Highlights of the 1980s Hajj Conferences in Toronto
Blog Post 77
May 29, 2025 - Dhil-Hijjah 2-3, 1446
During the 1980s, Crescent International newsmagazine, in conjunction with active Muslims locally and elsewhere, held an annual Hajj Conference in Toronto, Ontario. The idea for the conference came following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the establishment
of the Islamic Republic there. Imam Khomeini’s, may Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala grant him the highest place in Paradise, innovative yearly messages to the Hajj pilgrims was a catalyst that sparked the interest, thesis and swift formation of the conference and helped guide its Islamic purpose and flavour.
The first one took place in 1983 and was held at the Jaffari Islamic Centre (JIC), which was built in 1979, on Bayview Avenue in Thornhill, Ontario. Many out-of-town/country guests were housed in Muslim homes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). In 1986, the Hajj Conference was held at the Medical Sciences Building of the University of Toronto’s main campus at 1 King’s College Circle in downtown Toronto. Many out-of-town/country guests were housed in Muslim homes, but also in hotels in the GTA. The last Hajj Conference was held either in 1987 or 1988 at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus on Military Trail in Scarborough, Ontario (now part of Toronto). Many out-of-town/country guests were housed in the dorms on campus as well as in Muslim homes and hotels in the GTA.
I met my husband Ali at the Hajj Conference on July 13, 1986 and we were married ten days later on Park Road NW in Washington, D.C. where I lived, Al-Hamdulillah. It was my second time at the conference, having attended previously in 1984. I moved to Toronto where Ali lived and we’ve been together ever since, Al-Hamdulillah. The Hajj Conference holds many special memories for me, Ali and everyone who attended during those years.
Brother Zafar Bangash, the long-time editor of Crescent International and the Director of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT) was the man-in-charge. Brother Latif Owaisi, the layout man of the newsmagazine, was the second man, along with his nephew. Brother Zafar’s father, mother, wife, children, sisters and brothers also eagerly enlisted. Many volunteers, both brothers and sisters, both local and out-of-town/country, assisted with the many responsibilities beforehand, during and afterwards. Of course, there was lots of help to carry out the weekend conference that hosted hundreds of guests, including many ulama, activists, speakers, youth, children and volunteers of the Islamic movement from all over the world. The Hajj Conference was put on free of charge to whoever wanted to attend which was a welcome relief to those who had to drive, bus it or fly to Toronto. It has never been known by the majority of us exactly who footed the enormous bill for all the guests and speakers, including the renting of the venues and the delicious foods and drinks that were provided. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala bless Brother Zafar, Brother Latif and all the organizers and volunteers for such an opportunity, especially to those of us who were not rolling in the dough.
Why was the annual conference called the Hajj Conference? Did all we talk and learn about was how to get ready to go for Hajj? That is far from what the conference entailed, without taking away from the need to learn how to perform Hajj (there’s classes and books that teach that though). The thinking was that like Hajj, which is a religious and political meeting place of Muslims from all over the Earth, the conference could vitalize, revolutionize and unite Muslims in a similar way through the coming together of ulama with the Ummah who live in the west in particular and especially in non-Muslim locales. Some of the ulama and speakers who graced the gatherings included Dr. Kalim Siddiqui of London, England, Imam Muhammad al-Asi of Washington, D.C., Ayatullah Jannati, Ayatullah Mahdavi-Kani, UN ambassador Said Rajaie Khorassani, then-Deputy Minister Mohammed Jawwad Larijani and Brother Ali Sabzalian, all of the newly-formed Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Abdul-Alim Musa of Oakland, California, Dr. Mahmoud Ayoub, originally from Lebanon, Imam Chirri and Imam Berri both of Dearborn, Michigan, Sister Melika Salihbeg Bosnawi (ex. Salihbegovic) of Bosnia and Herzegovina and so many others...
It was an exciting intellectual, spiritual and social get-together in which we prayed and ate, thought and learned and communicated with each other, got pressing questions answered by qualified individuals, understood our common bonds and strengthened our profound unity and overwhelming power as Muslims. Plus, we made lifelong friends and even created lifelong marriages.
Ali and I miss those days greatly. Inshallah, they will be revived one day.
Exactly five years ago, an activist brother who also attended the Hajj Conferences asked us to put together some highlights of what we remembered about those times and what affected us the most. Below is what Ali and I came up with.
1.Focusing on Jihad al-Asghar plus Jihad al-Akbar at the same time because they are not separate
2. Understanding and practising the truth that Sunnis and Shias are together as equal Muslim Sisters and Brothers
3. Realizing that belief in Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala and standing with and for the mustazafeen are the crux and catalyst for peace, justice and love on Earth
4. Learning about Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.) life, actions, hadith, etc. and his role in being the Final Messenger in a long line of Prophets and finalizing and completing Islam as the ordained way of life from the beginning to the end of time
5. Understanding Shaitan’s promise and traps and identifying the followers of Shaitan – the Yazids – in the past, present and future and standing against them; for example the House of Saud
6. Recognizing that enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong is our duty in the absence of the Twelfth Imam (a.s.)
7. Meeting Muslims from different places to establish and maintain friendships and to possibly find a like-hearted/minded spouse, inshallah
8. Top-class lectures and question & answer periods from ulama, scholars, activists, writers and everyday people from around the world
9. Learning about Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and the lovers of Allah and helping us to love them more and follow their ways
10. Analysis of the Imam’s Hajj Message
11. Analysis of the Qur’anic obligation of declaring bara’ah min al-mushrikeen (The Holy Qur’an 9:3) at the time of Hajj
12. Understanding the political aspects of Hajj
13. Feeling empowerment and thankfulness in following Imam Khomeini’s line, may Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala grant him the highest place in Paradise
14. Discussing the long-standing and apartheid system of zionism and its deadly plots in Palestine and around the world
15. Identifying and recognizing the Islamic movement’s activities and successes around the world and supporting it
16. Understanding the mission of Imam Husayn (a.s.) and how it applies to us
17. Highlighting resistance as the route for all people seeking their freedom
18. Completely recognizing, believing and behaving on the truth that racism and nationalism will not free Muslims from oppression
19. Current events and past history from people in the places where they’re happening
20. Practical advice and steps to assist with daily living, family relationships, fiqhi issues, etc.
21. Discussions about goals and the way forward
22. Networking
23. Feeling the power of Islam
Compiled by Ali & Laila Hasib on May 29, 2020
Have a Blessed Eid al-Adha, inshallah!
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