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CONFERENCE 2004 REPORTYou shall hold fast to the rope of GOD, all of you, and do not be divided. [3:103] You shall submit to Him, reverence Him,
observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and— whatever you do— |
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Praise be to God, this was the 19th annual United Submitters International Conference. The venue was Tucson, Arizona and the dates August 6-8, 2004. Submitters from around the world gathered to share ideas and to commemorate God. Br. Faiz led the Friday prayer. Preparing for his career as a professor in the college of business, he gave us ideas on getting rich quick. Of course, these ideas wouldn’t necessarily be accepted in the world of business. Faiz reminded us of the ways God rewards us for even the little things we do in His cause. We can use every situation, whether good or bad, as a means of remembering God, and when we do God blesses us. And this is the only way we can truly get rich. The get acquainted/welcome session took a long time because, mashaAllah, we were such a large group this year. Well over 250 people attended this year’s |
conference. We divided into 19 small groups (using 19 attributes of God) to get acquainted. It’s a great way to really get to know one another. The zikr (meditation on God) Friday evening was especially lively. Sister Parisa sang with her lovely voice, and she added the haunting sound of a drum that she played beautifully with her fingers. It made a delightful beat that captivated all of us. Saturday and Sunday we were treated to excellent talks. They were fascinating and very informative—everything from adorable pictures of baby harp seals to the discovery of another scientific miracle in the Quran. God says in 16:78: GOD brought you out of your mothers' bellies knowing nothing, and He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains, that you may be appreciative. This is the actual order that a baby develops its senses! We were also treated to many wonderful presentations by younger |
submitters, including well-researched power point talks and a trivia game that proved to be lots of fun for the whole audience. One great blessing always of the conference is seeing all the new faces, brand new submitters, excited and eager to learn. This year’s conference also brought a return of several submitters who had been unable to attend for many years. It was wonderful to see all these familiar faces. May God continue to bless the community of submitters, and keep us in the forefront of the righteous. O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD and seek the ways and means to Him, and strive in His cause, that you may succeed. [5:35] [Note. If you have any comments or suggestions about the conference, please feel free to let us know at [email protected]] |