Muslim business owners including artists, entrepreneurs, food vendors, and those selling apparel and books. Additionally, representatives from travel agencies, matrimonial services, Islamic educators, charities and activists will be on hand to talk about their services. Wandering the many rows of vendors and booths is the perfect way to meet and chat with new people. For me, I love browsing the bazaar to support Muslim businesses, and I always make sure to pick up a souvenir to take home with me.

    Youth Program

    Finally, the MAS-ICNA Convention isn’t just for adults. For those with children ages 14-16, encourage them to attend the Youth Program. There they can listen to a host of lectures on a range of topics including community activism, public services, mental health and other issues they might be interested in. The setting also invites them to pose anonymous questions in a safe and nurturing environment. Being in a group setting with their Muslim peers can be a welcome change for many, particularly those who attend schools with few or no Muslims.

    There also will be separate programs for younger children including daycare for kids from birth to age 2, Fun Land for youngsters ages 3-8, and the Young Youth Program for kids 9-13.

    Insha’Allah I have the opportunity to attend this year’s MAS-ICNA convention in Chicago. I am excited to connect with old and new friends as we come together to remember the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, to learn and listen to learned scholars as we strive to be better Muslims and to come together as one Islamic community.

  • ICNA-MAS Convention 2024: ‘Unshakable Faith’

    ICNA-MAS Convention 2024: ‘Unshakable Faith’

    Every year Muslims gather for the ICNA-MAS convention in Baltimore, Maryland. It is estimated that 30,000 Muslims will convene this Memorial Day weekend, May 25- 27, 2024, to bask in the beauty of the deen as one ummah. The Summer 2024 conference will bring together world renowned scholars who will present lectures and workshops on a variety of topics. The theme of this year’s conference is learning to live a life full of conviction and trust during turbulent times. The conference aims to orient hearts and minds by the idea that we must rely on Allah now more than ever as we witness a period of constant social, political, and personal unrest. This convention allows us the opportunity to refocus and ground ourselves in the teachings of Islam.

    In 2019, I attended the ICNA-MAS convention. I went to connect with old and new friends, listen to incredible lectures, and shop in the bazaar. I also attempted to get into the popular matrimonial event, but it was sold out because it was in such high demand! I was so impressed by the sheer number of Muslims attending the convention. People from across the country came together to learn with one another, network, and socialize.

    I remember my favorite part of the convention was getting to listen and interact in person with scholars that I follow closely on social media. This year, the discussions will be centered on some of the ongoing challenges Muslims are facing in America. The scholars will engage with the audience to discuss potential solutions within a practical and spiritual framework.
    In addition to programs offering religious knowledge per se, there are speeches and workshops on mental health, parenting and child psychology, finance, law, and education, all of course from an Islamic perspective. There are over one hundred breakout sessions including a special Youth Conference, an interfaith dialogue seminar, matrimonial services, hands-on workshops and a Qur’an Competition. It is highly suggested by convention organizers that one pre-register for things like the Qur’an Competition and the Matrimonial Event.

    For those interested in the Matrimonial event, take note that it will begin on Sunday, May 26 from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It’s important to go in with the understanding of how the event will work. Participants must provide accurate information and should not conceal or misrepresent any important information (e.g., previously married, divorced, children, country of origin, citizenship, etc.). ICNA cannot take responsibility for any false or misleading information provided by candidates. It is required that women are accompanied by their wali (parent or legal guardian) during the session. The parent(s) or wali should not interrupt the flow of the conversation but should be there to ensure Islamic etiquette. Most importantly, ICNA volunteers try their best to match everyone, but there are no guarantees in this process. There is an advantage to registering ahead of time in that your spot will be secured; slots may run out fast, and also the fee is more expensive if you register on-site.

    For the young children, between the ages of four to nine, one can register for childcare services. Parents can safely leave their children with dedicated staff while they attend sessions throughout the day. The children will engage in activities like a science show, arts and crafts, and a moon bounce. There is another program called Muslim Children of North America (MCNA) for kids between the ages of six to nine. The program will bring together children of all backgrounds to learn about Islam and engage in real-life concerns that they might encounter as young children. For middle school-aged children, Young Muslim Jr. (YMJ), is a program that will help them engage in project-based activities in their community, allowing them to grow deeper in their faith. This program includes a variety of activities including YMJ courses, Book Club, and Journey through the Qur’an. The full program can be found here.

    For middle schoolers and high schoolers who are interested in debate, there is the Muslim Youth Debate Tournament. This is a youth enrichment platform of the Mafiq Foundation that hosts parliamentary-style debates. The competing teams participate in a preliminary round of four virtual debates. Each debate consists of two pre-assigned topics and two topics given on the day-of. The top four performing middle school teams and the top four performing high school teams will be invited to compete in the semifinals and finals at the convention. It is necessary to register in advance and one can do so here.

    There is an opportunity for Muslim women to express themselves through the written word, in a Poetry Slam. Hosted by Strange Inc., a non-profit publishing house in New York, the Slam is an opportunity for twelve talented contenders to showcase their poetry skills and share their creative works in a safe space. They will be judged based on both the content of their work and their performance. There are two rounds of the competition. Interested participants must submit their work in advance, and only twelve winners will be invited to complete the final round on a live stage, on May 26, at 3:30 p.m. Those interested in performing should register here.

    Another interesting event that is part of the Technology Track Session is the Hackathon. The Hackathon aims to bring together community, innovation, and technology through a timed event in which teams or individuals work on creative projects to invent and generate new ideas to solve big problems. The Hackathon consists of designing, building, and presenting solutions to problems. The teams then pitch a final concept, prototype, or presentation to judges to demonstrate why their idea would solve the problem at hand. One can register in advance here. The Hackathon is part of a larger track of the conference where topics will include parenting in the digital age, responsible AI, robotics, and cybersecurity awareness.

    The number of opportunities to learn, grow in faith, network, and socialize are endless at the convention. Take advantage of the long holiday weekend and head to the ICNA-MAS Convention!

  • Takeaways from ICNA-MAS Convention 2017

    Takeaways from ICNA-MAS Convention 2017

    ICNA Convention Brings Unified Message of Prophets to Baltimore

    Hena Zuberi
    A major change in dates did not deter ICNA-MAS convention attendees as more than 21,000 converged at the Baltimore Convention Center on Easter weekend, April 14-16. The theme of this year’s convention was “Quest for True Success: Divine Message of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them).” At the inner harbor, WHYISLAM, an ICNA initiative, conducted street dawah on a perfect spring day. Sadaqah was also a big part of the weekend. 750 Blessing Bags were distributed on Friday after Jummah and a thousand hot meals distributed after Zuhr on Saturday at four locations in Baltimore City by MSSA (Muslim Social Services Agency) and ICNA Relief volunteers.

    All booths at the bazaar were completely sold out, with 450 vendors. Over 125 sessions, including spiritual, parenting, marriage, and activism tracks, took place throughout the three days. For the first time ever, the main sessions were live streamed using Virtual Reality 360 degree cameras. Breakout sessions in Malay and Turkish were added to existing ethnic sessions in Arabic, Bangla, Urdu, and Spanish languages. Several organizations collaborated to host mini-events like Muslimmatters, IIIT, Noor Kids, Council on Islamic American Relations, Muslim Legal Fund of America, Muslim Social Services Agency, and others. A new programming track for ages 10-14 was introduced and was well-attended. The Youth Conference was packed and their sessions were a huge draw. The annual Quran competition was held, as well as the first ever ICNA Master Chef competition.

    Jummah was led by the new ICNA President, Javaid Siddiqi, of Kentucky. His khutbah was about renewing the intentions — every speaker, attendee, volunteer, and vendor at the convention — his or her intention should be solely to please Allah. “It is a true mercy of Allah that He has made you and I Muslims,” concluded Javaid Siddiqi at the last session.

    It’s Time to Get Uncomfortable

    Wajid Khan
    I have always heard of people going to ICNA and returning with all of these cool stories about how they got to see all of their favorite scholars. The talk that I attended was named Islam: Deconstructing Myths and Clarifying Truths. The speaker who stood out to me the most was Dr. Dalia F. Fahmi, a professor of political science. I had known of her beforehand, but I had never heard her speak. When she got on stage and began to speak, you could feel the emotion, the passion, and the care in her voice. She began talking about issues such as starvation in Africa, or politicians belittling Muslims and misrepresenting “Shari’a Law.” She gave uncomfortably mind-boggling statistics about people dying around the world. She spoke so fiercely but compassionately at the same time, with language intended, as she herself stated, not to comfort you but, in fact, to make you uncomfortable. It forced me to reflect with sadness on how little I am doing for the people in need. I have working arms, legs, and mind, and yet I use none of them to help. How am I able to live day-to-day without thinking once about others? Do I not have a responsibility to people who cannot fend for themselves?

    I greatly enjoyed this talk and it forced me into a position from which lot of people insulate themselves. A position of discomfort. Too often are we too comfortable, and we find it difficult to leave behind the luxury. It’s time to get uncomfortable, and start facing these issues head on together, as a united ummah.

    The Wisdom of Converts and the Value of Seeking Knowledge

    Arshiya Shaikh

    There was one session at the recent ICNA Convention in Baltimore that had the greatest influence on me. The Youth Conference, entitled “The Storm Within,” honestly changed my life. The topic of the session was “Seeking Knowledge.” Former basketball player, Br. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, spoke about seeking knowledge and related it to his own life. His mother had only received an 8th-grade education. He also pointed out how he was very socially awkward as a kid, and how he had had trouble giving voice to his own thoughts and opinions. The fact that he could go from being that person to speaking in front of hundreds of people was a great eye opener. I personally have always had trouble, for example, with raising my hand in class. The comparison of his childhood to his life now really gave me a confidence boost. He mentioned that ever since his conversion to Islam he has taken any chance he could get to enhance his level of knowledge.

    Another speaker who was at this same session was Sheikh Saad Tasleem. He said that people nowadays don’t take the concept of seeking knowledge seriously for one reason — the Internet. We all think that the knowledge is at our fingertips, so what’s the point in making an effort to learn. I was very fortunate to hear this because, in truth, I am that person. I am guilty of neglecting to put in the extra effort to open up a book and try to obtain something new. I am very thankful that I had the chance to hear these wonderful words from these people and that I am now able to apply it to my own life. I will, insha’Allah, try to put these words into actions and improve my life for the better and, insha’Allah, ensure my path to Jannah.
    Boys II Men
    Moazam Afzal

    As attendees of Islamic conferences, we come in with the intention to seek knowledge but we often end up confusing knowledge with inspiration. Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda articulated this point in the Boys II Men session at the ICNA 2017 conference. In conferences such as ICNA you can, and are meant to, gain knowledge, but it is primarily for inspiration. Inspiration isn’t a bad thing, in fact, it is essential because it embeds in us the desire to want to continue to learn and grow. Nonetheless, it is important that we make a clear distinction between the two. If people weren’t inspired to learn, nobody would become a scholar, hafiz, or an imam.

    As Muslims, we must seek knowledge so we can better ourselves. Sheikh Jangda mentioned that if you just replace the ten minutes you are on your phone before you go to sleep you could learn so much. This message applies to me first. I can say that personally after attending the conference, alhamdulillah, I’m on an iman high, but it slowly fades as we get busy in our day-to-day lives. We have to make the intention that we will continue to seek knowledge outside of conferences like ICNA by using the inspiration and advice that we received during that weekend. Inshallah, we can use knowledge to better ourselves, our communities, and to please Allah (SWT).

  • 34th ICNA Convention: Message from ICNA President

    34th ICNA Convention: Message from ICNA President

    Assalaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
    Peace and Happiness be with you!

    We are indeed thankful to Allah Almighty, Whose Mercy and Blessings have enabled us to hold our annual convention regularly.With the bottom of my heart, I welcome you all to our tenth ICNA-MAS and the 34th Annual ICNA Convention. During the last four decades of its existence, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) has developed several institutions in the fields of dawah, tarbiyah, relief and social service. Alhamdulillah, the Annual Convention has itself become an institution, which not only reflect the growth of ICNA but also present the aspirations of the American Muslim community.

    The theme of the convention, “Global Crisis – Islamic Solution,” is very significant and timely. The American Scholars are depicting the present financial crisis as the crisis of the century. The question is that weather only greed and lack of proper regulations are the main reasons for the meltdown or there are some fundamental contradictions in the liberal capitalist system that created the present crisis? Then there are other crisis too: destruction of the family structure, racism, economic disparity, global poverty, occupations, wars, terrorism and the use of religion for inflicting miseries upon others. It seems that the globe is in the crisis.

    As Muslims, we firmly believe that human beings are in dire need of the Divine Guidance. Sincere obedience and worship of God establishes a strong relationship between man and his Creator and makes it a major and comprehensive source of solving all individual and global problems. How can we infuse the Divine Guidance in the governance of the human society in the 21st century? What would be the Islamic perspective in this regard? I am confidant that the eminent scholars in the convention will provide ample and thoughtful deliberations on these questions.

    The program includes seminars and interactive workshops covering topics such as Outreach, Parenting, Family Issues, Spiritual Development, Civil Rights, Media Relations and sessions in various ethnic languages. A special Youth Conference is also being organized parallel to the convention. For Muslim children we also have specific programs under MCNA, Muslim Children of NorthAmerica.We are very grateful to our learned speakers, guests, volunteers of ICNAandMAS, and the local Muslim community of Hartford, CT. for their active participation. Thanks are also due to our friends in the media, law enforcement officials, the Bazaar vendors, and the convention center officials for their cooperation.

    Finally, we would like to thank you, the participants, who have traveled long distances to attend the convention. May Allah (SWT) accept your efforts and sacrifices! We hope you’ll fully enjoy your stay here and will go back home safe and sound, enriched with improved knowledge and wisdom, fully motivated and determined to put into practice what you’ll learn here. I would also strongly urge you to become an active member of ICNA in your city and fulfill the duty of conveying the message of Islam to our neighbors in the larger society. May Allah (SWT) accept our humble efforts and bless us all. aameen.