History of the 12^th Imam’s (as) Occultation & How to develop a relationship with Him

A historical overview of the 12th Imam’s Minor and Major Occultation will be presented in addition to the reason behind the Ghaybat Al-Kubra.  The lecture will conclude with suggested methods on how to develop a personal relationship with Imam Al-Asr (as).

Importance of the Ahlul Bayt (as) and the Characteristics of a Mom’in

The blessing that Allah (swt) has bestowed upon mankind and jinns in the form of the Ahlul Bayt (as) cannot be fully appreciated with our limited knowledge.  As followers of the Prophet’s (saaw) Household (as), we must strive to emulate their way of life and walk in the shadow of their Light.  The position of this Holy Family will be the focal point of this lecture and will end with a description of the characteristics of a Mo’min as enumerated by Imam Ali (as). 

Family Issues I – (Workshop)

Converting to Islam will often raise issues between us and our family members, which can lead to frustration and misunderstandings.  Attendees will share their personal experiences and exchange ideas and solutions on how to deal with family members in a loving and non-confrontational manner.  Issues which will be talked about are: 1) Handling the Holidays  2) Family Occasions / Meals & alcohol    3) Telling your parents, family and friends that you have reverted   4)  Explaining the Islamic view of Nabi Isa (as)  among other subjects.

The format for this session will be an open discussion.

Family Issues II – (Workshop)

Reverting to the deen Al-Haqq (True Religion) evokes unique emotions.  On one hand there is a feeling of exhilaration for having been guided to the right path and on the other concern and anxiety for the fate of our family members.  This workshop will strive to answer questions that are of great importance to many reverts, such as: 1) Is Jannah forbidden to my parents because they are not Muslim?  2) Is it permissible to eat from my parents’ home?  3) How to make dawah without being dogmatic?  4) If my parent(s) / family member dies can I make duas for them?  5) Do I have to obey my parents if they are not Muslim?

Marriage – Criteria for mate selection (Workshop)

This lecture will provide individuals the Islamic criteria for male selection. Learn about the different forms of marriage:  Permanent Marriage (Nikkah), Temporary Marriage (Mut’ah) and the philosophy behind Polygamy. This class will also hand out Marriage Application forms, which single participants may fill out and leave with the Event Coordinator. Complete details will be provided at the conference.

Married -  The Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad (saaw) (Workshop)

Around the world Muslims are succumbing to the material pressures that are creating strains in marriages, which often end in divorce.  Protecting this sacred union is one of the most important issues for the Ummah and should be spoken about on a frequent basis.  One of the reasons that we find ourselves in this position is because we have distanced ourselves from the Holy Quran and the teachings of Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (saaw).  This workshop will discuss the akhlaaq that the Prophet (saaw) exhibited in his marriages and the manner in which we are supposed to behave with our spouses.

Raising Children (Workshop)

Raising children in today’s world can be very difficult, particularly for parents who want to establish an Islamic foundation for their children.  Choosing the right school or educational medium can lead parents to years of “trial and error” experiences. This session will assist parents in reviewing their options: Public school, private school, Islamic school or home schooling – which is the best? In addition, learn how to create an Islamic environment for your child(ren) at home, so that madressas are not the primary source for their religious upbringing.

Raising Teenagers (Workshop)

Learn the methods used to raise Muslim teens in the West. Topics to be covered:  Dealing with peer pressure and how can parents help? How to provide halal entertainment so that Islam does not appear to be a restrictive religion? Rebellion is natural but how to contain it? Music, dating and other subjects will be dealt with.

Life in Islam –  Workshop for Teenagers

This workshop will cater to youth between 13 to 19 years and allow them the opportunity to express their opinions about growing up as a Muslim in Canada / US.  Moderators will be present to respond to their questions.

Dying and Death (Lecture)

In order to die as a believer in Western society it is essential that particular details be attended to so that one’s departure is done according to the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (as).  These issues are magnified for reverts and the solutions to these concerns are not very simple, for example: 1) Writing a will according to Islamic and Canadian laws  2)  Purchasing a burial plot in an Islamic cemetery, without being a member of a specific community 3) Heirs – leaving children behind to non-Muslim family members.    These topics and others will be covered in this session. 

Roots of Religion - Basic Beliefs in Islam – (Workshop)

This workshop will cover the basic beliefs in Islam (Usool -e- Deen) 1. Tawheed – Oneness / Unity of God   2. Nubuwwat - Prophethood   3. Imamate - Leadership or Authority of the Muslim Ummah    4. Qiyamat  -The Day of Resurrection   5. Adalat - Divine Justice.          This session will be a stepping stone for those who are interested in Islam and an opportunity for one to enhance their knowledge about the Roots of Religion. 

History of Shi’i  Islam, Origin of The Five Schools of Islamic Thought & Imam Jafar Sadiq (as)

This session will explore the origins of the Jaffari school of thought and the foundations of the Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali schools of the Ahlul Sunnah.

Women’s rights in Islam – (Workshop)

Common misconceptions about women’s rights will be discussed – setting the record straight about the position of Women in Islam. Format: Open discussion along with Q & A. 

Hayya alas Salat – Philosophy and Spiritual Aspects of Prayer (Segregated Workshop)

For many Muslims, the daily obligation of worshipping their Lord is devoid of proper understanding and remains a ritual to be performed. This workshop will discuss the philosophy of salat and explain the spiritual aspects of each rukn / movement in the salat from ablutions to the Salaams.  A demonstration on wudhu will be included in the session. 

Journey to the Lord of Power (Workshop)

Of all the relationships that one experiences in their life, there is none more rewarding than traveling and bonding with the True Reality - The Divine Essence - The Lord of Power (swt).  This session will focus on the significance of turning towards our Creator (swt) and establishing Him as our primary objective.  In addition, the value of dkhir (remembrance of Allah) in one’s daily routine will be explored.

Concentration in Prayer (Workshop)

If you have forgotten something and want to recall it, then go pray.  Our minds are constantly filled with innumerable thoughts and they seem to gravitate to the forefront of our mind as soon as we step onto the prayer mat.  The ability to remain focused and silence the mind during the five daily prayers is an arduous task to say the least.  This workshop will provide attendees with useful tips on how to improve their level of concentration, while performing their salat.  Proper Arabic pronunciation will included in this session.

The Dimensions of Hijab – A Revert’s Perspective – (Workshop)

This class will explore the various dimensions of Islamic modest dress and provide Muslimahs some insight into this powerful gift granted to them by Allah (swt).  Participants will be encouraged to reflect upon this Qur’anic injunction and appreciate the role, which they play in shaping societies. Muslim women are a strong and diverse group who have a right to wear hijab and are obligated to voice that right as governments from around the world fight to remove their veils. Learn why the veil is a source of liberation for women. Informal discussion will take place.  

 Role of Women in the 12th Imam (as) Return (Workshop)

Women have always had a presence in the unfolding of historical events and have made undeniable contributions in the development of societies.  Her role in Islamic history is no exception and women will be among the main supporters of the 12th Imam (as), when He returns to establish a government filled with justice and equality.  This workshop will discuss the role that Muslim women will play during the 12th Imam’s (as) Return.

Muslims in the Workforce –(Workshop)

How to succeed and thrive as an employee in a non-Muslim company or organization? This workshop is geared toward Muslims who work for medium to large companies in the US and Canada. Some topics that will be covered include: 1) Finding a place and time to pray   2) Dealing with company sponsored events where alcohol is being served 3) Network with other Muslims within the company 4) Your religious rights and freedoms as an employee in a private / public company and  5) Shaking hands with the opposite sex.   This session will also discuss some of the professions / careers that are lawful for Muslims to be employed in. 

Integration, Assimilation, Separation or Isolation…Visiting the local masjid  (Workshop)

The majority of Reverts encounter the same reception, when visiting the Masjid or an Islamic center.   Often this feeling of alienation intensifies as opposed to dissipating with time, which leaves Reverts questioning where is the equality?  Where is the Brother/Sisterhood?  Instead of Islam being used as a unifying force, it is replaced with culturalism, traditionalism and Easternism, which leaves converts feeling unwelcomed and confused as they search for the true followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as).  Many reverts have come to the conclusion that the essence of Islam does not exist within these establishments, therefore it is better to practice in isolation or start our own centers. This session will give an overview of the different methods that Reverts can use to integrate in existing centers and discuss the pros & cons of opening Masajids based on Islamic principles.

Commentary on Ziyaraat Aale Yasin 

One of the most praise-worthy things during the time of the Ghaybah (Occultation) is to express one's beliefs (Aqaaid) so that one can remain safe from the whisperings of the Shaytan. One of the best ways is through the recitation of Ziyarat Aale Yaseen which is comprised of a Ziyarat and Du'a and was taught to us by the 12th Imam himself. We will take a look at certain passages from this Ziyarat and offer a detailed explanation of the inner-meaning of them. The end of our discourse will consist of relating some incidents of people who have met the Imam of our time due to a regular and sincere recitation of this beautiful Ziyarat.

Speaker Biographies

Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, Author and  Imam of Ja’ffari Islamic Centre,Toronto.

Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, (book list) Rizvi, Sayyid Muhammad: The Life of Muhammad the Prophet (al-islam.org) Rizvi, Sayyid Muhammad: Marriage and Morals in Islam (al-islam.org) Rizvi, Sayyid Muhammad: The Ritual Ablutions for Women (Taharatu 'N-Nisa') ( al-islam.org) Rizvi, Sayyid Muhammad: The Ritual and Spiritual Purity ( al-islam.org) Rizvi, Sayyid Muhammad: Shi'ism: Imamate and Wilayat (al-islam.org)

Shaykh Saleem Bhimji, was born in Fort Rae, NWT, Canada. After completing his secular studies in the field of electronics in Edmonton, Alberta, he and his wife began their Islamic studies in the Imam al-Asr Theological Seminary (Hawza) in Medina, New York and then shifted to the Theological Seminary (Hawza `Ilmiyyah) of Qum, Iran.  Shaykh Saleem has worked on and off for 3 years with the Islamic Humanitarian Service [www.al-haqq.com] as a Muballigh, translator, graphic artist and web-designer and also runs his own organization, Al-Fath Al-Mubin Publications [www.al-mubin.org] dedicated to the translation and publication of books and articles on a wide variety of topics – with over 300 works on his site! In addition, he also manages his own publishing house for Islamic literature - The Islamic Publishing House [www.iph.ca] which has thus far published five books with six more on the way, including Sunanun Nabi by the late Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Taba’taba’i. Some of his translations into English include: Secrets of the Hajj; A Mother’s Prayer; Introduction to the Science of Tafseer of the Qur`an; Commentary of the 29th Section of the Noble Qur’an; and The Islamic Moral System: A Commentary of Suratul Hujurat

Diana Beatty  (Sister Masooma) Sister Massoma was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado and still lives there. There is a small Sunni Muslim community in the Springs, but as far as she knows she is the only person consciously endeavoring to follow the path of Ahlulbayt (as) in a 50 mile radius of where she lives and works.  In her day-to-day life Sister Masooma never observes another hijabi, but, despite Colorado Springs being a conservative military community, many people are fairly tolerant. She converted to Islam in 1994 and went for hajj, alhumdulillah, in 1999. Sister Masooma teachs mathematics and statistics at a public high school in Colorado Springs, and has also taught science and math at other public schools in the region.  She earned an honors Bachelor’s degree in physics with math minor and education certification from Colorado State University in 1998.  She also earned a master’s degree in education in 2005 from the University of Phoenix.  Sister Masooma serves on the board of directors for the Colorado Springs Education Association.  She has also taught madressah classes in Denver although not currently. Her conversion story, written years ago, was published by World Islamic Network http://winislam.com and is available from them by request free of charge.  It is also hosted online at the Al-Islam website http://www.al-islam.org/reflectionsnewmuslim.  Sister Masooma : "I think it is a fair representation of where I was at that time in my life although I continue to change and evolve over time."  Sister Masooma has occasionally been asked to speak on Islamic topics in Vancouver, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Utah, and Colorado – primarily at Islamic centers but occasionally for church or school groups.  Her blog can be found here,  http://masooma.blogspot.com which sometimes addresses Islamic topics.

Clazian Joseph, grew up within the Catholic system of faith 22 years of his life.  During his later years, he began to question the validity of his own faith and was introduced to Islam by a few of his friends.  He read on the Philosophy of Islam and how it is not only a religion of life for Muslims but also a guide for all of humanity.  He studied the personality of Imam Ali [as] and understood the submission one should have in the way of Allah(Swt).  From studying Islam, Prophet Muhammad [saw], and Imam Ali [as] brother Clazian Joseph embraced Islam in the summer of 2005 and chose an Islamic identity for himself as Talib-Haider; reflecting the attributes of Imam Ali.  He currently resides in Toronto and lives with his parents who still practice the Catholic system of faith.  He regularly attends the Council of Islamic Guidance (www.cig.ca) and contributes his time to assist in the youth programs organized by Al-Mahdi Youth Society (www.amyouth.org).

Fatima Ali,  Sr. Fatimah is a 10th Generation Canadian, born and raised in Montreal. Allah (swt) "introduced" her to His deen through the penmanship of Alex Haley & the autobiography of Hajj Malik Al Shabazz (Malcolm X).  Sr. Fatimah reverted to Islam 13 years ago and has been a follower of the Ahlul Bayt (as) ever since. She has a diploma in Special Care Counselling and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature.  She also works full-time in the Quality Assurance Dept for a well-known cosmetic company.  Her spare time is spent doing community work in the Montreal Muslim community and presently she holds as Chairperson of a newly developed organization for Reverts and Canadian Muslims called, The Path of Light. Sr. Fatimah resides in Montreal with her 10 year old son, Muhammad.

Priscilla (Hajar) Machado, Born in Panama, Central America, embraced Islam in 1990. She is the founder and Executive Director of The Alternative For Her Community Ctre, a non-profit organization that provides cultural-sensitive recreational programs and social service for diverse women and girls. She has a Diploma as a Social Worker and is currently working towards her Social Work Degree (Advance Standing Program) at Ryerson Univ.  She is an advocate for the rights of Muslim woman and has participated in various interfaith dialogues.  Her extensive community work includes: a Board Member of Nellie’s Shelter, a member affiliated with the FMW, Promoting Diversity and Speaking out Against Islamophobia Leadership Program.  She  is currently providing training to main stream Health Care & Social Service providers on cultural awareness & issues that affect Muslim families.

Akilah Haneef-Jabari , Sister Akilah’s objective is to serve the interests of children by enriching family life through education and support. Sister Akilah has over 15 years experience in community and program development as a Certified Parent Educator. She has extensive experience within the development of “Cooperative Classrooms” & “Proactive Parenting” programs. Sr. Akilah is a certified Adult Educator/Staff Trainer (Graduated with Honours) and was also a trained abuse/violence prevention educator with the Canadian Red Cross. This sister has excellent presentation, Public speaking, coaching and mentoring skills.

Batul Najfi, Sister Batul Najfi is currently residing in Minnesota.  She is married and mother of two sons, and a grandmother of two lovely grandsons.   Previously she was a Principal of Az-Zehra Madressah of Minnesota for 14 years.  Currently she is an active community member of Anjuman-e-Asghari Jamaat.  She has been teaching Quran and various other subjects in Az Zehra Madressah of Minnesota for over 23 years. She also gives lectures locally and travels nationally and internationally on commemorations held in the months of Muharram and Safar.  Recently Sister Batul has started to give classes to revert sisters enhancing their knowledge in the history of Islam and Islamic laws.

Cyril Anderson, Cyril was born and raised in Canada, spending his early years in Nova Scotia before coming to Montreal in 1996 to pursue post-secondary education, completing a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics and 2 years of studies in Education at McGill.  He is currently in the process of completing an M.A. in Educational Technology at Concordia.  After a period of intense searching, Cyril converted to Islam in the summer of 2002.  He has been involved in the Shia' Muslim student association at Concordia for the past 3 years, and for the past year has been involved, along with a number of other Canadian Muslims, in starting up the Path of Light, a new Islamic association in Montreal, working as Educational Coordinator.  Cyril enjoys reading and researching on a wide range of different subjects, with particular interest in economics and political science, ecumenical dialogue, and inquiries into the commonalities between Western and Islamic heritage.  Cyril lives in Montreal with his wife and son.

Sister Arifa Hudda, Sister Arifa was born in East Africa and travelled to Canada when she was only 9 months old.   She attended elementary and high school in Kitchener. After finishing school, she went to Toronto to pursue a Medical Laboratory Technologist course, and upon completing it worked in a hospital Lab for a few years. She soon married and began study at Hawza in Medina, New York for one year and from there proceeded to Qum, Iran for four years to further her Islamic studies. Currently sister Arifa and her husband are living in Kitchener, Ontario and she is a stay-at-home Mom with her 3 year old daughter. On the side she edits and proof-reads Islamic literature while occasionally doing some translating of books from Farsi to English.

Khalid Haneef-Jabari, Poet, essayist, lecturer, and long time black organizer/activist.  Brother Khalid has been involved in the struggle a long time;  organized trips to the grave site of Al Hajj Malik Al Shabazz for a  number of years; instrumental in bringing both Sister Ella Collins (the sister of Malcolm X, who sponsored his trip to Hajj) and Imam Jameel Al Amin to Toronto.  Constantly working to unite the black struggle with the universal cause of Islam, in the spirit of Al Haj Malik Al Shabazz, i.e. Organization of Afro American Unity and Muslim Mosque Inc and a luta continua, The Struggle Continues!!

Sister Laila Hasib was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She became a Muslim in October 1979 when she embraced Shi’a Islam in Washington, D.C. She is married, the mother of five children, and lives and works in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, a northern suburb of Toronto. Sister Laila has a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Education. She worked with the Cultural Attache at the Embassy of Iran following the magnificent Islamic Revolution in 1979. She was engaged in responding to the thousands of letters from the American public and schoolchildren during the “hostage crisis.,” until the Embassy was closed by the US in April 1980. She then began working at the Iranian Interests Section. Sister Laila taught at the Muslim Community School in the Islamic Center in Washington, D.C. and was an original member of the community under the leadership of Imam Muhammad al-Asi, which is banned from the Islamic Center. Following the ban, the Muslim Community School moved to the Islamic Education Center in Potomac, Maryland, where she continued to teach. Upon moving to Canada, Sister Laila was instrumental in the typesetting, editing and writing of Crescent International, an international Muslim newmagazine, still in publication in Markham, Ontario. She taught for several years at the East End Madrassah. Sister Laila sat on the board of directors of As-Sadiq Islamic School, helping to establish the school under the auspices of the Ja’afri Islamic Centre, and taught at the school for 5 ½ years. She is the author of two books for Muslim youth, The Sandhills of Arabia and The Diamond in the Sand, published by the Islamic Propagation Organization in Iran. Sister Laila presently works as a special education teacher with the York Region District School Board where she’s been employed for the past six years.

Sister Latifa Samji was born in Zanzibar,  she grew up and attended school in Dar-es-Salaam , Tanzania. She migrated to Canada in 1985 and completed High School in Toronto. Latifa went on to complete one year of accounting but decided it was not for her. Sister Latifa enrolled in Howza Ilmiya Imam Al- Asr in Medina, N.Y and studied for 4 yrs. She then traveled to study in Iran Qom, in Jameat al- Zahra (S.A) for 4 yrs. Today Latifa continues her religious studies on line through Qom. She has a Diploma as a Social Worker and is currently working towards her Social Work Degree (Advance Standing Program) at Ryerson Univ. She provides training to main stream Health Care & Social Service Providers on cultural awareness and issues that affect Muslim families. Sister Latifa gives lectures locally and  has traveled to different cities to lecture about Islam and Women’s issues. Sister Latifa holds ongoing weekly classes in Toronto on the 40 Hadith of Imam Khomeini.

Masters Of Ceremonies

Br. Sameer Karim is dedicated to the service of Islam and to the community where he has served with distinction in a number of capacities.  He has been involved with dozens of youth activities over the years from seminars to ski trips and has been particularly active in the annual Tawheed Summer Camp which takes place in northeast United States.  He has of late turned his attention towards several tabligh (outreach) initiatives.  Having completed a bachelors of business administration and subsequently his MBA, he is a builder in the Toronto area where he lives with his wife and newborn daughter.

Amin A. Toussaint, was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium where he attended the “Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales” a Top 3 Business School and obtained a Bachelor degree in Business Management and Foreign Affairs. Upon his graduation, Amin relocated to New York and enrolled in Pace University to pursue a Part Time MBA in Financial Management.  While pursuing his MBA, Amin worked for several prestigious International corporations such as American Express, Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers. Amin obtained his MBA in Financial Management in September 2001. Amin is currently working at Lehman Brothers where he is the CFO for the Fixed Income, Risk and Research Technology groups. Amin is also the founder and President of FINALIBRIUM Inc, a small Financial Consulting Services firm. Amin has been a follower of the Ahlul Bait for close to 10 years. It was one of his friends in Belgium who first introduced him to Islam. He has been attending and participating in the “Tawheed Institute Madressa ever since”

Isa Michael Broderick's. former name was Ken Broderick. Isa has been a Muslim for three years now. He reverted in March of 2004. Isa grew up in a fairly secular home so religion was understandably not prevalent. By the age of 20, he became a "born again" Christian so to speak. However, the concept of the Son of God never sat well with Isa and caused him to struggle intellectually and in the end leaving him frustrated and socially outcaste from the Christian community. In 2003, he moved in with a close friend who was, alhamdulilah, Muslim. Certain events in his life provoked curiosity as to the origins of life and the validity of religious faith. During this period of inquisition, Isa's roommate and a few other Muslim friends were going through a transformation of their own and he was there to witness all of it. It is only the Wisdom of Allah (swt) that HE placed Isa in an environment whereby inquisition was persistently followed by progression and inevitably truth was uncovered in every crack and every corner that was searched. Isa Michael is currently completing his studies and he is actively involved in an organization called IMI (Islamic Media Institute) that is dedicated to promoting the Sunnah of Ahlul Bayt by way of media.

The I.R.C Team Of Volunteers

Events coordinator: Fatima Ali,  Sr. Fatimah is a 10th Generation Canadian, born and raised in Montreal. Allah (swt) "introduced" her to His deen through the penmanship of Alex Haley & the autobiography of Hajj Malik Al Shabazz (Malcolm X).  Sr. Fatimah reverted to Islam 13 years ago and has been a follower of the Ahlul Bayt (as) ever since. She has a diploma in Special Care Counselling and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature.  She also works full-time in the Quality Assurance Dept for a well-known cosmetic company.  Her spare time is spent doing community work in the Montreal Muslim community and presently she holds as Chairperson of a newly developed organization for Reverts and Canadian Muslims called, The Path of Light. Sr. Fatimah resides in Montreal with her 10 year old son, Muhammad.

IRC Chairperson: Jennah Heydar, born in Montreal but moved to Ontario in '88 with her parents, Jennah began her journey towards Islam after experiencing a traumatic life-altering health issue in 2000.  After this point she found herself researching different ideologies and delving deeper into her soul.  After a few years not discovering the answers to her questions and in turn her fulfillment she felt frustrated and lost. Only when meeting a young Muslim man on the Internet and learning of his beliefs did she feel lifted. Jennah had a year of intense study while examining the different Muslim sects and the history and life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the Ahlulbayt (as). She finally had an altering epiphany that encouraged her to recite her shadada.   Jennah is a visual artist and graphic and web designer by trade. She runs a small design business from her home called Jennah Design. As a visual artist she creates art that will bring attention to Islam and her most recent series is on the battle of Karbala. A single Mother of two lovely boys she resides in a city south of Ottawa. Sister Jennah is looking forward to starting her Islamic studies this year. She is also the founder and fulltime operator of Revert Muslims Association.

Treasurer: Amin A. Toussaint, was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium where he attended the “Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales” a Top 3 Business School and obtained a Bachelor degree in Business Management and Foreign Affairs. Upon his graduation, Amin relocated to New York and enrolled in Pace University to pursue a Part Time MBA in Financial Management.  While pursuing his MBA, Amin worked for several prestigious International corporations such as American Express, Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers. Amin obtained his MBA in Financial Management in September 2001. Amin is currently working at Lehman Brothers where he is the CFO for the Fixed Income, Risk and Research Technology groups. Amin is also the founder and President of FINALIBRIUM Inc, a small Financial Consulting Services firm. Amin has been a follower of the Ahlul Bait for close to 10 years. It was one of his friends in Belgium who first introduced him to Islam. He has been attending and participating in the “Tawheed Institute Madressa ever since”

Manager of Sponsors/Vendors/Donations: Sister Agnes, came to Canada about 15 years ago from Eastern Europe.  She was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, in a family that maintained Catholicism in all aspects of their lives. She began to question her religious upbringing sometime during her teenage years. Having found no satisfactory answers to her questions she took some time to investigate other world religions. Allah (SWT) led her to Islam and the Ahl ul Bayt through a seemingly chance encounter with her now husband. Sister Agnes has found tranquility and fulfillment in Islam. Being a part of this conference is a valued opportunity for her to share it with others.

Volunteer and Lecture Assistant: Sister Gilary Massa Machado, was born in Panama and is a second generation Muslim convert . Sister Gilary is in her fourth year at York University studying political science. She is active within Palestine activist circles in the City of Toronto as well as being very involved with the York Federation of Students (YFS)- local 68 of the Canadian Federation of Students, which is York Universities Students union. She sits as a councillor on the YFS Board, and is also the Commissioner for the Vice President External of the YFS. She has been heavily involved in the organizing around the needs of Muslim students on Ontario Campuses, Tuition fee issues, and the $10 dollar minimum wage campaign.

Manager of Youth Volunteers and Assistant Graphic Designer and Media: Brother Ali Imran, was born in Pakistan, lived in Saudi Arabia for 11 years and then moved to Canada in 2000. Brother Ali is very active at  the local community mosque "Al Mahdi Islamic Centre" (CIG: www.cig.ca). Ali keeps busy with studies as he is a first year University student. Brother Ali is also a full time administrator at GTAShia on line as well as Revert Muslims Association online forums. He has a wonderful talent for reciting and regularly recites eulogies. The R.M.A are pleased to have his ongoing assistance with the administration of the forums as well as calling on his skills with graphics design.

List of noted volunteers who we wish to thank publicly: To come...