At UMAA's 24th Convention, Shia Muslims Move From Identity to Impact

MARKHAM, Ontario — Shia Muslims from across North America gathered over Canadian Thanksgiving weekend for the Universal Muslim Association of America's 24th Annual Convention, held October 9–11, 2026, at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre. The Shia Muslim Foundation was proud to take part, presenting a panel on faith, safety and civic life moderated by SMF Executive Director Rahat Husain.

Rahat Husain leads a panel at the UMAA 24th Annual Convention.

"The Next Chapter: From Identity to Impact"

This year's theme asked a question at the heart of Shia Muslim life in the West: how do we turn an identity rooted in faith, sacrifice and love for the Ahlul Bayt (AS) into service to our societies? According to UMAA, the convention set out to explore "strengthening our institutions and investing in our youth to serving our societies, building bridges, embracing innovation, and creating a lasting legacy."

The representative of Grand Ayatollah Sistani, Sheikh Sahlani, addresses UMAA 2026

The program reflected that ambition. UMAA's announced lineup included inspirational sessions, an influencers panel, youth programs, a grand bazaar, an interfaith reception, an art exhibit, community service, networking and a recognition banquet. The UMAA Venture Forum invited early-stage founders in AI and technology to pitch their ventures live for a chance at investment and mentoring. UMAA announced more than 5,000 attendees participated.

Dr. Hasan Abbas leads panel discussion at the UMAA 24th Annual Convention.

From the Masjid to City Hall

On Saturday, October 10, SMF and UMAA presented "From the Masjid to City Hall: Bridging Faith, Safety, and Community for Stronger Tomorrows." The panel brought together Georgia State Representative Akbar Ali, Michigan State Representative Alabbas Farhat, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, and civil-rights leader and policy advocate Ali Aljarrah. Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation, moderated the session.

The session's title framed its focus: how Muslims can carry the values they learn in the masjid into public service and civic life, and how communities can stay safe while doing so.

Sheikh Hilli: "Raising a generation to stand out"

One of the convention's most talked-about addresses came from Sheikh Hilli during a discussion on raising the next generation. As Shafaqna reported, he urged families, educators and community leaders to raise young Shia Muslims who are confident, spiritually grounded and accomplished, and who never feel they must choose between their faith and professional excellence.

"We are not raising a generation to blend in. We are raising a generation to stand out." — Sheikh Hilli

He described a generation of neurosurgeons who remember God before an operation, human rights lawyers who uphold the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) teachings on human dignity, and journalists, authors, policymakers and organizers who carry the lessons of Ashura and Karbala into their work. He stressed that knowing about the Ahlul Bayt (AS) is not the same as building a living, personal connection with them, and he called on parents and teachers to be ambassadors of the Ahlul Bayt through their conduct.

Sheikh Hilli also encouraged young people to hold their Shia identity with confidence in the face of Islamophobia, and asked Islamic centers to offer youth unconditional love, belonging and real responsibility. Young people, he said, are not just the generation of tomorrow but leaders of today, and he urged them to draw on Imam Ali's (AS) wisdom, Lady Fatima's (SA) purity and Imam Hussain's (AS) courage, and to refuse to settle for mediocrity.

— Sheikh Hilli

Zahra Al-Alawi: "We become ambassadors"

Speaker Zahra Al-Alawi tied the theme to everyday character. Shafaqna Pakistan reported that she urged Muslims to see themselves as representatives of Islam whose akhlaq, or moral conduct, shapes how others understand the faith. "We become ambassadors. We become representatives of the religion," she said.

Citing teachings attributed to Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS), she encouraged Muslims to draw people to Islam through how they treat others, not words alone, and spoke of Islam enabling women to pursue education, careers and knowledge while keeping their faith. She closed by asking each attendee two questions: "Who am I?" and "What positive impact can I make on this earth?"

— Zahra Al-Alawi

UMAA President Dr. Azmat Husain addresses the UMAA 24th Annual Convention.

SMF reflects

"UMAA's convention showed what our community looks like at its best: thousands of families, scholars and young people gathered to turn faith into service," said Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation. "It was an honor to moderate 'From the Masjid to City Hall' alongside leaders who show every day that the values we learn in the masjid can make our cities safer and stronger. We thank UMAA for a remarkable weekend and look forward to building on it together."

— Rahat Husain, Executive Director, Shia Muslim Foundation

Why it matters

For Shia Muslims in the United States and Canada, gatherings like the UMAA convention are where faith, scholarship and civic purpose meet. This year's theme, From Identity to Impact, echoes SMF's own work: helping our community stay safe, engage confidently in public life and serve our neighbors. We congratulate UMAA on a successful 24th convention.

Sources: UMAA Annual Convention; UMAA Venture Forum; Shafaqna English (Oct. 15, 2026); Shafaqna Pakistan (Oct. 10, 2026); official SMF/UMAA panel flyer.