In the North American Muslim diaspora the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has become an eagerly anticipated experience for a sizable portion of the community. This year’s event was no exception. It attracted thousands, attired in colorful garb representing many ethnic groups, over the Labor Day weekend at Rosemont Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The three-day gathering created an instant ummah, a global Muslim society. The diversity represented, in racial, ethnic, linguistic, cultural and nationality dimensions, would be difficult to find anywhere else, including the Muslim world, except at the time of the pilgrimage. American Muslims are fortunate to experience a hajj-like atmosphere in microcosm, and hopefully, appreciative of the opportunity made available. Get-togethers of this type help to lessen the parochial, narrow and tribal outlook for which Muslims are notorious.
An estimated thirty thousand turned up to celebrate the reality of Islam in America, as well as to participate in spiritual learning, to hear world renowned speakers, to renew old acquaintances and to make new friends. Some enthusiasts described the gathering as a mini-hajj for the inspiration it provided to numerous participants.
The overwhelming numbers who come to the conventions are unfamiliar with the history of ISNA and its early struggles. Those who reached the shores of America during the past fifteen or twenty years take it for granted the existence of an Islamic presence in the land. However, not too long ago, in the fifties there was hardly a regular Muslim congregation to be found. It was not until the sixties that a nationally identifiable Muslim community began to take shape on the American soil.
The Muslim Students Association (MSA) founded in 1963, later to become ISNA in 1982, started with just a little more than a dozen students, if memory serves me right. The earlier conventions in the sixties attracted hardly a hundred participants. But the momentum provided by the likes of Ahmad Sakr, Ahmad Totonji, Jamal Barzinji and others too numerous to mention, gradually caught on, membership increased, chapters multiplied and brought us to the point where we are today.
One of the encouraging signs at the recent ISNA convention was the number of younger people in attendance. Their rapt attention to speakers such as Hamza Yusuf, Abd Al Fattah and Anwar Aulaqi means that they are attracted to the spiritual, intellectual and developmental aspects of Islam that has been neglected from the Islamic discourse for considerable period of time.
There might even be an intergenerational transformation in the offing as the American educated youth begin to grapple with their own problems of identity and seek to become active, as well as to move in the direction of leadership positions. The election of younger people, particularly women, to ISNA offices is an encouraging sign, hopefully indicative of a trend.
Despite the experience of thirty-eight years, well over a third of a century, ISNA has yet to become professionalized. Even on a shoestring budget its panels at the convention could still start and end on time. In the larger plenary sessions some advance planning might be useful. Such sessions of mainstream organizations usually are highly orchestrated and choreographed. Too much ad hoc activity on the stage and spontaneous presentations waste time and distract from the main agenda.
On Saturday evenings thousands gather for some dramatic happening, an inspirational speaker or two, or some breakthrough by a prominent national leader. But all they hear is the grating voice of the fundraiser. It is an opportunity lost year after year.
Then there is the perennial problem of meals. Why not invite vendors to set up several food outlets, and have some fast food type service available from early in the morning until late at night. There is always clamor for coffee but none was available at the convention this go-around.
“We ain’t here no more,” is what Pogo said when he saw the scenery changing and the boat moving. The Muslim community and the ISNA convention clientele are also changing. New values are being acquired (time awareness) and new tastes (coffee) developed. Changing times require changing action. Let’s keep up.