Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) is an annual Islamic conference typically held during the winter holiday season in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The first conference was held in 2003, and has since become one of North America's largest Islamic conferences, alongside the ISNA convention in the United States. The conference has grown from 3,500 attendees in its first year to over 20,000 in 2011, making it the largest Islamic conference in Canada. Attendees and speakers attend from around the world, including the United States, Europe and the Middle East. In May 2010, RIS held its first American conference in Long Beach, California. Following the second U.S. edition at the Long Beach Convention Center on Memorial Day weekend the conference was discontinued.

Overview The format of the conference typically consists of a series of lectures over three days, generally structured around a specific central theme. Each year distinguished speakers, including both Islamic scholars and non-Muslims, are invited to lecture based on the selected theme of the conference. Previous conference themes have included the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Canadian-Muslim identity, and Islamic civilization.

Concert

A concert has been held at the end of the conference almost every year, usually consisting of nasheed (Islamic music) or performances by Muslim musicians. Main performers who have headlined the concert include: Junaid Jamshed, Sami Yusuf, Maher Zain, Najam Sheraz, Raihan, Native Deen and Danish hip-hop group Outlandish.

Criticism and accusation of religious fundamentalism

The conference has invited some figures like Tariq Ramadan and Bilal Philips. Even Justin Trudeau has participated. Trudeau was criticized later by some media outlets, and other Jewish and Muslim groups, and as well by some members of his own party because they argued that the conference was problematic and had indirect connection with Hamas and that there were aspects of religious radicalism. Among other, there was a sponsor, IRFAN, which was said had sent suspicious funds to Hamas, apparently about 15 million dollars. The sponsor denied the allegations, but decided to withdraw from the conference in order not to cause more controversy. Trudeau himself rejected the criticism.

Notable speakers Two scholars have made an appearance at the conference every year since it began: Zaid Shakir and Hamza Yusuf except the 2017 conference, which Hamza Yusuf was unable to attend. Other notable speakers who have appeared over the years include: Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy Mustafa Hosni Hamza Yusuf Abdullah bin Bayyah Habib Ali Al-Jifri Zaid Shakir Tariq Suwaidan Bilal Philips Siraj Wahhaj Jamal Badawi Attallah Shabazz, eldest daughter of Malcolm X Justin Trudeau Eric Margolis, journalist Robert Fisk, journalist Karen Armstrong, author Imran Khan, Pakistani cricketer and politician Michael Lerner, Rabbi Zakir Naik Suhaib Webb Yasir Qadhi Mark Siljander, former Republican U.S. Representative Chris Hedges, journalist Nouman Ali Khan Linda Sarsour Maulana Tariq Jameel

List of conferences RISThemeVenueDate1Reviving the Islamic SpiritMetro Toronto Convention Centre January 4–5, 20012Changing Our ConditionMetro Toronto Convention CentreJanuary 2–4, 20043Legacy of the ProphetRogers CentreDecember 24–26, 20044Islamic CivilizationDirect Energy CentreDecember 23–26, 20055The Neglected Sunnah: Patience in the Face of RejectionMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 22–24, 20066Family Matters: The Basis of a Civil SocietyMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 28–30, 20077Answering the Call of God's Messenger: Setting Prophetic Priorities for Muslims in the WestMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 26–28, 20088SOS: Saving the Ship of HumanityMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 25–27, 20099Rules for the Road of Life: Reviving the 10 Commandments in the Modern WorldMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 24–26, 201010Control, Chaos or Community: Three Ways, One World, Our ChoiceMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 23–25, 201111Divine Light for Living Right: Prophetic Guidance in the Midst of Modern DarknessMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 21–23, 201212Changing Our Condition: Rekindling the Light of FaithMetro Toronto Convention Centre December 27–29, 201313He Came To Teach You Your Religion: Prophetic Answers to Angelic QuestionsMetro Toronto Convention Centre December 26–28, 201414Alliance of VirtueMetro Toronto Convention Centre December 25–27, 201515The Promise of God: Conditions for RenewalMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 23–25, 201616Whither Islam? Rebooting Our FaithMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 22–24, 201717RIS ReimaginedMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 21–23, 201818His Character was the Quran: Restoring the Quranic Narrative in Modern TimesMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 20–22, 201919An Unconventional ConventionOnlineDecember 26–27, 202020Together in SpiritOnlineDecember 25–26, 202021A Blessed ReunionMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 23–25, 202222Where Hearts MeetMetro Toronto Convention CentreDecember 22–24, 2023

References

External links Reviving the Islamic Spirit RIS Talks IslamicFinder