July 1995 Islamic Society of North America Convention

Columbus convention Center, September 1-4 this year (Labor Day Weekend)

by Norma Tarazi

So what's going on? Imagine 20,000 Muslims in downtown Columbus! (That's twenty thousand.) Since over 15000 attended the convention last year in Chicago, that's about what organizers are expecting.

Speakers! You ought to see the list!! there are 99 speakers on the planning list, a Who's Who of leading American and World Muslims. Dr. Jamal Badawi, Aminah Assilmi, Imam Jamil Al-Amin, Imam Warth Deen Muhammad, Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Imam Siraj Wahaj, Imam Hamza Yusuf, and Dr. Aminah McCloud are only a handful of the distinguished speakers.

Book editors, writers, medical doctors, fiqh specialists, youth specialists, psychologists, educations, international charity representatives, a U.S. army chaplain, a Muslim social worker, an astronomer, a whole array of concerned dedicated specialists who work for the sake of Allah (SWT) daily helping Muslims. Come expecting to be inspired.

So what's on besides speeches? The biggest bazaar of any Islamic convention in American. One of the 2 large convention halls will be reserved just for the bazaar. then there are the children's programs. Muslim Youth of North America, an organization for teens, will be having its convention at the same time, with an exciting program for kids 12 and up. For younger children, ISNA has a babysitting center and a kids program, so children can enjoy the convention too.

Registration is cheaper if you sign up before August 11th. And don't think you have to be Muslim to attend. Bring your non-Muslim relatives or co-workers! Meal programs are available, with halal food, of course, so convention guests can just relax and concentrate on all the interesting ideas being discussed.