ICNA Islamic Circle of North America

From the desk of the Ameer:

Dr. Zahid Bukhari, President of ICNA

Alhamdulillah, the 34th Annual ICNA-MAS Convention, held in Hartford, CT from May 23rd to 25th, was a huge success. We are truly grateful to the community for their support and participation at the convention. May Allah bless all the convention delegates, speakers, volunteers and sponsors for offering their time and talent to ICNA. Ameen. We also extend special thanks to the Connecticut Convention Center, the Hartford Visitors Bureau and their respective staff for welcoming and accommodating us.
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‘The Art of Creative Expression’ challenges children to communicate their ideas in an articulate and creative way.

I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting as I quietly entered the Art of Creative Expression workshop at the ICNA Convention this year. I was expecting to meet Zain Bhikha, of course, as he was coordinating the session; my little sister and her friends were expecting to have some good old-fashioned creative fun, and a part of me was expecting cute little rhymes that would make my Sunday. I was not expecting, however, to have to rework my whole theory regarding the power of prompts, pens and a pack of children.

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A small boy taps my wrist, asking in his baby-talk Arabic for the qalam that’s rolled under my seat. A curly haired girl is running down the aisle with a light-up mouth guard pressed between her lips; she calls me weird because I’m sitting on the ground instead of a chair. The nasheed artist from Palestine sits beside the Pakistani-American lecturer who speaks to the law student from Hofstra. A session is so packed that I knock into someone while opening the door to enter the room. This, my brothers and sisters, is the 34th Annual ICNA Convention.

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Umber Siddiqi:

“A Window to Islam” features engaging discussions on Islam and America.

My experience at the ICNA Convention ironically began with my not wanting to volunteer to talk about my religion. I was asked to assist in the Window to Islam program as they were shorthanded this year. I had the opportunity to volunteer with them in 2008, so my name came about naturally. I wasn’t too keen on volunteering this year, but before I take you on the roller coaster ride this experience turned out to be, here’s a little background: Window to Islam is a one day symposium at the ICNA Convention where people of other faiths are challenged to learn about the various facets of Islam. Attendees discuss material about Islam and also engage in a tour of various aspects of the ICNA-MAS Convention. There are lectures, food and open discussions about Islam.

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