Muslim American Society and Islamic Circle of North America Convention is one of the largest Islamic conventions held annually in North America. The annual MAS-ICNA Convention was held at McCormick Place Chicago from Dec. 26-28, 2022.
ICNA, established in September 1968, is one of the oldest Muslim organizations after ISNA. Currently ICNA is one of the largest, nonprofit grassroots Muslim organizations in North America with many projects, programs, and activities designed to help in reforming society.
The three-day-convention, more than 300 volunteers from all ages were behind the programs. Mostly volunteers were active in providing security, managing logistics, serving on the panels, and directing the human traffic generally.
The convention had hundreds of speakers, intensive workshops, roundtable discussions, art exhibits, films, talent shows, a bazaar and lots of more. This year's theme is "Islam & Modernity: Challenges & Opportunities."
The three-day convention of the MAS - ICNA, larger group of American Muslims, more than 30,000 people participated in it, including from different countries and people speaking in tongues were involved.
Famous religious scholars Yasir Qazi, Sheikh Umar Sulaiman, Imam Siraj Wahab, Oussama Jammal, Hadia Zarzour, Nihad Awad, Mir Rizwan Ali, Hatem Bazan, Shaykh Mohamed Moussa, Noor H. Salem, Abdullah Oduro, Ahmed Shukri, Ieasha Prime, Dr. Sameera Ahmed, Dr. Ayman Hammous, Mufti Hussain Kamani, Jamal Said, Rami Kawas, Margari Aziza Hill, Dr. Hamed Ghazali, Sheikh Khalifa Mustapha, Shaykh Abdul Rahman Khan, Dr. Dalia Fahmy, Shaykh Yasir, Mohamed AbuTaleb, Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jagda and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Khan discussed the problems faced by the Muslim Ummah, especially the American Muslims, and their possible solutions.
A total of 150 programs were held on the topics of problems and challenges faced by Muslims, in which scholars and experts gave speeches. The leaders and scholars of Islamic Organization in Australia, Britain, Canada, and Norway also participated in the convention. The participants included a huge number of youth and children under the age of 20 and they went back with a message of positive spirituality and more maturity from religion. The struggle for the implementation of a fair and equitable system of Islam should be accelerated for the positive education of Islam. The convention expressed concern over the atrocities and genocide of Muslims in Palestine, Indian Kashmir, Uyghurs in China, Rohingya in Burma and supported their struggle for peace. Several scholars discuss about mutual unity and consensus of Muslims and staying away from sectarianism, linguistic and regionalism was emphasized. Urdu, Arabic, Bangladeshi, Indonesia, and separate sessions were also held in the languages of Malaysia and other languages also.
Participants included young people and students from different schools of thought and sects. In addition, hundreds of people from other religions also attended the convention who were not just curious about Muslims and Islam but also wanted to gain more knowledge about it. Interfaith dialogue is encouraged. During the three days, dozens of seminars and talks were held on various topics, some of which were about interfaith dialogue. Scholars and religious leaders said on this occasion that the purpose of interreligious dialogue is to respect each other's religion and recognize the values of others. He said that most of the world's chaos is caused by religious people because religious people want to increase their influence in their societies. It is the responsibility of religious leaders to raise their voices against dictators and oppressive rulers. It is also the responsibility of religious leaders to continue dialogue and work for good around the world. People will hold religious leaders responsible if they do not fulfill their responsibility. Many convention speakers said that all religions teach values like peace, justice, equality, and good conduct.
MAS-ICNA Convention promoted family issues, finances, civic service, spirituality, civil rights, youth development, and interfaith relations in the USA. Islamic Relief USA and several other organizations, including Helping Hand, ICNA Relief, MUHSEN and Zakat Foundation, were the major sponsors for this convention.