Session Descriptions

Saturday May 16, 2026

2:185 هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ The Quranic Personality: A Way of Being (Hamid Ghazali & Fadel Soliman)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 200

The Qur'anic personality is formed by tadabbur that allows the Qur'an to shape how a person thinks, feels, and lives. It is a personality coloured by the كلام of Allah, where guidance is not only understood, but internalized. This process is rooted in tarbiyyah—a gradual, intentional cultivation of the self through living the Qur'an. It moves beyond recitation into embodiment, where patience, humility, justice, and reliance on Allah SWT are practiced in daily life. The Qur'an then becomes not just something we return to, but something we live by, guiding speech, relationships, and decisions.

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ كَانُوا يعني الصحابة يَقْتَرِئُونَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ فَلَا يَأْخُذُونَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأُخْرَى حَتَّى يَعْلَمُوا مَا فِي هَذِهِ مِنْ الْعِلْمِ وَالْعَمَلِ قَالُوا فَعَلِمْنَا الْعِلْمَ وَالْعَمَلَ

إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 6:135 Combatting Islamophobia: From Victimhood to Proactive Leadership (Ismahan Abdullahi & Yaser Haddara)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 201

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Who does more wrong than those who fabricate lies against Allah or deny His signs? Indeed, the wrongdoers will never succeed. (6:21)

As Canadian Muslims, engaging in the process of dismantling the structural biases that exist at every level of society is an Amanah - a responsibility - to ensure we are part of striving for justice now and that we are building just societies for our next generations. It requires a shift in mindset from fear and victimhood to empowerment and action. This session examines the multifaceted nature of Islamophobia, explores strategies for community dismantlement, and outlines pathways toward impactful, proactive leadership.

From Darkness to Victory: The Generation That Liberated Al-Aqsa (Yakoob Ahmed)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 202

If it feels like we are living through one of the darkest moments for the Ummah, this session asks a deeper question: Have we been here before, and what did it take to rise again?

Before Salahuddin, a generation was being built. A generation shaped by knowledge, discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering conviction. This story-telling session will journey through one of the most defining chapters of our history; not just the liberation of Al-Aqsa, but the generation that made it possible. Join the road to Al Aqsa and connect the dots between the heroes of the past and the martyrs of today to answer the ultimate question: What kind of generation is required to turn the tide of history? And more importantly… Will you be part of it?

30:60 فَٱصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ ۖ When the World Closes In: Yaqeen in Time of Doubt (Mohamad Zahid Abughoudah, Antar Teleba & Marwan Muhammad)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 200

In the Battle of the Trench, the Muslims were surrounded, outnumbered, and gripped by fear. The situation appeared impossible, every sign pointed toward defeat. This was a moment where despair could have taken root. Yet within that moment, yaqeen distinguished the believers. While some saw only the siege, the believers said: "This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth." Their reality did not change immediately, but their lens did. They chose to see the promise of Allah even when the circumstances contradicted it. This is the essence of hope vs. despair. Despair looks at the present and concludes the future. Yaqeen looks at the promise of Allah SWT and reinterprets the present.

أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ
"Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you?" (2:214)

صناعة الهوية الإسلامية: رؤية تأصيلية في فقه التوطين والهجرة Maintaining our Islamic Identity (Khaled Hanafy & Marzouk Ellythy) - Arabic Session

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 201

في عالم سريع التغير، كيف نحافظ على هويتنا دون أن ننعزل؟ وكيف نندمج دون أن نذوب؟ تأخذكم هذه المحاضرة في رحلة عميقة لفهم معنى الهوية الإسلامية كمنهج حياة، يوازن بين الاعتزاز بالدين والانفتاح الواعي على الآخر. نستكشف معًا تحديات الاندماج والمواطنة، لنصل إلى بناء شخصية مسلمة معتزة بدينها، واثقة بمرجعيتها، حاملة لرسالة الاستخلاف، وقادرة على التأثير والإصلاح في مجتمعها.

محاضرة تفاعلية تفتح باب الأسئلة والنقاش حول فقه التوطين والهجرة، وتمنحكم أدوات عملية لصناعة هوية ربانية في واقع متغير.

21:92 أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ Colonial Borders, Nation‑States, and the Erosion of Ummah Consciousness (Ovamir Anjum, Ebrahim Rasool & Hussein Elkazzaz)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 202

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ وَأَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُونِ
˹O prophets!˺ Indeed, this religion of yours is ˹only˺ one, and I am your Lord, so worship Me ˹alone˺. (21:92)

Before the colonial era, the concept of Ummah transcended geography, ethnicity, and political allegiance, binding Muslims across continents through a shared faith, shared purpose, and shared identity. Then came the borders. This session examines how the deliberate imposition of colonial nation-states systematically dismantled Ummah consciousness, replacing a civilisational identity rooted in faith with fragmented national loyalties rooted in flags, passports, and artificially drawn lines. Speakers will tackle the critical question: how do we begin to reclaim an Ummah-centered identity in a world designed to keep us divided?

36:12 وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا۟ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُم Waqf: Rethinking Philanthropy (Jasser Auda, Anas Altikriti & Sohaib Zuberi)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 203

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍۢ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍۢ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies ˹the reward even more˺ to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing. (Baqara: 261)

The concept of waqf was introduced by the Prophet SAW when Othman RA purchased the well and ensured its public availability. Waqf became core to Muslim societies and contributed to the building of civilizations. It funded the greatest universities, hospitals, and institutions the Muslim world has ever known. This session will look at the waqf model, reasons it was abandoned and how it can be one of the most important things the Ummah can do right now for its own future. It will examine how we can rethink philanthropy towards more sustainable and effective social and economic development in response to the growing humanitarian crises of our Ummah.

Brain Rot & the Ummah: Are We Too Distracted to Rise? (Mohamed AbuTaleb)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 204

Amr bin 'Auf Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: the Prophet (ﷺ) said "(...) By Allah! It is not poverty that I fear for you, but what I fear for you is that the world will be presented for you just as it was presented for those before you, then you will compete for it, just as they competed for it, and it will destroy you, just as it destroyed them." [Jami at-Tirmidhi 2462 (Book 37, Hadith 48) #28097]

In a world of endless scrolling, constant notifications, and digital overload, our attention has become one of our greatest struggles. This session explores how social media and modern digital culture are shaping the way we think, what we value, and who we are becoming. Are we using these tools with purpose, or are we being used by them? Are we building, contributing, and striving, or simply consuming…and being consumed?

5:16 يَهْدِى بِهِ ٱللَّهُ La nature innée dans le Coran : comment la révélation reconstruit l'être humain. How the Quran Reforms Us (Franck Amin Hensch & Mahdi Tirkawi) - French Session

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 200

La fitra (nature innée) dans le Coran est une disposition divine ancrée en l'être humain, qui le prépare à connaître Dieu et à distinguer le bien du mal. Elle permet à l'homme d'accomplir la finalité pour laquelle il a été créé. Cette nature concerne à la fois le corps et l'âme, chacun régi par des lois précises établies par Dieu, comme toute chose dans l'univers. La fitra est ainsi une guidance naturelle orientant l'être humain vers le chemin qu'il doit suivre. Elle englobe l'âme, le cœur, l'intellect et le nafs, tous créés avec des prédispositions qui les orientent vers la connaissance de Dieu et le bien.

وَلَا تَنسَوُا۟ ٱلْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ 2:237 In the Shade of the Quran: Divorce with Dignity & Goodness (Abdalla Idris Ali & Ahmad Kutty)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 201

Divorce in Islam is treated as a process governed by divine guidance, restraint, and dignity. The Qur'anic methodology of divorce frames separation within justice, patience, and ihsan, ensuring that even when a marriage ends, the rights, emotions, and well-being of all involved are protected.

This Qur'anic framework becomes especially critical when children are involved. Raising healthy children after divorce requires parents to move beyond personal grievances and uphold a model of co-parenting rooted in mercy, maturity, and shared responsibility. Islamic ethics demand that the child's emotional and spiritual well-being remain central, with both parents striving to preserve stability, love, and respect despite the changed family structure. In this way, divorce is not simply an ending, but a test of whether believers can uphold justice and excellence even in moments of pain and transition.

3:173 حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ Bearing Witness: What Gaza has Revealed to a World of Privilege (Jamal Elshayyal, Ismahan Abdullahi & Nabil Sultan)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 202

For decades, much of the Western world remained indifferent to the suffering of Palestine, accepting narratives that obscured the reality of oppression. But the brutality unleashed upon Gaza has shattered apathy and forced a dramatic shift in public consciousness. It showed the world that what is happening in Gaza will not stay in Gaza. Its repercussions are reverberating across the region—from Lebanon to Yemen to Iran—demonstrating that injustice left unchecked never remains contained. Gaza is exposing the consequences of moral complacency and global inaction before the eyes of the world.

Amid this devastation, Gaza has forced the world to ask what kind of faith produces a people who praise Allah SWT beneath rubble, who cling to dignity amidst annihilation, and who face death with conviction rather than despair.

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ ٱلْمُجَـٰهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَا۟ أَخْبَارَكُمْ
"And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allāh] and the patient, and We will test your affairs." (47:31)

16:125 ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ The Art of Dawah: How Gaza Called Humanity to Islam (Nimao Ali & Mohamed AbuTaleb)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 203

In Gaza, the world witnessed how suffering borne with genuine faith can answer life's deepest questions about meaning, purpose, and the existence of God more powerfully than any argument. Through their connection to the Qur'an and the Islamic foundations of tawakkul, sabr, resilience and certainty in the Hereafter, the Palestinian people displayed a strength no material framework could explain. Their greatest dawah was not spoken but lived — patience in hardship, dignity under oppression, and trust in Allah when everything else was taken away. Muslims must reflect on the lessons from Gaza by embodying Islam through character, standing for justice, and meeting the world's curiosity with knowledge, clarity, and prophetic compassion. This session will explore how we should think differently about the way we live Islam and present it to those around us.

Do I Really Believe This? Strengthening Your Core Iman (Ahmed Khalil & Fadel Soliman)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 204

Who is your Lord? What is your deen? Who is your Prophet? The beauty of Islam lies in its simple, yet profound core credal tenets. Instead of becoming consumed in "Aqeedah wars," connecting - or reconnecting - with the foundational tenets of Islamic belief is key. This session returns to these foundations, including our belief in Allah and his Oneness, our belief in the Quran, and our belief in the final messenger. This will offer a much-needed refresher, help answer common doubts and questions, and help youth share the simple message of Islam with others. Importantly, this session will allow us to understand how our Aqeedah shapes our everyday life.

3:79 وَلَٰكِن كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ إحياء الربانية في عصر المادية Reviving God-Centeredness in the Age of Materialism (Khaled Hanafy & Jasser Auda) - Arabic Session

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 200

في زمن طغت فيه الماديات ،وتراجعت فيه المعاني الإيمانية، كيف نُحيي قلوبنا بمعنى الربانية؟ وكيف نعيش قوله تعالى: ﴿وَلَٰكِن كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ﴾ [آل عمران: 79] في واقع يزاحم فيه كل شيء علاقتنا بالله؟

تأخذكم هذه المحاضرة في رحلة إيمانية تعيد ترتيب الأولويات، وتربط القلب بخالقه، وتكشف كيف تتحول العبادة من طقوس إلى منهج حياة، ومن أقوال إلى سلوك. نستعرض معًا خطوات عملية لبناء نفسٍ ربانية، ثابتة أمام تيار المادية، ومؤثرة بنورها في محيطها. محاضرة توقظ القلب من الغفلة ، وتعيد توجيه البوصلة، لتعيش حقيقة واحدة: أن تكون مصبوغًا بصبغة الله في كل شأنك.

4:21 وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًۭا Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage: Upholding the Way of Allah in our Homes (Sharif El-Tobgui, Mohamed Rida Beshir & Sana Afzal)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 201

Protecting the sanctity of marriage requires grounding our understanding of family in the enduring hikmah of Allah (SWT). Modern society continuously produces competing frameworks for how marriage and family should function—whether through ideologies such as feminism, trad wife culture, red pill, or other emerging models—that subtly shape expectations around gender, authority, fulfillment, and partnership. Because these frameworks are often normalized and difficult to detect, Muslims must first learn to recognize and critically name them in order to protect the sanctity of marriage.

Upholding the Islamic framework of marriage also requires intentional preparation before entering it. Preparing for marriage means developing realistic expectations, understanding rights and duties, and dismantling modern constructs that reduce marriage to emotional fulfillment alone.

وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًۭا
"And they have taken from you a solemn covenant?" (Surah An-Nisa 4:21)

3:140 وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ Critical juncture: Have we been Here Before, a Historical Review (Yakoob Ahmed, Wael Haddara & Abdallah Marouf)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 202

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌۭ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًۭا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ
In their stories there is truly a lesson for people of reason. This message cannot be a fabrication, rather ˹it is˺ a confirmation of previous revelation, a detailed explanation of all things, a guide, and a mercy for people of faith. (Yusuf:111)

When everything feels like it is falling apart, history reminds us that the Ummah has been here before. This session revisits the moments when our community faced its greatest trials — and survived, rebuilt, and emerged stronger. Because understanding where we have been is the first step toward understanding where we are going.

42:13 أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ Iqamat Al Din: Protecting our Right to Worship (Ismahan Abdullahi, Khaled AlQazzaz & Sami Hamdi)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 203

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحًۭا وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِۦٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا۟ فِيهِ…
He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein….

This ayah states that the prophetic mission from Nuh AS till Prophet Muhammad SAW was one of "establish the religion". What does "establish the religion" mean? What might it look like in our context, specifically protecting our rights to worship? With legislation including bills C21, C9, C12, and C22 threatening our religious freedoms and civil rights on the horizon, this session will explore how the Muslim community can advocate and collectively uphold their rights to worship and live as Muslims in all their spaces.

Brothers Real Talk: Haya, Lowering the Gaze & Fighting for Your Fitrah in a Corrupt World (Ahmed Khalil)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 204

Brothers: Let's get real. You're growing up in a world of constant temptation; everything is accessible, normalized and encouraged. Lowering the gaze isn't easy. Discipline isn't popular. And preparing for marriage? Most people aren't even thinking about it properly. This is an unfiltered, brothers-only zone to tackle the questions you don't know where to turn to. What does it actually mean to be a man in 2026? What does strength actually look like? How do you control your desires instead of being controlled by them? Are your habits preparing you for marriage, or sabotaging it?

Sisters Real Talk: Haya, Lowering the Gaze & Fighting for Your Fitrah in a Corrupt World (Noor Arman)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Ballroom

Sisters: Let's get real. Between constant exposure, beauty standards, and the pressure to be seen, liked, and desired, it's easy to feel like your worth is tied to attention, relationships, and validation. This is a strictly confidential, sisters-only space to talk about what's really going on. How do you hold onto your worth in a world that constantly tries to redefine it? What does it mean to prepare for marriage in a way that protects your heart? How do you stay true to your fitrah when everything around you pushes the opposite?

2:138 صبغة الله Sibghatullah from Belief to Action: The Example of Prophet Ibrahim AS (Hamid Ghazali)

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I have submitted [in Islām] to the Lord of the worlds."(2:131)

This session explores the true meaning of sibghatullah by reflecting on the Quranic description of Ibrahim AS. Ibrahim AS, known as Hanif, exemplified complete submission to Allah SWT. SibghatAllah such that his actions stayed true to Allah SWT throughout the tests of his life. Clarity of tawheed such he AS called others to it, and continuously prayed for a nation submitting to Allah SWT from his descendents.

What is the strength of belief needed, that commits one to a lifetime of behaviour modification? What systems must be built into our lives to support us on this journey? The journey of Rabanniyah in which the tawheed in our heart, is manifest in every thread of our life. In these days of Dhul Hijjah, let us be reminded to exemplify sibghatAllah, as following in the footsteps of Ibrahim AS.

6:57 قُلْ إِنِّي عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّي A Critical Lens on Living as a Muslim in a World of Divergent Worldviews? (Panel: Sharif El-Tobgui & Ovamir Anjum, Interviewer: Nabil Sultan)

Sibghat Allah speaks to a reality that transcends time. Civilizations rise and fall, ideologies shift, and moral frameworks are rewritten across generations, yet divine truth remains constant. Modernity is built on the assumption of linear progress, where history is imagined as continuous moral and social improvement. Yet, within the Islamic worldview, the earliest generations represent the highest standard of alignment with truth. We are the product of a deeply embedded non-Islamic civilizational model that shapes how we define success, measure progress, and understand the self. The challenge is not only intellectual but civilizational: how do we begin to disentangle ourselves from frameworks that normalize values that are in opposition with Islam, while still operating within their structures?

This requires a deeper engagement with competing worldviews and their moral foundations. What assumptions sit beneath our understanding of purpose, ethics, and progress? And what would it mean to reconstruct an alternative Islamic model of life that is not reactive, but rooted—one that reorients thought, behaviour, and civilization through Sibghat Allah, the colouring of existence through divine truth.

صِبْغَةَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبْغَةًۭ ۖ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ عَـٰبِدُونَ
"[And say, "Ours is] the religion of Allāh. And who is better than Allāh in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:138)

21:107 رَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ The Model of Madinah: A Blueprint for Building Society (Mohamed AbuTaleb)

كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًۭا مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ ١٥١
Just as We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know.

It is well known and understood that we turn to the prophet SAW for guidance in how Islam is implemented in our personal and spiritual lives. We know to emulate his ethical and moral leadership. This session explores that leadership specifically from the perspective of society and civilizational building, especially as we see the direction the prophet SAW took with establishing the fledgling Muslim community in Madina.

Sunday May 17, 2026

96:1 ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ Read in the Name of Your Lord: In the Pursuit Knowledge, Truth & Meaning (Ovamir Anjum & Jasser Auda)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 200

The pursuit of knowledge in Islam is a journey toward recognizing Allah (SWT) as Al-'Alim—the All-Knowing. The Qur'anic command of Iqra' is often understood as a call to read, but its deeper meaning is captured in "Iqra' bismi rabbika alladhi khalaq"—read in the name of your Lord who created. This framing anchors knowledge in transcendence: it is not reading detached from meaning, but reading through the lens of divine consciousness. This transforms knowledge-seeking into an act of tawhid, where every field of study becomes a reflection of divine wisdom and every discipline is connected back to the Creator.

At the heart of this vision is the pursuit of Al-Haqq (The Truth), which is inseparable from the pursuit of Allah SWT. The goal of knowledge is not merely information or control, but clarity, guidance, and moral responsibility. True understanding refines character, cultivates humility, and directs the human being toward justice and service.

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
"Recite in the name of your Lord who created." (Al-'Alaq 96:1)

31:17 وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ A Mother & Teacher: Raising Children that Rise above Challenges (Amani, Noor Arman & Nimao Ali)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 201

يَـٰبُنَىَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱنْهَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ
"O my dear son! Establish prayer, encourage what is good and forbid what is evil, and endure patiently whatever befalls you. Surely this is a resolve to aspire to. (Luqman: 17)

The most important classroom a child will ever sit in is the home and the most influential teacher they will ever have is their mother. This session will hear first hand from a mother in Gaza and how parenting was redefiend by living through genocide. Explores the powerful and sacred intersection of motherhood and education, and what it truly takes to raise children who are resilient, grounded, and equipped to face the challenges of the world without losing themselves in the process. From nurturing emotional strength to building Islamic identity in an age of confusion and distraction, this session offers honest, practical wisdom for mothers and educators who are shaping the next generation, one child at a time.

11:61 وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا Proactive Muslims & the Responsibility of Developing our Society (Ebrahim Rasool, Anas Altikriti & Human Appeal)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 203

Allah ﷻ did not place humanity on earth merely to consume its resources or live passively within society. He entrusted us with an amanah (responsibility): to cultivate, repair, uplift, and establish justice in the world around us. The believer is not detached from the condition of society, but actively engaged in transforming hardship into ease, division into solidarity, and injustice into dignity.

The Prophet ﷺ taught that even removing harm from the road is charity. This reveals an Islamic worldview of responsibility: believers are people who clear pathways — i.e. social pathways blocked by racism, poverty, oppression, alienation, and exclusion. A Muslim shaped by Sibghat Allah becomes solution-oriented, principled, and beneficial to creation.

The Company You Keep: Building Righteous Circles and Resilient Relationships (Mohamed AbuTaleb & Ismahan Abdullahi)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 204

Who you surround yourself with will shape who you become. Your family shapes your foundation. Your friends influence your direction. And in moments of pressure, conflict, or misunderstanding, your response defines your character.

This session redefines what it means to build relationships from the ground up through the Prophetic model, while navigating the real tensions youth face today: friend groups pulling you in different directions, misunderstandings with parents, and the pressure to compromise your values just to belong. We will explore our responsibilities to our relationships, and develop hikmah in upholding our responsibilities: the ability to respond with clarity, restraint, and principled judgment and build circles that carry us into our Akhirah.

ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ 96:1 MAC Educators' Conference Sessions

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 202

Opening Remarks: The Vision Behind MAC Educators' Conference

Reframing Education: Building Believers, Not Just Achievers (Maryam Attia) — 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Current education systems often prioritize measurable achievement: grades, credentials, rankings, and value outcomes such as high-income careers as success. However, in an Islamic worldview, education is not only about what students become professionally, but what their frame of reference is, their sense of identity, and what defines their every aspect of life. Are we producing high achievers who are uncertain of their purpose, or grounded believers who use their knowledge with intention? A believer grounds their definition of success in taqwa (or righteousness), and includes integrity under pressure, ikhlas (sincerity in action), and khilafah (service to others). Students learn more from what is modelled than what is taught, and school culture quietly teaches students what is truly valued.

Cultivating Hilm: Leading with Patience and Wisdom in the Classroom (Abdalla Idris Ali) — 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Rooted in the example of Prophet Muhammad and the divine attribute of Al-Haleem (The Forbearing), hilm calls educators to move beyond reactive discipline. Hilm asks educators to react thoughtfully and engage with students that maintains their dignity, as Allah does not rush to punish us despite our shortcomings. Teaching requires constant emotional regulation, which when done with intent is ibadah when done for Allah. "Those who restrain anger and pardon people — and Allah loves the doers of good" (Surah Aal Imran, 3:134). Educators should aspire to develop a prophetic approach with sabr that blends restraint, emotional intelligence, and compassionate guidance. Students may forget content, but they remember how they were treated and who believed in them. The prophetic way was rooted in gentleness and understanding, which fostered safety and community. The prophet corrected with calmness and dignity, as correction that maintains dignity builds trust and growth, hence better outcomes.

96:19 وَٱسۡجُدۡۤ وَٱقۡتَرِب Transformed by Worship: Moral Uprightness in a Time of Darkness (Marzouk Ellythy, Mohammad Iqbal Alnadvi & Hamid Ghazali)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 200

Worship in Islam is a transformative force that elevates moral character and anchors the believer in a higher standard of truth. In a time of widespread moral confusion and darkness, faith provides not just guidance, but elevation: it reshapes how we see right and wrong, and strengthens the heart to remain upright even when surrounding norms collapse. Islam does not aim to produce individuals who simply blend into society, but those who carry a distinct moral clarity rooted in accountability to Allah SWT.

In the current world order, moral scandals should not be seen as surprising, but as the natural outcome of systems detached from divine accountability. At the same time, Islam teaches us to distinguish between human error within a sound framework and entire worldviews where the framework itself is flawed. This is the transition from Jahiliyyah to Islam—from moral confusion and shifting values to clarity, discipline, and submission to truth.

91:9 قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا Raising a Generation That Guards Its Heart and Controls Its Limbs (Ismael Mukhtar, Ali Al-Halawani & Antar Teleba)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 201

Tarbiyyah must move beyond correcting outward behavior alone and address the deeper reality of the heart, where many spiritual diseases first take root. While sins of the limbs are visible and often easier to identify, sins of the heart—such as envy, greed, arrogance, and resentment—are more subtle yet often more destructive, shaping the intentions and motivations behind outward actions.

Islamic tarbiyyah calls for a deeper process of purification, helping individuals understand the spiritual roots of their struggles and develop the self-awareness needed for genuine transformation.

وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ‏.‏ أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ
There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoiled the whole body gets spoiled and that is the heart. - Sahih al-Bukhari 52

دور المسلمين في حفظ القيم وبناء الشهود الحضاري Preserving our Islamic Values & Building a Civilizational Legacy (Jasser Auda & Khaled Hanafy) - Arabic Session

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 202

في عالمٍ متغير مثل كندا وغيرها من المجتمعات المتعددة، يبرز سؤال مهم: ما دور المسلم اليوم؟ هل هو مجرد الحفاظ على الهوية، أم القيام برسالة الشهود كما أراد الله تعالى؟

تتناول هذه المحاضرة مفهوم الشهود الحضاري في الإسلام؛ أن تكون الأمة شاهدة بالحق، تسير على هدي القرآن والسنة ، تنشر العدل والرحمة والإتقان، وتُسهم في عمارة الأرض وفق منهج الله.

كما تؤكد أن أعظم تعريف بالإسلام في المجتمعات غير المسلمة هو أن يكون المسلم قدوة عملية، يجسّد الإسلام في أخلاقه وسلوكه، حتى يصبح الإسلام ظاهرًا في التعامل قبل الكلام.

المحاضرة تعيد تعريف دور المسلم في الغربة: ليس مجرد وجود، بل رسالة، وشهود، وإسهام في بناء الحضارة.

Stories of 'Izza: Why Al-Aqsa Still Lives in Us (Nabil Sultan & Abdullah Marouf)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 203

سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ١
Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing. — Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

The third holiest sight. The first qibla. One prayer there is equivalent to 250 prayers elsewhere. Why has it always been at the heart of this Ummah? This storytelling session traces that connection across time. We begin with the story of 'Izza then: the journey of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) on the road to Al-Aqsa. Then we turn to 'Izza now. From the streets of Gaza to the hearts of believers around the world, Al-Aqsa remains a living cause. Why are those under siege so deeply connected to it? What is it about this land that produces resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering faith? This session will connect the sacred to the present, and history to responsibility.

وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ 5:35 Enhancing Success: Using AI with Purpose (Mohammed Estaiteyeh & Mohammed Saleem)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 204

AI is being used as a crutch rather than a tool to accelerate output, increase academic achievement, and polished assessments. However, from an Islamic lens, falah (success) is not just about grades, but also about alignment with purpose, ikhlas (sincerity) and amanah (accountability to Allah). AI should be used to generate ideas, language support and feedback on original work, rather than to input prompts to create the end product. Incorrect use of AI moves beyond plagiarism policies to moral accountability because submitting work that isn't truly yours can be framed as a breach of amanah, as Prophet Muhammad SAW said, "Whoever deceives us is not from us" (Sahih Muslim 101). Let's enhance our students' success by teaching them to use AI with purpose and to recognize and appreciate the value of growth by producing outputs and submitting work that are truly their own.

"And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives. And that his effort is going to be seen." (Surah An-Najm, 53:39-40)

4:135 كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ Towards Meaningful Conversations: Indigenous Perspectives and the Islamic Worldview (Maskwa David Alexanderson)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Theater X

Muslim educators want to have relevant, authentic conversations aligned with culturally responsive teaching that connect to Islamic principles. This session will address Indigenous Perspectives and the Islamic Worldview, enabling educators to engage in dialogue with confidence, clarity, and care. Balancing curriculum expectations with Islamic values is essential, including adl (justice) and dhulm (oppression). Practical educational resources, not just theory, will be provided for classroom conversations. The session will highlight stewardship, justice, and community, while emphasizing the importance of acknowledging historical realities like the Canadian Indian residential school system with integrity and care.

"O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what you do." (Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:8)

16:89 تِبْيَـٰنًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ Frame of Reference: Living with Purpose Amid the Noise (Sharif El-Tobgui, Hussein Elkazzaz & Tom Facchine)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 200

In a world saturated with competing ideas about what is "good," "beautiful," and "true," the central question is no longer simply what do we believe? but how do we know what is right in the first place? This introduces the concept of frame of reference as the underlying lens through which all moral judgments are formed. We are constantly surrounded by "noise"—competing narratives that shape how we think and act. From an Islamic perspective, this frame of reference is rooted in the fitrah—the natural disposition upon which Allah SWT created human beings. In this sense, revelation does not impose something foreign onto the human being, but rather revives and clarifies what was already placed within them—La ilaha illallah (لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ). The Qur'an and Sunnah function as a reminder and recalibration of this original orientation.

هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تِبْيَـٰنًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
"And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims". (Surah An-Nahl 16:89)

4:19 وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ الخلافات الزوجية.سبل الوقاية وكيفية الإدارة Marriage: Common Challenges & Solutions (Khaled Hanafy & Mohamed Rida Beshir) - Arabic Session

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 201

شرع الله تعالى الزواج ليحقق السكن والمودة ﴿ وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾[ الروم: 21]إلا أن العلاقة الزوجية أحيانا يشوبها شوائب تنحرف بالزواج عن هذه الغاية الأصيلة فتنشأ الخلافات بين الزوجين وترتب آثارا سيئة عليهما وعلى أبنائهما، وحرصا على استقرار الأسرة لأنها الأساس في بناء المجمع تهدف هذه المحاضرة لمعرفة طرق إدارة الخلافات الزوجية باستقرار الأسرة والحرص على حسن إدارة الخلافات الزوجية.

2:143 شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ Witnessing Genocide: A Call for Legal and Moral Accountability (Norman Finkelstein & Ebrahim Rasool)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Ballroom

As the world bears witness to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, this session confronts the urgent question of legal, moral, and collective accountability. Moving beyond outrage alone, it examines what is demanded of us in the face of systemic injustice: the Islamic duty to speak truth clearly, stand with the oppressed, and refuse neutrality when human dignity is under assault. It will also unpack what international law requires of states and individuals, why accountability so often moves slowly, and how communities can engage meaningful legal and civic pathways for justice. At its heart, this session asks what it truly means to bear witness in our time — not as passive observers, but as people prepared to testify, organize, and act with principle and perseverance.

Following the Way of Ibrahim: A Guided Taddabur Experience (Amal Albaz)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 204

In moments of confusion, the Quran is the ultimate source of clarity, strength, and light. In this hands-on workshop, we move beyond just reading the verses to Tadabbur, reflecting deeply to uncover the personalized messages Allah has for every one of us, right now.

We will journey through the stories of the Young Ibrahim (AS), exploring what it truly means to stand firm for the Truth when it feels like the whole world is going the other way.

59:21 لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ Tadabbur as a Pedagogical Framework for Educators (Hamid Ghazali & Fadel Soliman)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | Room 202

Many students can recall content but struggle to connect it to purpose, as current education often rewards speed and product completion over depth. Tadabbur slows down learning and explores how deep reflection can transform surface-level understanding into meaningful, intentional, and purpose-driven education. "This is a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might deeply reflect (do tadabbur) upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded" (Surah Ali Imran, 38:29). Tadabbur moves students from memorization to insight by thinking deeply, encouraging them to connect knowledge with reflections, and to connect learning to their identity, values, and real-life choices. Educators facilitate students to become reflective, intentional learners grounded in faith and purpose, as tadabbur leads to transformation.

The Qur'an is described as the "rope of Allah" (Surah Ali 'Imran 3:103) and Ibn Ḥubayrah (rA) said, "Among the deceptive schemes of Satan is his chasing the servants of God away from tadabbur of the Qur'an, due to his conviction that guidance occurs during tadabbur. Allah warns, "Do they not then deeply ponder over the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts?" (Surah Muhammad, 47:24).

2:285 وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا "We hear and We obey." Obstacles in the Path of Obedience (Ismael Mukhtar & Marzouk Ellythy)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 200

This session explores the inner dimension of faith (tazkiyah) and the reality that the greatest barrier to obedience often lies not in the command itself, but within the heart. Why can obedience feel heavy even when truth is recognized? How do pride, attachment to comfort, spiritual heedlessness, and the influence of the nafs create distance between conviction and action? The session will unpack the barriers between us and "we hear and we obey," examining how the state of the heart, habits of distraction, and a culture centered on ease and self-gratification can weaken submission to Allah SWT.

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٣١
When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I have submitted [in Islām] to the Lord of the worlds." (Surat Al Baqarah, 2:131)— Saheeh International

25:32 كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ Le Coran comme voie vers la constance dans la religion / The Quran as our Source of Steadfastness (Franck Amin Hensch) - French Session

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 201

Le Coran est une voie essentielle vers la connaissance en religion. Comme le rapporte Abou Chourayh Al Khouza'i, le Prophète ﷺ a dit : « Ce Coran a un côté dans la main d'Allah et l'autre dans vos mains ; accrochez-vous à lui, et vous ne vous égarerez jamais. »

Dans un monde rempli de distractions, il est indispensable de se recentrer sur le Coran, source ultime de vérité. Il éclaire le chemin du croyant et transforme les cœurs. Placé au centre de la vie, il devient une clé de constance dans la foi et un trésor inépuisable capable de réformer les individus et les sociétés.

وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًۭا سَدِيدًۭا 33:70 Hypocrisy Unveiled: Uncovering Truth and the Battle of Free Speech (Jamal Elshayyal & Norman Finkelstein)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Ballroom

Free speech is celebrated until it challenges the wrong people. This session exposes the glaring double standards in who gets to speak, who gets silenced, and whose narrative gets amplified. From the weaponization of narrative to the targeted silencing of journalists reporting on injustice, we'll examine how truth is being suppressed in plain sight and what our Islamic obligation is to bear witness anyway. A timely, honest conversation about power, hypocrisy, and the courage it takes to speak truth in an age that claims to value it.

Beyond the Scroll: Reclaiming Knowledge in the Age of Feel-Good Islam (Mohamed AbuTaleb & Sharif El-Tobgui)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 204

In an age of endless scrolling, AI-generated summaries, and surface-level content (e.g feel good Islam), our ability to think deeply and seek knowledge with intentionality is fading. This session challenges the passive consumption of information and calls youth to seek knowledge in a way that is aligned with the Islamic worldview. Drawing from the example of those who came before us, we will explore how knowledge was a valuable goal sought worth investments of time, money, and effort. Participants will be introduced to the Do's and Don'ts of seeking knowledge to navigate doubts, confusion, and modern distortions with clarity, conviction and balance.

وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 63:8 Learning from the Past to Build Students with Izza (Yakoob Ahmed and Sana Afzal)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 202

Are we nurturing students who seek validation from others or from Allah? Rooted in the Qur'an: "Honour belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers" (Surah Al-Munafiqun: 8), izza is strength grounded in confidence through submission to Allah, not status or wealth, which can lead to arrogance. Educators are murabbis (nurturers), not just those who deliver content, and should aim to cultivate dignity, confidence, and purpose to shape students' identities. The aim is to create learning environments where students are connected to their legacy and develop a strong, faith-centred sense of self. By drawing on historical Muslim figures and storytelling, educators can connect students to a legacy of achievement and leadership, moving beyond worldly success metrics to nurture a purpose-driven identity that is pleasing to Allah SWT.

2:128 وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ The Whole-Child Approach: Navigating Social Media's Impact on Student Wellbeing (Nisreen Alameddine & Runda Ebied)

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Room 203

Who is raising our children: the internet algorithms or intentional tarbiyyah by parents and educators? Social media is not neutral; it actively shapes a person's self-worth, identity, and values, as what is repeatedly seen becomes normal. In the formative years, the impacts of social media have raised global concerns on overall student wellbeing. By amplifying unrealistic lifestyles, students face many issues such as anxiety, jealousy and inadequacy. As Muslim educators, we are murabbis, not just instructors, and education is holistic and not just cognitive, as it nurtures the qalb (heart), 'aql (intellect), ruh (soul), and akhlaq (character). "In the body there is a piece of flesh… if it is sound, the whole body is sound—it is the heart." (Sahih al-Bukhari). Are we addressing students' hearts or only their academic outputs? If our students are constantly connected to the world but disconnected from their true purpose, have we truly educated the whole child?

21:25 لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ Islam's Mission Statement: To What do we Invite Humanity? (Panel: Ebrahim Rasool & Anas Altikriti, Interviewer: Jamal Elshayyal)

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ٢٥
We never sent a messenger before you ˹O Prophet˺ without revealing to him: "There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Me, so worship Me ˹alone˺." (21:25)

When asked by Rustam why the Muslims had come, Rib'i Ibn Amir gave a famous response detailing the purpose of their mission: "Allah has sent us to deliver whomsoever chooses, from the 'uboodiyyah (servitude) of men to the 'uboodiyyah of Allah, from the narrowness of this world to the vastness of this world and the Hereafter, and from the tyranny and oppression of (false) religions to the justice of Islam". He summarised the mission to a greater purpose of servitude to one God, freedom from worldly constriction and upholding justice. This panel will discuss how we can articulate core Islamic messages and values in a way to engage global conversations that have impact. It will answer the question on how we can contribute with Islamic solutions to wider society issues and improved realities.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبْغَةًۭ ۖ 2:138 Upholding the Way of Allah (Fadel Soliman)

SibghatAllah - The way of Allah: Allah SWT visually describes what complete submission to Him SWT would manifest as by giving the example of a dye. To recognize and acknowledge Tawheed - There is no God but Allah - is to understand who He is as our God (Ilah), and who we are as His abd. This recognition 'colors'/'dyes' every fibre of our being, shapes how we view ourselves, our fellow human beings, the world around us and our position and purpose in this life. Taking on the 'color of Allah' is to submit to the way of life ordained by Allah, Ar Rahman - Islam. Who better to ordain a system of living and flourishing in this life but the One God who is All Knowing, All Merciful, The Just and The Wise? Only through Islam can humanity reach it's peak in this world, and in the hereafter.

Upholding the Way of Allah: Fostering deep yaqeen (conviction) through knowing Allah SWT is what fuels us. Seeing and learning from how His prophets, especially Prophet Muhammad SAW, embodied that eemaan and lived Tawheed becomes our road map. Upholding Islam and submitting to all its tenets to the best of one's ability in one's personal life is the starting line. Each individual accountable for nurturing and strengthening oneself in their relationship with Allah SWT, themselves and the world around them.

Monday May 18, 2026

الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ 17:1 في رحاب فلسطين: دروس من الأرض المباركة Lessons from the Blessed Land (Khaled Hanafy & Abdallah Marouf) - Arabic Session

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 200

فلسطين ليست قصة تُروى… بل مدرسة تُربّي فينا معنى الثبات، حين يتراجع الكثيرون، وماذا يعني اليقين حين تضيق السبل. ليست مجرد أحداث، بل دروس تُعيد تشكيل فهمنا للإيمان، والصبر، ونصرة الحق. وفي الوقت نفسه، يستمر نداء الأقصى… نداءٌ لا يهدأ، يذكّرنا بأن لهذه القضية امتدادًا، وبأن مسؤوليتنا لا تقف عند التعاطف، بل تبدأ عند الوعي، وتُترجم إلى عمل .هذه المحاضرة ليست لسرد ما يحدث…بل لفهم ما يجب أن نكون عليه: كيف نقرأ ما يجري بوعي، كيف نحفظ الحقيقة، وكيف نكون من أهل الموقف لا من المتفرّجين. محاضرة واقعية، تربط بين القلب والعقل، وتدعونا لنكون شهود حق… في زمن كثُر فيه الضجيج وقلّ فيه الوعي

بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ 9:71 Gender Wars: Deconstructing Feminism & Masculinity A Quranic Perspective (Fadel Soliman & Sarah Attia)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 201

وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ ٧١
The believers, both men and women, are guardians of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil, establish prayer and pay alms-tax, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they who will be shown Allah's mercy. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (9:71)

In a time marked by "gender wars" and adversarial narratives around masculinity and femininity, Islam offers an alternative paradigm that rejects competition between the two and instead grounds their relationship in justice, balance, and divine purpose. This framework can be seen powerfully in the examples of the men and women of Gaza, whose resilience, sacrifice, and steadfastness demonstrate how Islamic gender roles manifest through shared struggle, mutual honour, and complementary strengths. Their example challenges reductionist assumptions about gender by showing that courage, nurturing, sacrifice, and leadership are not in opposition, but are distributed across the Ummah in ways that reflect responsibility and circumstance.

كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ 4:135 The Ummah Beyond the Headlines: Our Responsibility to Act (Yakoob Ahmed, Taha Ghayyur & Mahmuda Khan)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 202

Across decades and continents—Myanmar, East Turkestan, Kashmir, Republic of Central Africa, Sudan, Syria and beyond—the Ummah continues to bleed. This session is a solemn reflection on the forgotten and ongoing tragedies endured by Muslims worldwide, tracing the pain, the resilience, and the silence that surrounds them. It is time to move away from reacting to trendy causes, and work toward long term impactful work for our ummah.

More than a recounting of loss, this is a call to remembrance, responsibility, and action—rooted in the belief that no injustice is unseen by Allah, and that we will be accountable for what we do. This session moves beyond headlines and narratives to offer a grounded and honest assessment of where the Ummah stands today, what forces are working against its unity and strength, and what an informed, faith-centered understanding of these realities demands of us as a community.

16:127 وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ God-Centered Resillience on the Path of Advocacy (Hend, Ahmad Attia & Ibtihal Aboussad)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 203

Advocacy is exhausting. Community building is a long game. And activism without a spiritual anchor will eventually burn you out, bitter, and empty. This session explores what it means to build resilience that is rooted not in willpower or ideology but in a living, breathing relationship with Allah.

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
"Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allāh, Lord of the worlds." Surah Al-An'am 6:162

Drawing from the firsthand testimony of a student from Gaza, this session explores a journey defined by profound loss, unwavering persistence, and the strength to overcome. By reflecting on the examples of the Prophets who advocated for justice under impossible pressure, activists and community builders can stay grounded, spiritually nourished, and emotionally sustainable for the long road ahead without losing their faith, their families, or themselves in the process. Because the work of justice is sacred and sacred work requires a sacred source of strength.

When Obedience Feels Heavy: Overcoming the Struggle to Submit (Ahmed Khalil & Amal Albaz)

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 204

Many may struggle with some of Islam's basic commandments to pray, wear the hijab, or avoid backbiting. This session explores the inner dimension of faith (tazkiyah) and the reality that the greatest barrier to obedience can lie within the heart. Why can obedience feel heavy, and how can youth find the sweetness in obedience? This session will unpack the barriers between us and "we listen and we obey", connecting it to the state of the heart, the influence of the Nafs, and the environment of ease and distraction we live in. The goal is to guide youth toward loving obedience, where submission becomes natural, and rooted in connection to Allah as true 'abd. This session should also draw a link between the state of the individual heart and the state of the Ummah.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبْغَةًۭ ۖ 2:138 La religion d'Allah dans la réalité occidentale : comment se forme l'identité musulmane? Sibghatullah in our Current Realities (Franck Amin Hensch & Mahdi Tirkawi) - French Session

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 200

La connexion avec Dieu a pour grand fruit de s'imprégner de Sa perfection. La nature consiste à aimer le bien (vérité, miséricorde, justice, dignité), tandis que cette imprégnation consiste à les incarner réellement. La nature existe chez tous, mais cette imprégnation vient après la foi et la pratique religieuse. Elle est une perfection propre aux croyants et devient leur identité. La religion marque le cœur, la parole et les actes, les rendant conformes à la volonté divine. Cette empreinte distingue le croyant et lui permet de rester fidèle à ses principes où qu'il soit.

ٱدْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَـٰمٍۢ 15:46 Families on the Path to Jannah Together (Sharif El-Tobgui, Mohamad Zahid Abughoudah & Abdalla Idris Ali)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 201

The family in Islam is not merely a social unit, but a sacred institution designed to help one another journey toward Jannah. The Islamic vision of family frames the home as the primary space of spiritual formation, moral development, and mutual responsibility. Returning to Allah's SWT framework means moving beyond cultural habits or reactive parenting models and instead grounding family life in prophetic methods of mercy, leadership, consultation, and tarbiyyah.

Strengthening the family means fulfilling responsibilities not only to spouses and children, but also to parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors, and the wider community. In this way, family becomes the foundation of the Ummah itself: when internal family bonds are healthy and external obligations are upheld, the social fabric of the Muslim community is strengthened. To invest in the family, then, is to invest in the future of the Ummah.

21:92 إِأُمَّةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ From Rubble to Revival: Gaza, the Ummah, and Our Shared Responsibility (Abdallah Marouf, Hussein Elkazzaz & Othman Moqbel)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 202

Palestine has become more than a place, it has become a mirror held up to the conscience of the entire Ummah. This session explores the profound and reciprocal relationship between Palestine and the global Muslim community. What has Palestine awakened in us spiritually, morally, and collectively? And what have we given in return? Speakers will examine the urgent work of supporting the Palestinian cause, with specific focus on protecting and rebuilding the lives of a people who refuse to be erased.

5:8 شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ Communal Responsibility: The Haqq of the Most Vulnerable (Ismahan Abdullahi, Rana Hamdy & Maskwa David Alexanderson)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 203

Abu Darda reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Seek out your vulnerable on my behalf. Verily, you are only given provision and support from Allah due to the weak among you." Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1702

The directive in this hadith is clear: The responsibility of protecting and empowering the vulnerable lies directly upon the able and empowered within society. This session will help us in recognizing who the vulnerable are in our neighbourhoods and how to fulfill the rights they have upon the community's rizq - time, money and social support.

Visionaries of the Ummah: Youth Activism Lab (Khaled AlQazzaz & Ibtihal Aboussad)

11:45 AM - 1:15 PM | Room 204

Oh Youth! You see the headlines, you feel the pain of the Ummah, and you want to help, but where do you start? There have always been a group of youth who rise and carry this deen with clarity, conviction, and action. This session is a direct call to step into that role.

We begin by revisiting a powerful letter written decades ago to the youth to discover our true purpose and potential. From there, we move into a fireside conversation that tackles a question many youth are faced with: What does it actually mean to live a life of purpose today? Drawing from real-world experience, this discussion will challenge how we define success, ambition, and career paths. Then, in an interactive Youth Impact Lab, you won't just listen, you'll build. You'll work through real challenges facing your community and the Ummah, and begin developing practical ways to contribute through your education, career, relationships, and everyday choices.

إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 6:13 Documented and Deliberate: The Active Plot Against Al-Aqsa (Abdallah Marouf)

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِـُٔوا۟ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
They wish to extinguish Allah's light with their mouths, but Allah will ˹certainly˺ perfect His light, even to the dismay of the disbelievers. (Saff: 8)

Masjid Al Aqsa is not merely a place of worship, it is the third holiest site in Islam, a trust handed to this Ummah, and the subject of one of the most deliberate and systematic campaigns of erasure in modern history. This session pulls back the curtain on the active and ongoing plot against Al Aqsa, exposing the legal, political, archaeological, and demographic strategies being used to sever the Muslim connection to this blessed land. From illegal excavations beneath its foundations to legislative moves designed to alter its status, from the systematic restriction of Muslim worshippers to the incremental normalisation of its occupation, this session leaves nothing unsaid.

102:1 أَلْهَىٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ At-Takathur: Consumption, Distraction, and Global Injustice (Yakoob Ahmed, Ibtihal Aboussad & Aliya Khan, Interviewer: Jamal Elshayyal)

Allah SWT warned us centuries ago the obsessive pursuit of more would consume us. This session revisits Surah At-Takathur and its chilling relevance to modern life, where overconsumption, endless distraction, and the race for status have quietly disconnected Muslims from their moral obligations to a suffering world. When we are busy accumulating, we are not paying attention. And when we are not paying attention, injustice thrives unchallenged.

This session connects the dots between our personal habits of consumption and distraction and the broader global injustices we have grown numb to and calls us back to a life of purpose, presence, and accountability before we reach the hereafter.

4:135 كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ Iqamat AlDin: The Responsibility to Collectively Establishing Justice (Ismahan Abdullahi)

Justice is not a political buzzword, it is a cornerstone of the Deen. Allah SWT commands us not just to believe in justice but to actively establish it, together, as a community. This session examines what it truly means to uphold Iqamat Al Din in a world where oppression is systemic, injustice is normalized, and silence has become the path of least resistance.

From our obligations to the marginalized in our own communities to our collective duty to stand against injustice globally, this session calls Muslims back to their divine mandate, not as bystanders, but as active establishers of truth and equity. A grounding, action-oriented session for those ready to move from awareness to accountability.