The Way Forward for the Global Community.

The Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA), held its 9th annual convention this past Memorial Day weekend in Toronto, Canada. The theme of the convention was “The Quran, Ahlulbait and Modern Society - A Focus on Identity, Citizenship and Collaboration."

Over 2,000 participants traveled from across USA, Canada and Europe to attend this much-anticipated event for the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (AS). Renowned Islamic scholars, academicians and community activists, from around the world, educated, instructed and inspired a throng of eager participants on various topics.

Topics such as the image of the Ahlul Bayt in the eyes of non-Muslims helped participants better understand the universality of the message of social justice in Islam. The importance of serving one’s larger community and engaging in the political process in the school of the Ahlul Bayt was emphasized. The need for a modern approach to dawah was also an emphasis of the convention.

The illustrious speakers elaborated on the themes of our global identity in the 21st century, the concept of citizenship through the prism of theology and resolving our conflicting identities in contemporary society. The sessions offered an opportunity for introspection through the subject of latent racism, not to mention defining the real victims of terrorism.

Focusing on the topic collaboration, the rapt audience heard a different perspective on the uniting force of Wilayah and subsequently deliberated upon the challengers of uniting successfully. To that end the President of UMAA, Dr. Ehtisham Abidi read a historic communiqué whereby the major Shia Organizations, namely, Imam Mahdi Association of Marjaeya, Imamia Medics Inernational, Islamic Information Center, NASIMCO, and UMAA, had agreed to enhance collaboration and best practices in the service of Shia Community, as well as service to the wider North American society.

A full evening public session was devoted to the ‘Crisis in Bahrain’ at the Jaffari Islamic Center in Toronto, one of the largest Shia Centers in North America which also houses a magnificent Quranic Exhibition called from Parchment to the Ipad. The chilling fact of the atrocities upon the Shia in Bahrain were related form first-hand experience by Sayed Mahdi Al Modaressi, founder of Ahlul Bayt TV, Husain Abdullah, who represents the Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain., and Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Islamic Information Center.

The deafening silence on the persecution of the citizens of Bahrain, by western nations in contrast to the laudable vocal support of the people of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya was lamented upon. The session called upon the Shia community in North America to exert its maximum efforts to heighten the awareness dire plight of the Shia of Bahrain to persuade the international community to come to the aid of the persecuted men and women of Bahrain.

This year’s participants were blessed to be in the presence of a special delegation from the holy city of Qom. Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali, dean of Jamiat-e-Zehra, the largest howza for women in the world, led this delegation and delivered keynote addresses.

The Annual UMAA Banquet, once again, saw a full house where the Canadian multi-cultural and multi-faith experience was explained by the long serving retired police chief and a former senior member of parliament, John McCullum. Hujjatul Islam Shaykh Shomali added that after understanding came action and deeds to enhance harmony amongst humanity

Participants had a wide choice of workshops during the convention on the following subjects:

• Breaking down Cultural Barriers for Unified Advancement”
• Al-Baqee, Al-Baqee - Rebuild Jannatul Baqee!
• Effective Strategies for Political Mobilization in the West
• Collaboration amongst Shia Organizations
• Modern Day Shia Political Thought: Perspectives from the Howza
• Our Family Unit: Discussing Solutions to Modern Family Life Issues
• The Future of Shia Academia

The popular, ever growing, and much needed UMAA Matrimonial Sessions attracted the highest number of participants ever, as parents chaperoned their offspring in search of the right spouse, to begin the next fulfilling phase of their life. This year participants also saw the highest ever number of vendors offering healthy organic bee pollen, calligraphy painting, computer software, not to mention real estate purchase opportunities in Najaf and Karbala, where entrepreneurs and professionals networked to help strengthen the economic base of the community.

Information tables were setup by Ahlul Bayt TV, Anwar al Husain TV, Imamia Medics International, American Council for Freedom in Bahrain, Concerned Canadians for Bahrain, CAN-AID, and Al Baqee. These nonprofit organizations have been serving the larger community and had an opportunity to provide information about their organizations to participants. This was truly one of the highlights of the convention experience.

UMAA is a non-profit civic organization formed in 2002 to provide a platform for Shia Muslims of America. This independent organization, totally funded solely by its membership, strives to build bridges between the Shia Muslim community of North America and governmental agencies, media outlets and interfaith organizations. The organization is based out of the Washington, DC metropolitan area and has been serving the needs of the Shia Muslim community of America for the past 9 years. UMAA looks forward to having its 10th annual convention May 25th – 28th, 2012.

Contact Us

For further information visit www.umaamerica.net
For all media enquiries and official statements please contact
Dr. Ehtisham Abidi or Dr. Parvez Shah.
Email: info@umaamerica.net.