By MYNA Staff

Nov/Dec 2024

This year’s Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) programs at ISNA’s 61st Annual Convention were an unforgettable event. Thousands of youth from across the country gathered under the theme, “Unity in Faith: Journey to Victory.” The program featured 17 engaging sessions, each drawing over 500 attendees, and covered critical topics of spiritual growth, unity, and overcoming challenges. Esteemed speakers included Imam Zaid Shakir, Mufti Hussain Kamani, Shaykh Abdulnasir Jangda, Shaykha Iesha Prime, Shaykha Haifaa Younis, Imam Mohamed Magid, and Dr. Yasir Qadhi.

The theme resonated deeply with the attendees, emphasizing the power of collective effort, transcending cultural and personal differences, and fostering harmony within the Muslim youth community. “Journey to Victory” symbolized each individual’s personal and spiritual growth, a collective push toward overcoming internal and external trials.

“The MYNA program was truly the highlight of the entire ISNA Convention,” shared Saleh, a program attendee. “Each session was deeply moving and incredibly powerful. It wasn’t just about learning facts—it was about connecting with our faith on an emotional and spiritual level.” 

This sentiment echoed across the event, as attendees walked away feeling inspired and uplifted by the remarkable speakers and topics that resonated with the challenges and triumphs faced by Muslim youth today.

Beyond the inspiring sessions, the MYNA track fostered personal connections, provided space for networking, and encouraged meaningful dialogue. One participant, Amira from Chicago, said, “The lectures and workshops really helped me understand my role in building a stronger community. It’s about bringing our hearts together for something bigger than ourselves.”

The program also featured workshops that focused on a variety of topics, from practical leadership skills to the role of youth in social justice movements. Over the weekend, MYNA youth leaders also organized special activities, giving participants the chance to bond over shared experiences and future aspirations. The event truly embodied the idea of uniting hearts for a common cause and striving toward personal and communal victories.

The MYNA convention wasn’t just confined to the sessions; the MYNA booth in the bazaar was a hub of energy and excitement throughout the weekend. Youth from across the nation gathered to learn more about upcoming camps, leadership programs, and MYNA’s year-round initiatives. The booth was a space for connection and networking, where many attendees signed up for future programs and even reunited with old friends. Volunteers were busy sharing the impact of MYNA’s work, while merchandise and sign-up sheets flew off the tables, reflecting the enthusiasm of the crowd.

“The booth was an amazing opportunity to see how many people wanted to get involved,” said Ayman, an attendee from Texas. “It showed that we’re not just participants, we’re building a real, lasting community.”

As the MYNA program drew to a close, the energy and excitement in the room were palpable. The sense of unity and purpose fostered throughout the sessions left a lasting impression on both the attendees and the speakers, with several key-note lecturers noting how exceptionally well-planning and executed the MYNA track was.

“This wasn’t just a weekend event — it was a transformative experience,” said one participant. 

With hearts full and spirits lifted, everyone left with renewed commitment to their faith and their communities. The powerful combination of spiritual growth, intellectual engagement, and communal bonding will continue to resonate long after the convention.

The post MYNA Helps Connect Youth to Faith appeared first on Islamic Horizons.

By MYNA Staff

Nov/Dec 2023

The Prophet salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “There lies within the body a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted. Verily this piece is the heart.” (Al-Bukhari, 52 and Muslim, 1599).

The Prophet Ibrahim, alaihi salaam,  prays in the Qur’an, “…Oh Allah, do not allow me to be put to shame, on the day when all will be brought forth, on the day when nothing will avail anyone from money or children except he who comes to God with a sound heart (that is saleem). (26:87–9).”

What can give you power to stay grounded as you move through the challenges of life? 

What is the thing that can keep you in a state of gratitude? 

How can you adopt and maintain a zoomed out perspective that allows for reflection without emotions clouding your rational thoughts?

It is a sound heart. Al-qalb al-saleem. A sound heart is free from any blemish, illness, or issue. It recognizes life for what it is: a test for the believer, a place to worship and to practice patience while the promise of happiness awaits in the hereafter. But while many of us focus on how to keep our physical bodies healthy, we pay little attention to what it means to have a healthy, sound heart.

Between July 23 and August 5, MYNA hosted week-long summer camps in six different states. From Pennsylvania, California, and Texas, to Wisconsin, Indiana, and Georgia, 504 campers explored the foundations of tazkiyah, (purification of the heart.) They learned about the signs, symptoms, and cures of some of the most common and detrimental spiritual diseases. Youth took a deep dive in this essential prophetic practice and cultivated their consciousness, character, spirituality, and morality as young Muslims in America. 

Camps featured speakers such as Shaykh Mikaeel Ahmed-Smith, Shaykh Rami Nsour, Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi, Shaykh Hunzla Zaidi, Shaykh Sa’ad Quadri, and more. Lecture topics included in-depth reflections on detachment from dunya, intentions and fighting off arrogance, adopting an attitude of gratitude, and not being heedless of death and our final day. Youth also participated in a number of interactive workshops and recreational activities, including swimming, high ropes courses. Some camps even included boat rides across serene waterfronts.

“I don’t know where I would’ve been without MYNA,” Mahmoud El-Malah said. “I’ve been  going to MYNA camps since I was 12, and I experience every camp as if it’s my first. MYNA has played a vital role in my childhood and upbringing. It taught me that no matter where I live, I can always find friends that can bring me closer to Allah. Every camp has taught me a new aspect of our religion.”

Visit www.isna.net/youthdev/ to find out about MYNA Winter Camps 

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The post MYNA Summer Camps 2023 appeared first on Islamic Horizons.