- The annual ISNA Convention took place in Rosemont, Illinois, for its 60th year.
- The event served over 25,000 visitors and offered religious sessions, lectures, and entertainment.
- The theme for this year was “60 Years of Service: Navigating the Way Forward.”
Reserving its place in the American Muslim calendar, the annual ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) Convention has kicked off in Rosemont, Illinois, for its 60th year.
The largest convention for the American Muslim community, held in Chicago from September 1-4, served more than 25,000 visitors, WGN TV reported.
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The theme for this year is “60 Years of Service: Navigating the Way Forward,” reflecting on the past of the convention’s contributions to American Muslims and preparing for a brighter future.
“Every community needs a space, a space with numbers where they can come together to be energized,” said Imam Zaid Shakir, a keynote speaker of the event and co-founder of American Islamic University, Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California.
Celebrating Faith
The convention offers Muslims an opportunity to come together, learn, and celebrate their faith.
The event hosts dozens of renowned speakers, scholars, and activists for a full schedule of lectures, discussions, debates, and entertainment.
“It’s like a family reunion. I see people I have known since they were little babies, and now they are contributing to society,” Imam Shakir added.
In addition to religious sessions, the event tackled climate change, mental health challenges, and even global issues such as the Rohingya crisis and the Palestinian conflict.
“We don’t have a chance to look at the forest because we are so caught up in the trees, we don’t get the opportunity to look at the big picture,” Imam Shakir said.
ISNA is the largest Muslim umbrella organization in North America.
ISNA’s annual convention dates back to 1963 when the first such event was organized by the predecessor to ISNA, the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada.