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ICB Conversations

Conversations program started in early 2006. In the first year the program comprised of four ongoing “serial conversations” with each individual “serial conversation” structured around a single theme and comprising of lectures, seminars and group discussions on topics relating to the “theme of the conversation”. The first year program archive is available HERE.

The program seeks to provide an opportunity to learn about Islam as a religion, as a way of life, and as an energetic civilizational phenomenon that has changed the course of history many a times. The program provides an opportunity to learn about Islam as a religion, as a way of life, and as an energetic civilizational phenomenon that has changed the course of history man a times.

The lectures are scheduled on select Sundays usually during the second class (11:45AM-12:45PM) in the Main Prayer Hall. The program is open to members as well as the general public. Non-members are requested to contact Malik Khan, the Program Organizer, at conversations@icbwayland.org to receive an invitation.

Lectures List:
  • September 9, 2012
    Navigating Hajj
    Mario Moreira, Islamic Center of Boston
     An interactive presentation with an overview of Hajj, personal Hajj experience (with numerous photos), and key insights for Hajj preparation including Expectations, Myths, and Recommendations for the trip. The presentation is for those who are planning to go for Hajj this year as well as anyone who is either interested in Hajj or is considering this trip in the future. Dr. Giath Reda, ICB Imam and Director of Religous Affairs will join Mario in answering questions about the logistics, requirements and performance of the Hajj.
    Presentation Slides (PDF)

  • May 06, 2012 (1:30 PM - 3:30 PM)
    How to Prepare for College Admissions
    Saadia Baloch, Tanvir Hussain and Tasneem Mohammed, ICB Wayland
     Do you wish you had some insight into how to navigate the college admissions game?
    Is your child headed for college in the next couple of years?
    Did you go to school outside the US and find the admission system hard to figure out?

    This is a seminar for high school students and their parents presented by members of our Center.
    • Learn from parents who have recently been through the admissions process with their child, and also been through the process themselves.
    • Get tips on planning standardized testing, financial aid, extracurricular activities.
    PRESENTATION SLIDES (PDF)

  • May 06, 2012
    Civic Education - Part II
    Attorney Maria Curtatone
     In this two part presentation several subjects relating to the upcoming local and national elections will be covered. As citizens, all of us should get involved in such civic activities in order to ensure that our viewpoints are adequately represented at all levels. In the second part of this presentation the topics to be covered will include:
    • Jury Duty
    • Voting
    • Good citizenship
    • Rule of Law

  • April 29, 2012 (Noon - 3 PM)
    Master Chinese Arabic Calligrpher Haji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang
     internationally recognized Chinese master of Arabic Calligraphy Haji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang will be joining us for our weekly Conversations program. He will give a slide presentation on Islam in China followed by a Live Demonstration of his Calligraphic Expertise. There will be an opportunity to purchase original pieces of his work.

  • April 29, 2012
    21st Century Leadership For Teen Boys
    Shahzad Bhatti and Ben Keeler, Axiom Learning
     Parents' information for a course that has been offered free of charge to ICB community. Enrollment will be limited to 12 boys ages 14-17.

  • April 08, 2012
    Civic Education - Part I
    Nazda Alam, Parwez Wahid, mambers of ICB Wayland and Democratic State Committee
     In this two part presentation several subjects relating to the upcoming local and national elections will be covered. As citizens, all of us should get involved in such civic activities in order to ensure that our viewpoints are adequately represented at all levels. In the first part of this presentation the topics to be covered will include:
    • Ballot Access
    • Delegate Selection
    • State Convention
    • National Convention

  • March 18, 2012
    Learn about the Daughters of Abraham Interfaith Book Groups
    Mary Lou Loveccio, Sheila Goldberg, Suraiya Hussain and Saadia Baloch
     The Daughters of Abraham are Christian, Jewish and Muslim women who explore their religious faiths through books.
    The mission of the Daughters of Abraham is to overcome stereotypes and to foster mutual respect and understanding among Muslim, Jewish and Christian women. Through the discussion, insights and relationships that grow out of regular book group meetings, we hope to: learn about the commonalities and differences found in Islam, Judaism and Christianity; develop an interfaith community of women who can speak intelligently about the Abrahamic faiths.
    We invite ICB members to learn about the bridges of understanding we have built over the last few years, and about how you can join a group near you.
    PRESENTATION SLIDES (PDF)

  • February 12, 2012
    Kids 4 Peace Boston
    Peggy Stevens, Founder and Program Director
     Join us in teaching our children to take small steps towards peace and understanding.
    PROGRAM FLYER

  • January 29, 2012
    Job & Career Network @ ICB
    Fehmida Malik, Islamic Center of Boston
     A presentation on the need to setup a Job and Career Network at ICB. The presentation will explore the need to:
    • Bring in speakers to talk about industries and specific career choices
    • Organize workshops for writing resume & developing interview skills
    • Tap into ICB community for opening up mentor-mentee relationships
    • Create a forum where community members can ask questions and find answers
    Presentation Slides

  • December 18, 2011
    A Two Part Series on Fostering Healthy Families - Some Insights and Solutions
    Part 2: Islamic Perspectives on Family Relations and Domestic Harmony
    by Dr. Ghiath Reda, Imam and Director of Religious Affairs of ICB
    The Domestic harmony Committee of the ICB has arranged two conversation programs on issues relating to family peace and harmony. In the second program, Dr. Reda will talk about the Islamic guidelines relating to family harmony and how incorrect understandings of the Quranic injunctions about marriage and structure of families can become a cause for abuse.

  • December 4, 2011
    A Two Part Series on Fostering Healthy Families - Some Insights and Solutions
    Part 1: Role of Faith Communities in Promoting Domestic Harmony
    by Dr. Anne Marie Hunter, founder and director of Safe Havens
    The Domestic harmony Committee of the ICB has arranged two conversation programs on issues relating to family peace and harmony. This first program will be hosted by sister Mary Lahaj who is a trained Muslim chaplain and a senior member of our center. She will explain the role of a chaplain as a counselor and will introduce our main speaker for the program Dr. Anne Marie Hunter, founder and director of Safe Havens, an interfaith organization.

  • October 2, 2011
    Navigating Hajj
    Mario Moreira, Islamic Center of Boston
     An interactive presentation with an overview of Hajj, personal Hajj experience (with numerous photos), and key insights for Hajj preparation including Expectations, Myths, and Recommendations for the trip. The presentation is for those who are planning to go for Hajj this year as well as anyone who is either interested in Hajj or is considering this trip in the future.

  • May 20, 2011
    The Power of Dua
    Subheen Razzaqui, Islamic Center of Boston
     A talk about various Quranic Duas (supplications). Some of the topics covered include:
    • Duas for Renewal of Faith
    • Duas of Gratitude
    • Duas for Mercy and Removal of Difficulties
    • Duas for Guidance
    • Duas for Children
    Presentation Slides (PDF) | Some Quranic Duas (PDF)

  • April 10, 2011
    Islamic Calligraphy and the Qur’an
    Laura Weinstein, Boston Museum of Fine Arts
    Laura Weinstein, a specialist in South Asian and Islamic Art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, will look at how artists and scribes and bookbinders made the creation of Qur’ans one of the highest art forms over the last millennium. Through examples from the MFA’s collection made in Egypt, Tunisia and Iran, she will explore the changing materials and techniques that were used to create copies of the Qur’an, the development of different scripts and types of decoration, and the religious and artistic meanings that Qur’ans hold.

  • February 6, 2011
    Educating Girls in Muslim Countries - An Update
    Mohamad Ali, Hina Bukhari and Michelle Syed, Islamic Center of Boston
    An update on the ICB Wayland Sunday School and Parents Association project "Educating Girls in Muslim Countries: Why it might be the single most important thing we can do to alleviate poverty.
     Presentation Slides (PDF)

  • January 16, 2011
    Challenges Faced By Muslim Children - Some Insights and Solutions
    Abdul Malik Mujahid, President Sound Vision
     A presentation and discussion about the alarming findings of some recent research and analysis about what our youth are going through. Thus for example according to these studies:
    • 75% said they or someone they know have been discriminated against. (Zogby Poll)
    • 28% of Muslim students report being stopped by the police as a result of racial profiling. (Columbia University)
    • 7% said they have been physically assaulted.
    Obviously it is not easy to be a young Muslim today. Brother Mujahid would offer his thoughts on the situation and offer some strategic insights on what Muslim communities need to do to cope with this situation.

  • December 19, 2010
    The Life of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) and His Progeny
    Syed Ali Hur Mujtaba Kamoonpuri, Aligarh University, India
     The life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his progeny, what we can learn from them, and how these lessons are relevant to the contemporary times and issues.

  • December 12, 2010
    Learn about the ICB Wayland Committees
    Mario Moreira (ICB Secretary) and Committee Leads
     The committee leads for our ICB Wayland Committees provided an overview of their respective committee. An opportunity for members to learn about what each committee does and the opportunities you have in having a say in the way ICB Wayland operates.

  • December 5, 2010
    Islamic Etiquettes Session II
    Dr. Ghiath Reda
     Second session on Islamic Etiquettes continued with discussion about the Islamic concept of Adab which involves refinements of individual behavior that are required to create a better society and to bring about harmony in human relations at family, community and societal levels. It is an all encompassing paradigm which deals with social, personal, prayer, business and environmental etiquettes, and provides the foundations that underlay various theological, philosophical and social doctrines of Islam.

  • November 7, 2010
    How to approach the study of the Quran with your heart and mind
    Subheen Razzaqui
    Discussions about how to approach the study of the Quran including the methodologies suggested by the well known Muslim writer, Khurram Murad, in his authoritative work on the subject, "Way To The Quran".
    Presentation Slides (PDF)

  • October 31, 2010
    Should I go to Law School?
    New England Muslim Bar Association (NEMBA)
    Hear experiences of lawyers and law students and find out answers to these questions and more:
    • What should I study in college to go to law school?
    • How do I study for the LSAT?
    • Does it matter what law school I go to?
    • How much does it cost?
    • What type of jobs can I get?

    Panelists include:
    • Hanishi Ali - solo/small firm practitioner
    • Sameea Kazmi - public interest lawyer
    • Sa'adiyah Masoud - litigation associate at Boston law firm
    • Sana Sheikh - second year law student at Boston College

  • October 24, 2010
    Educating Girls in Muslim Countries: Why it might be the single most important thing we can do to alleviate poverty. A Project of the ICB Wayland Sunday School and Parent Association.
    Mohamad Ali, Hina Bukhari and Michelle Syed
     Members of ICB Wayland’s Girls Education Project, will talk about their first effort in collaboration with Oxfam America, to support girl's education in developing Muslim countries, starting with Pakistan. Students are raising $2,000 through bake sales and other means, parents and teachers are in the process of establishing a “Sister School” in Pakistan for cross-cultural dialogue among our students, and other parents are raising funds to rehabilitate up to 6 schools in rural Pakistan. An imortant project to educate our ICB Wayland students and contribute to the alleviation of poverty.
     Presentation Slides (PDF)

  • October 17, 2010
    Islamic Etiquettes
    Dr. Ghiath Reda
     A talk about the Quranic directives of "Order goodness and forbid misbehavior" - and "Invite to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious" - and their judicious use when discussing Islamic Etiquettes. We expect this to be the first of a series of Conversation programs on this topic.

  • January 10, 2010
    Emotionally Supporting Our Children During Difficult Times
    Dr. Gagan Joshi, Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
     A talk about the problems that Muslim parents have to deal with as they are trying to raise their children in very uncertain times. With the constant in flow of negative messages that our children are exposed to in the media today, it is very important that we as parents acquaint ourselves with issues that we need to grapple with in order to ensure that our children develop necessary emotional resilience to deal with these challenges.

  • November 1, 2009
    Navigating Hajj
    Mario Moreira
     An interactive presentation with an overview of Hajj, personal Hajj experience (with numerous photos), and some insights for Hajj preparation including Expectations, Myths, and Recommendations for the trip.
     Presentation Slides (PDF)

  • October 25, 2009
    Blueprint For Financial Success
    Nathania Ustan and Elizabeth O’Boyle
     An informative workshop on building a strong financial foundation for yourself and your family.

  • May 31, 2009
    raising Muslim Children In The U.S.A: How to Deal With Bullying in the Schools?
    Dr. Giath Reda
     Growing up is difficult in any country and at any time. Children in the schools can be mean and unkind to each other and therefore societies take appropriate precautions and institute remedial measures in order to deal with bullying situations. Experiences of Muslim children are no different in this regard; however, in light of the difficult circumstances, that prevail today, and which have led to the creation of ugly stereotypes of Islam and Muslims, their parents have to deal with additional burdens and trauma.

    Wisdom and patience are the endearing qualities needed by parents to deal with such situations; the important thing for the parents is to not allow their anger to take over their approach to this problem. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said:
    "He is not from us who does not have Mercy on our little ones, doest not show Respect to our elderly and does not Recognize the ones with knowledge"

  • September 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2008
    Raising Children in The U.S.A: Relevance of the Blessed Month of Ramadan
    Dr. Giath Reda
     During the month of Ramadan, Dr. Giath Reda, the Imam and Director of Religious Affairs of our center, will give a sequence of four talks on issues that Muslim parents face in raising their children while living as a minority religious group in the United States of America. In this series we will explore how the month of Ramadan is relevant to this challenge, what guidance it provides to the parents, and how we can benefit from it.

  • May 18, 2008 – The Muslim Public Service Network (MPSN):
    Haroon Ullah and Meryum Kazmi
     Haroon Ullah and Meryum Kazmi, Meryum is an alumni of ICB Sunday School, will talk about The Muslim Public Service Network (MPSN).The Muslim Public Service Network is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that assists Muslim undergraduate and graduate students prepare for careers in public service and policy development. Its Summer Internship Program, begun in 1994, was the first such program for American Muslims and still is the only Muslim internship program in Washington DC. MPSN has graduated over 200 alumni, placing them in organizations and policy formulation positions in places such as the World Bank, U.S State Department, Congressional Offices and leading educational institutions like Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Berkeley.

    The Muslim Public Service Network takes a proactive approach to engaging American Muslims in public service and policy development. Experience, education, and expertise are the means to obtaining a seat at the table – the table where critical issues are discussed and far-reaching decisions are made. MPSN provides an important conduit for young American Muslims to become involved in effectively serving their communities and country.

  • April 27, 2008 - MPAC – Muslim Public Affairs Council: Making Muslims Part of the Solution
    Farah Husain
     Farah Hussain will talk about MPAC. In this presentation Farah would introduce MPAC to the greater Boston community and to describe her experiences while working with the organization and the unique opportunities that it offers to Muslims who would like to get involved with mainstream of public life in our country.
    Farah is an alumni of the Sunday School at the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland. She got involved with MPAC during the summer of 2005 when she worked as a government and media affairs intern in MPAC's Washington DC office. During this time, she co-coordinated the drafting and publication of the first National Muslim American Youth statement about the the terrorist attack on the subways in London in the summer of 2005 and its aftermath. In July 2007, she participated in the first National Muslim American Youth Summit in DC, which involved 27 young Muslims meeting with top-level government officials.

  • April 13, 2008 - Guidelines For Islamic Funerals - Part II
     Shamim Ahmed and Aneess Khan
    sisters Shamim Ahmed and Aneess Khan will give a presentation about the Guidelines For Isla mic Funerals for Women. They will discuss the special issues that we need to be aware of when the deceased person is a female. Their talk will supplement the discussion that we had in a Conversations program several weeks ago in January on this subject.

  • March 16, 2008 - Know Your Neighbor
     Leah Ann Fredrickson
     Leah Ann Fredrickson an Intern from Harvard Divinity School would be giving a presentation about "Know Your Neighbor". This is a program which has been designed to bring various communities of faith in our area to get to kno! w each other better, and to bring them closer to each other by encouraging them to visit each other's places of worship.

  • February 3, 2008 - Islamic Perspectives on Cloning and Genetic Technology
     Dr. Syed Asif Razvi
     Dr. Syed Asif Razvi will give a talk about “Islamic Perspectives on Cloning and Genetic Technology”. The presentation will provide a brief historical background on cloning followed by a range of opinions on this issue by a number of Islamic scholars. The talk will conclude with Dr. Razvi’s own comments on the subject and a question and answer session.

  • January 28, 2008 - Guidelines For Islamic Funerals
     Dr. Riaz Khan
    Dr. Riaz Khan will give a presentation about the Guidelines For Isla mic Funerals.

  • January 20, 2008 - Rihla in Medina with Hamza Yusuf
     Omer Bajwa
     Omer Bajwa presently the Interim Muslim Chaplain at Cornell University will give a presentation about a three week journey through Saudi Arabia that he under took with the well known American-Muslim scholar Hamza Yusuf. The presentation pays special attention to Mecca and Medina from the perspective of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). During their trip they were granted exclusive access to numerous historical sites that are not normally accessible to the general public.
    Brother Omer received his M.A. in Near Eastern Studies, with a specialization in Islamic Studies, from Cornell University's Department of Near Eastern Studies. He also holds an M.S. in Communications and a B.A. in English from Cornell, and is at present completing his pastoral studies in Hartford Seminary's Islamic Chaplaincy Program.

  • January 6, 2008 - Justice in Islam: Reflections On The Contemporary Islamic Court Systems
     Dr. Ghiath Reda
     Dr. Giath Reda, the Imam and Director of Religious Affairs of our center, will give a talk commenting on the workings of court systems in the contemporary world of Islam, in light of the normative concepts of Justice in Islamic Jurisprudence that are contained in the guidance provided by the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).