Three-day grand conference of the Muslim Ummah begins today in U.S

Chhabed Sathee, from Philadelphia (PA): The largest organization of expatriate Muslims in the United States, Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), is beginning its three-day 8th Annual Convention today, Friday (August 8).

Under the slogan “Torchbearers of Islam – Spreading the Faith Globally”, the convention will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia until midnight Sunday (August 10). Organizers expect more than 20,000 devout expatriate Muslims from various countries to participate.

A strong, department-based organizing team has been formed to make the convention successful, chaired by MUNA’s National Executive Director, CPA Arman Chowdhury.

This MUNA convention in North America will be the largest gathering of expatriate Bengali-speaking Muslims. Thousands of devout Muslims from faraway states in the U.S. are coming to Philadelphia, either alone or with their families, to attend the three-day event. Every year, participants face travel hardships, while organizers must rush to fit various programs into the limited time. As a result, both organizers and attendees often feel a lack of completeness, leaving a sense of dissatisfaction.

Taking this into account, the leadership of MUNA has decided this year to extend the convention to three full days, selecting the venue accordingly and making all necessary preparations. The decision has been widely praised within MUNA, and it is expected that between 20,000 to 25,000 men, women, and children of all ages from different U.S. states will participate. MUNA operates in 48 U.S. states, and according to available information, participants will be coming from nearly all of them.

At the convention, attendees will meet Islamic thinkers, researchers, renowned Qur’anic commentators, and famous Hadith scholars from both within the U.S. and abroad. Organizers believe their lectures will enrich participants’ knowledge. In fact, the main purpose of the convention is to enhance the knowledge base of every attendee and to allow them to get clear, scholarly answers to the questions they may have about various aspects of Islam.

Prominent Islamic speakers will deliver valuable lectures over the three days in various sessions. This year’s speakers include Dr. Omar Suleiman, Imam Dalouer Hossain, Sami Hamdi, Mohamed Elshinawy, Dr. Altaf Husain, Imam Tom Facchine, Hamzah Abdul-Malik, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Asif Hirani, and Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda, among others. In addition, the internationally renowned Islamic scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari will participate virtually in Qur’an-based Tafsir sessions.

To engage the new generation of Muslim youth in North America, distinguished emerging Islamic thinkers and young speakers will address them on various aspects of Islam — especially on how to preserve their Muslim identity and uphold the truth while moving forward in a Western, multi-religious, social, and cultural environment.

The convention will also have competitions and entertainment for children. Another highlight will be the diverse marketplace, offering clothing and accessories for men and women, jewelry, handicrafts, gift items, and food stalls. On the final day, there will also be an attractive cultural segment.