The Universal Muslim Association of America held their annual convention in Washington, DC from May 28th-30th 2004.

Formed last year, the group seeks to organize the minority Shiite community in the US, and has been inclusive of other Muslims as well, including Sunnis like Shaykh Hisham Kabbani and Dr. Robert Crane.

Many themes were presented, including:

"Unity in Diversity"
"Future of Islam in America"
"The role of mysticism in Islam," presented by Dr. Majid Naini
"Extremism is inconsistent with Islam" by Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani

In his talk, Shaykh Kabbani stressed that love of Ahl al-Bayt (the Household of the Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace and blessings) is a common theme which all Muslims---with the exception of a small sect based in one wealthy Gulf nation--can adhere to and which has the power to bring them together. Noting that the root of the word `itisam is `isma, or sinlessness, Shaykh Kabbani stated that the verse "and hold fast all ye together (w`atasimu) to the Rope of God and do not separate" (3:103) can be keyed off this meaning to refer to Ahl al-Bayt and the Prophetic lineage, and this relationship is mentioned in the following hadith:

I am leaving among you that which if you hold to it, you shall never go astray, one of them greater than the other: Allah's Book―a rope extended down from the heaven to the earth―and my mantle (‘itra), the People of my House. These two shall never part ways until they come to me at the Pond. Look well to how you act with them after me.¹

Iraq topped the list of foreign policy concerns.

The four main sessions, two each on Saturday and Sunday were well-attended. Additionally the daily six workshops, covering a myriad of subjects, both for the youth and the old, attracted good numbers.

In one session, Iranian Nobel Laureate, Shirin Abadi, urged the audience "to not reinforce the differences with our Sunni brothers and sisters.

Towards the end of the meeting a special thanks was placed on record in by the convener, Dr. Parvez Shah, to express gratitude of UMAA and its associates to all those who had cooperated and worked hard to make the conference a success.

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America, closed the session with a special invocation.

Conference attendees greet Shaykh Kabbani

Shaykh Kabbani with Rumi author Dr. Naini.

Shaykh Kabbani greets some of the many scholars in attendance.

Shaykh Kabbani was requested to autograph many copies of his latest books, Classical Islam & the Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition and The Approach of Armageddon.

The stalls in the hallways and in the exhibition room sold a vast array of items: books, clothes, jewelry and videos. An Islamic art exhibition was an added attraction.

Shaykh Kabbani talks with Dr. Khalfan whose organization distributes Qurans to libraries and prisons at cost.

Shaykh Hisham greets Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr who gave the fund-raising banquet's keynote speech.

Shaykh Mustafa Qazwini greets Shaykh Kabbani (left).

Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi with parents Dr. Mohamed and Mrs. Mirahmadi.

The Program concluded with a fund-raising banquet on Sunday night at the Wardman Marriott, addressed by Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

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¹Narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam by al-Tirmidhī (hasan gharīb) and al-Hākim (3:148), the latter with a sound chain as confirmed by al-Dhahabī, but without the last sentence and the words “my mantle”; from Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudrī by al-Tirmidhī (hasan gharīb) and Āhmad with weak chains because of ‘Atīyya ibn Sa‘d al-‘Awfī; and from Zayd ibn Thābit by Āhmad and al-Tabarānī in al-Kabīr (5:153) with chains containing al-Qāsim ibn Hassan who is passable (maqbūl) and not trustworthy, contrary to al-Haythamī's claim in Majma‘ al-zawā'id (1:170). The latter version states: “I am leaving among you two successors (khalīfatayn)...” Also narrated from Zayd ibn Arqam by al-Nasā'ī in al-Sunan al-kubra (5:45, 5:130) with the wording: “I am leaving among you the two weighty matters...”