When the Florida Conference of Muslim Americans returns to Palm Beach County the weekend of Sept. 28-30, we look forward to seeing old friends, making new ones, and remembering others who will be dearly, dearly missed. These conferences (see here, here and here) continue the decades-spanning contributions of the Muslim American students of the late Imam W. Deen Mohammed, along with our friends and supporters of other faiths, in building community ties and promoting excellence to strengthen individuals, families and the greater society.
REMEMBERING RASUL: During the 2003 Fall Conference in Riviera Beach, our dear departed Imam Rasul Madyun, one of America’s most promising young imams, led the Jummah prayer on Friday, and is shown taking a walk after leading the predawn Fajr prayer on the beach.
More scenes:
UNITY LUNCHEON: Keynote speaker Imam Abdul’Haq Muhammed and other Florida imams are joined by then-Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown, City Council members and other city officials, including the Hon. Judge Edward Rodgers, who along with Assistant Police Chief Danny Jones attended the Jummah prayer on Friday.
The Fall 2003 Conference Unity Luncheon program cover.
PIONEER: Our dear departed Sister Shaesta, left, with Sherria Miller.
Linda Abdullah, front center, flew down from Detroit to lead the session on ‘How People of Faith Can Learn from One Another,’ which highlighted the worldwide Focolare Movement, and for which she was joined by friends from Hialeah to Fort Pierce, Fla., and as far away as New Jersey.
REMEMBERING ‘SHEIK’: The beloved late Imam Bilal Muhammad, right.
2003 HONOREES: Edith Bush, left, executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Coordinating Committee, and “Pop” Winn, youth mentor and martial arts instructor.
‘FAJR ON THE BEACH’: Shown immediately following the predawn prayer during the Fall 2003 conference on Singer Island are, from left, Al Hajji Abdul-Wali Muhammad of Jacksonville, Memphis native the late Imam Rasul Madyun, Imam Abdul’Haq Muhammed of Fort Myers, and Imam Jaabir Muhammad, co-chair of FCMA’s Fall 2012 Conference.
At the ‘We Are One’ Ladies Night.
UNITY TABLE: Current FCMA Convener Imam Hatim Hamidullah and Mrs. Ameenah Hamidullah of Orlando, left,, with Miriam Sessoms, Aneesha Hanif (2003 and 2012 Fall Conference co-chair), and the late Freddie Stebbins Jefferson, stellar Palm Beach Post columnist.
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Thanks for the memories! Inshallah, we will have the same informative, fun-filled and knowledgeable time we had in 2003 this Sept-28-30. Anytime we come together for such a great purpose, it feel wonderful!