Thousands of Muslims expected for RIS Convention

(December 22, 2015) – Thousands of Muslims from across North America and beyond are expected in Toronto this coming holiday weekend for one of the largest gatherings of Western Muslims, the Annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention (RIS). They will come to listen to leading Islamic scholars, academics and motivational speakers, meet and mingle with fellow Muslims, and discuss matters of faith and contemporary issues.

Themed  ‘Alliance of Virtue’, the convention is set to run from December 25 through December 27, at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in the heart of downtown Toronto.

The Reviving the Islamic Spirit convention was first launched in 2003 by Muslim youth to tackle the backlash on Islam and Muslims after the 9/11 and to build a bridge of understanding with non-Muslims.

The event has become a staple in Toronto’s downtown core during the Christmas holiday season and an estimated 20,000 attendees are expected from all over North America and around the world, adding a boost to the local economy.

Busy Schedule

RIS is regarded as a premiere global event among Muslims in the Western world and an annual meeting place for leading thinkers and theologians.

This year’s speakers include an impressive list of world-renowned scholars and speakers such as Shaykh Suhaib Webb, Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Shaykh Abu Bakr AlShatri, Dr. Aisha al Adawiya, Dr. Umar F. Abd Allah, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui, Imam Zaid Shakir, Sister Dalia Mogahed, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan, Shaykh Abdalla Idris, Aisha Gray Henry, Dr. Jamal Badawi, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Pastor Bob Roberts, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Imam Khalid Latif, Dr. Yasser Fazaga, Dr. Abdal Hakim Jackson, Ustadh Mustafa Hosny, Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed, Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda, Shaykh Omar Suleiman, and Dr. Hatem Bazian.

A number of international entertainers and performance artists will be appearing at the convention including Saif Adam, Amir Sulaiman, RAIHAN and Dawud Wharnsby Ali

A bustling grand bazaar will be a major feature during the three-day event showcasing products, as well as charities and services from around North America and the Muslim world.

The convention will also host the Annual Appreciation Luncheon to honor the visiting scholars and speakers. Dignitaries, community leaders, and political and civic leaders are expected to attend the elegant luncheon on Sunday.

A parallel children’s program runs every day of the event and a food and coat drive to assist the needy in the Greater Toronto Area will be held.