ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America) is an annual gathering held in Baltimore, Maryland. Every year, Muslims from all over the country and worldwide eagerly await this event. The ICNA conference is typically held around Memorial Day weekend, lasting three days. During these three days, various events intended for spiritual enrichment and the unification of the Muslim community occur.
As usual, over 300 lectures were presented in ICNA this year on miscellaneous topics, including Islamic theology and spirituality, social and political discrepancies, familial orientation, youth-focused talks and even health and fitness. Islamic theology lectures were aimed to dive deeper into Islam and provide an understanding of how to build a stronger relationship with Allah (God) and what is permissible in Islam and what is not.
Similarly, many social and political concerns occurring across the globe were discussed at ICNA 2024, including the mass genocide in Palestine and Gaza, the deliberate genocide towards a Muslim minority in China known as the Uyghurs, and countless other political topics concerning Islam. Familial orientation topics, like how to build a stronger and trusting relationship with your family through Islam. Their lectures focus on assisting youths to resist temptation commonly identified among teenagers and how to fit into societal norms while remaining close to God.
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In the mirror of the Prophet’s hadiths, health and fitness lectures were presented to help individuals strive to make positive and healthy changes in their lives. Each lecture had a theme that helped attendees understand their faults and assisted them in improving and enhancing their lives. Experienced and reputable scholars, activists, youth & community leaders delivered the health and fitness lectures. Each day, speakers such as Omar Suleman, Suzy Ismail, and Laila El Hadid, together with the 66 other speakers, preached on diverse topics.
In addition, ICNA provided a great opportunity for large-scale humanitarian organizations such as HHRD (Helping Hand for Relief and Development) to raise their voices for their intended purpose on a global scale. HHRD aims to supply worldwide human aid and development in response to human suffering and calamities. They work to eliminate hunger worldwide, support homeless individuals with housing and other challenges and collect donations and external funding globally rather than in specific countries.
Each year, by participating in the largest reported Muslim convention, the Helping Hand Organization raises funding to help more adults and children recover. These contributions strengthen the community, alleviate poverty to an extent, and promote education, resulting in a better, more unified planet. Therefore, ICNA is a gathering platform for HHRD and other organizations to bring awareness among Muslims and raise funding for less fortunate individuals.
Individuals participate in ICNA as visitors, business owners, lecturers, and volunteers. ICNA has hired over 300 male and female volunteers this year to ensure the convention can operate smoothly and safely for all attendees. Volunteers were responsible for prayer room assistance, conference halls, welcoming areas, and childcare facilities. Prayer area assistance focused on handing out plastic bags for holding shoes and directing people to the correct entrance to minimize the prayer rush and ensure everyone had an equal opportunity to pray. Volunteers assisted in arranging speakers, seats, microphones, and other equipment in huge meeting halls. Volunteers handed out badges and lanyards to visitors at the Welcome Orientation spots to check in at the convention.
Finally, volunteers served as childcare providers to facilitate the parents’ attendance at the convention and ensure a smoother and easier experience without worrying about their children. Indeed, each volunteer contributed enthusiastically and thoroughly to the conference.
Aside from Islamic educational purposes, ICNA provides a platform for small business owners to promote their products to over 30,000 people. This year, likewise, a large combination of businesses and organizations in ICNA set up a small Bazaar for attendees to browse numerous products. Clothing, beauty, toys, prayer mats, jewellery, and more were offered in the Bazar to allow new businesses and entrepreneurs to make money while spreading awareness of their products. The Bazaar was an entertaining part of ICNA, demonstrating how the convention is not only targeted to educate and support but also to enjoy and create memorable moments with family and friends.
In summary, ICNA is a faith-reviving forum that many Muslims across the globe attend to enrich their souls and learn more about themselves and Islam. In addition to attending lectures, people partake in volunteering and numerous other activities, and create a memorable, enjoyable experience at this annual mass convention.