Reviving the Islamic Spirit
Encyclopedia
Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) is an annual Islamic conference
typically held during the winter holiday season in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
.
The first conference was held in 2003, and has since become one of North America's largest Islamic conferences, rivaling the ISNA
convention in the United States
. The conference has grown from 3,500 attendees in its first year to over 17,000 in 2009, making it the largest Islamic conference in Canada.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/06/09/conferences-muslim.html Conferences have generally been structured around a specific central theme, which have included the life of the prophet Muhammad
, Canadian-Muslim identity
, and Islamic civilization
. While criticism of the event is seen from both anti-Islamist observers and fundamentalist Muslims, organizers maintain that the event as an attempt to revive Islamic traditions of education, tolerance, and introspection.http://www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com/convention/about_us.asp
In May 2010, RIS held its first conference in the United States in Long Beach, California. http://www.longbeachcc.com/events/may.htm Since then, the conference has been held in the Long Beach Convention Center on Memorial Day weekend.
and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf
. Other notable speakers who have appeared over the years include:
, a concert
has been held at the end of the conference almost every year, usually consisting of nasheed (Islamic music
) or performances by Muslim musicians. Main performers who have headlined the concert include: Sami Yusuf
, Maher Zain
, Najam Sheraz
, Raihan
, Native Deen
and Danish
hip-hop group Outlandish
.
Academic conference
An academic conference or symposium is a conference for researchers to present and discuss their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important channel for exchange of information between researchers.-Overview:Conferences are usually composed of various...
typically held during the winter holiday season in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The first conference was held in 2003, and has since become one of North America's largest Islamic conferences, rivaling the ISNA
Islamic Society of North America
The Islamic Society of North America , based in Plainfield, Indiana, USA, is a Muslim umbrella group. It has been described in the media as the largest Muslim organization in North America.-History:...
convention in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The conference has grown from 3,500 attendees in its first year to over 17,000 in 2009, making it the largest Islamic conference in Canada.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/06/09/conferences-muslim.html Conferences have generally been structured around a specific central theme, which have included the life of the prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, Canadian-Muslim identity
Islam in Canada
According to Canada's 2001 census, there were 579,740 Muslims in Canada, just under 2% of the population. In 2006, the Muslim population was estimated to be 0.8 million or about 2.6%. In 2010, the Pew Research Center estimates there were about 0.9 million Muslims in Canada. About 65% were Sunni,...
, and Islamic civilization
Islamic civilization
Islamic civilization may refer to:*Islamic Golden Age*Muslim world*Caliphate...
. While criticism of the event is seen from both anti-Islamist observers and fundamentalist Muslims, organizers maintain that the event as an attempt to revive Islamic traditions of education, tolerance, and introspection.http://www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com/convention/about_us.asp
In May 2010, RIS held its first conference in the United States in Long Beach, California. http://www.longbeachcc.com/events/may.htm Since then, the conference has been held in the Long Beach Convention Center on Memorial Day weekend.
Speakers
Each year distinguished scholars from different parts of the world come to the conference to share their knowledge and wisdom through a series of lectures. Two scholars have made an appearance at the conference every year since the start of RIS: Imam Zaid ShakirZaid Shakir
Zaid Salim Shakir is a prominent American Islamic scholar and writer who is a co-founder, , and faculty member, of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, United States, where he teaches courses on Arabic, Law, History, and Islamic Spirituality...
and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf
Hamza Yusuf
Hamza Yusuf Hanson is an Islamic scholar of the Sunni tradition, and co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, United States. He is an American convert to Islam, and is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders,...
. Other notable speakers who have appeared over the years include:
- Sulaiman Moola
- Hamza YusufHamza YusufHamza Yusuf Hanson is an Islamic scholar of the Sunni tradition, and co-founder of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, United States. He is an American convert to Islam, and is one of the signatories of A Common Word Between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders,...
- Abdullah bin Bayyah
- Imam Zaid Shakir
- Tariq Suwaidan
- Zakir NaikZakir NaikZakir Abdul Karim Naik is an Indian public speaker on the subject of Islam and comparative religion. He is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation , a non-profit organization that owns the Peace TV channel based in Dubai, UAE. He is sometimes referred to as a televangelist...
- Siraj WahhajSiraj WahhajSiraj Wahhaj is an African-American convert to Islam. He is imam of Al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, New York and the leader of The Muslim Alliance in North America .-Early life:...
- Jamal BadawiJamal BadawiJamal A. Badawi is an Egyptian born Muslim Canadian former professor in the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a well-known author, preacher and speaker on Islam....
- Muhammad Alshareef
- Tariq RamadanTariq RamadanTariq Ramadan is a Swiss academic, poet and writer. He is also a Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford University...
- Michael LernerMichael Lerner (rabbi)Michael Lerner is a political activist, the editor of Tikkun, a progressive Jewish interfaith magazine based in Berkeley, California, and the rabbi of Beyt Tikkun Synagogue of San Francisco.-Family and Education:...
, RabbiRabbiIn Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah... - Eric MargolisEric MargolisEric S. Margolis is an American-born journalist and writer. For 27 years, ending in 2010, he was a contributing editor to the Toronto Sun chain of newspapers, writing mainly about the Middle East, South Asia and Islam. He contributes to the Huffington Post and appears frequently on Canadian...
, journalist - Robert FiskRobert FiskRobert Fisk is an English writer and journalist from Maidstone, Kent. As Middle East correspondent of The Independent, he has primarily been based in Beirut for more than 30 years. He has published a number of books and has reported on the United States's war in Afghanistan and the same country's...
, journalist - Imran KhanImran KhanImran Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistani cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics...
, PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i cricketerCricketerA cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player".... - Attallah Shabazz, eldest daughter of Malcolm XMalcolm XMalcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
- Dr. Zakir Naik
- Suhaib WebbSuhaib Webb-Early life:He was born William Webb in 1972 in Oklahoma to a Christian family, including a grandfather who served as a preacher. At age 14, he lost interest in religion going through a self-described spiritual crisis...
- Mark Siljander
- Chris HedgesChris HedgesChristopher Lynn Hedges is an American journalist, author, and war correspondent, specializing in American and Middle Eastern politics and societies...
Concert
Although somewhat controversial considering Islam's view towards musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
has been held at the end of the conference almost every year, usually consisting of nasheed (Islamic music
Islamic music
Islamic music is Muslim religious music, as sung or played in public services or private devotions. The classic heartland of Islam is the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, Central Asia, Horn of Africa and South Asia. Due to Islam being a multi-ethnic religion, the musical expression of its adherents...
) or performances by Muslim musicians. Main performers who have headlined the concert include: Sami Yusuf
Sami Yusuf
Sami Yusuf is a British singer-songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist musician of Azeri origin.In 2003 Yusuf released his first album "Al-Mu`allim" at the age of 23, selling over two million copies...
, Maher Zain
Maher Zain
Maher Zain is a Muslim Swedish R&B singer, songwriter and music producer of Lebanese origin. His debut album Thank You Allah, an internationally successful album with strong Muslim religious influences, was released in 2009.-Career:...
, Najam Sheraz
Najam Sheraz
Najam Sheraz is a Pakistani pop singer, musician, composer and comedy actor. He is most prolific singer; indeed he is a household name in Pakistan. Many of his songs have become anthems all over the world. His latest album, eight in his career, "Najam" has been released recently both in India and...
, Raihan
Raihan
Raihan is a Malaysian nasheed group originally composing of five members that took Malaysia by storm with the release of their debut album Puji-Pujian in October 1996. The group's original lineup comprised Nazrey Johani, Che Amran Idris, Abu Bakar Md Yatim, Amran Ibrahim, and Azhari Ahmad as the...
, Native Deen
Native Deen
Native Deen is an Islamic musical group from the Washington, D.C. area. Native Deen's music combines a hip-hop style with lyrical themes grounded in Islam.The group uses percussion instruments and synthetic sounds...
and Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
hip-hop group Outlandish
Outlandish
Outlandish is a multi-award–winning hip-hop group based in Denmark. Formed in 1997, it consists of Isam Bachiri , Waqas Ali Qadri , and Lenny Martinez . All three members are religious, with Isam and Waqas being Muslims and Lenny being Catholic...
.
Previous conferences
| RIS | Theme | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reviving the Islamic Spirit | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
January 4 - January 5, 2003 |
| 2 | Changing Our Condition | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
January 2 - January 4, 2004 |
| 3 | Legacy of the Prophet | Rogers Centre Rogers Centre Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League... (formerly SkyDome) |
December 24 - December 26, 2004 |
| 4 | Islamic Civilization | Direct Energy Centre (formerly National Trade Centre) | December 23 - December 26, 2005 |
| 5 | The Neglected Sunnah: Patience in the Face of Rejection | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
December 22 - December 24, 2006 |
| 6 | Family Matters: The Basis of a Civil Society | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
December 28 - December 30, 2007 |
| 7 | Answering the Call of God's Messenger: Setting Prophetic Priorities for Muslims in the West | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
December 26 - December 28, 2008 |
| 8 | SOS: Saving the Ship of Humanity | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
December 25 - December 27, 2009 |
| 9 | Rules for the Road of Life: Reviving the 10 Commandments in the Modern World | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
December 24 - December 26, 2010 |
| 10 | Control, Chaos or Community: Three Ways, One World, Our Choice | Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre , located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario at 255 Front Street West, has of space. The convention centre was completed in October 1984 and is home to the 1330-seat John Bassett Theatre... |
December 23 - December 25, 2011 |