The 3rd Annual IECRC Women's Milad Shareef Conference |
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Hazrat Umme Hani bint Abi Talib
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The Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center (IECRC), a non-profit, non-political, 501(c)(3) community service organization based in Northern California will hold its 3rd Annual Women’s Conference on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 4:00 PM at the well known Mehran Restaurant located at 5774 Mowry School Road in the city of Newark, California. The term Milad Shareef refers to the celebration of the noble birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him, b. 570 CE) as the Light of Guidance for humanity in general and women in particular. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is believed by Muslims to be the final Prophet of Almighty God sent as a “Mercy to all the worlds” culminating the Divine Message of upholding truth and fighting evil both at the spiritual and social levels. Muslims believe in and love all the Prophets of God including Prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jesus, and Moses (peace be upon them all). The Pure Mother Mary (may God have mercy on her) is one of the four perfect women in Islam. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was born in Arabia at a time when it was steeped in the depths of oppression and shackles of abuse, especially of women. The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) arrival heralded a new era – one in which women were to be considered the equal and committed partners of men in the Path to God with the recognition that at the spiritual level, all humans, both men and women, have been created from a single soul [The Holy Quran, 4:1]. There is an entire chapter dedicated to women's rights in the Holy Quran, which is believed by Muslims to be the last Divine Text from God. It confirms the previous original heavenly books such as the Torah and the Bible. Through its annual women's conferences, IECRC intends to bring to light the shining female luminaries of the Islamic intellectual and spiritual tradition whose contributions are immense and warrant attention in the modern age as a source of inspiration, guidance, and healing to women both within and outside the fold of the Islamic faith and practice. Amongst the most distinguished women in Islam are those of the Blessed Household (may God be pleased with them all) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as they drank directly from the spiritual and intellectual waters of His Blessed Company and Teachings. IECRC's 3rd Annual Women's Conference 2008 is dedicated to two great women of the Islamic tradition: Hazrat Umme Hani, the dear cousin of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him, His Family and Companions) who was also known as Fakhta which means dove, the bird of peace. She was a great transmitter of Hadeeth literature and was dearly loved and trusted by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him and His Family). She is also famous as “Hind”. Hazrat Syeda Sakina, the precious great-grand-daughter of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him and His Family) who witnessed the somber battle of Karbala at a very tender age and suffered its aftermath. Amongst those confirmed to present are Dr. Syeda Saiqa Zubeda, Executive Director of the Canadian Women Counselling Centre (CWCC), British Columbia; Dr. Malek B. Moosa medical practitioner in Vancouver, Canada; Ms. Benazir Bath, Lecturer at Yuba City College; Ms. Floretta Kukoyi of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, San Francisco; Ms. Fatima Mirza, Founder of the SABA Center; and Syeda Zille Humma Qadri, Chair of the Women’s Committee of IECRC. The event will also be an exhibition of the rich fabric of Islamic culture in the recitations of poetry praising the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and His Blessed Family (may God be well pleased with them all) in many languages including Urdu, English, Farsi, Arabic, and Punjabi. There will be much young talent on display in the many children’s performances which are a part and parcel of all IECRC events. Attendance is expected from around the Greater Bay Area and beyond. We invite all women regardless of religion or race to join us for an evening of spirituality, knowledge, poetry, community building, and friendship.
Admission is free and the event is open to all women. Child care is available. |
Confirmed Guest Speakers
Dr. Syeda Saiqa Zubeda Dr. Syeda has completed her Ph.D. in “Islamic Political Sociology in the modern age: Theory and practice”. She received two gold medals from Karachi University on getting first class first position in political science. She upgraded her counseling education from Vancouver community college and Kwantlen University College, BC. Dr. Syeda wrote three books and numerous research and popular articles on religion, politics, and society and recently on immigrant problems and employment in BC. She is working as a career Counselor and media coordinator at a local community organization. Dr. Syeda is currently giving lectures at hounourable academic Canadian institutions and organizations such as Victoria Univeristy, Kwantlen Univeristy College and University Women’s Club. She is the founding Director of Canadian women counseling centre, Vice President of Pakistani Canadian cultural Association, and women president of Islamic Educational and cultural research centre, BC and board member of few other community organizations. Her passion is to work on inter cultural, inter faith and women work.
Dr. Malek B. Moosa Dr. Malek B. Moosa is a fully qualified medical practitioner licensed to practice in British Columbia, Canada. She performed her rotating internship at Dalhousie University and studied Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Her education in the field of Pediatrics was obtained at McMaster University where she also completed a three year program in family medicine obtaining her C.C.F.P. degree in 1982. Since then, she has been practicing at her own establishment. She is an active member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Family Physicians and Surgeons, and the British Columbia Medical Association. Dr. Moosa is also very active in her community providing various volunteer services. She conducts lectures on medical topics to the community and other NGO organizations such as the Canadian Women Counselling Centre. She has conducted a talk show regarding medical matters, including question-answer segments, on the radio for 5 years. She has also conducted lectures on medical topics for drug companies for 15 years. She has been a member of the Advisory Board for British Columbia Healthy Baby Association for 10 years.
Pastor Floretta Kukoyi Floretta Kukoyi is a senior Associate Pastor at Jesus House SF, a Christian Church located in Hayward in California’s Fan Francisco Bay Area. JHSF is a part of the worldwide church ministry group known as The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). An active member of RCCG since 1990 and ordained in the church as an Assistant Pastor in 1995, Pastor Kukoyi’s service over the years has been diverse. She has been involved in helping set up several branches / parishes of the church in Nigeria, in England and in the US. She has also been engaged in the establishment of many church and community projects, including childcare centers and junior schools for children, a teen development program, women’s support groups and marriage therapy, among others. Pastor Kukoyi holds educational and professional degrees in law. She successfully practiced as an attorney for about 20 years before giving herself over fully to Christian ministry work in the year 2000. Recently, feeling the draw to engage even more within the community, Floretta took up the charge of volunteering with developmentally challenged children at various schools and in fact now teaches special-day-classes in the Newark Unified School District of Alameda County.
Sister Benazir Bath Sister Benazir Bath was born and raised in Yuba City, California. She graduated with an M.A. from California State University, Sacramento. She currently teaches English at Yuba College in Marysville, California. Sister Benazir started a Sunday School at the Islamic Center of Yuba City. She is the proud mother of two young children, masha Allah. She and her family and community organize Annual Women’s Milad Shareef gatherings in Yuba City.
Sister Fatima Mirza Ali Fatima Ali Mirza was born in Hyderabad, India. Descendants of a religious scholar, Ms. Mirza's interest in Islamic studies and research was encouraged at an early age. She studied at Osmania University, Hyderabad, India and majored in English. She also studied Journalism at Columbia University. Ms. Mirza presently does freelance writing for community newsletters for local mosques with previous experience as proof reader for Reader's Digest. It is her passion to give presentations at religious gatherings and conferences, her main interests being research in Islamic History and expanding spiritual knowledge. She and her husband were the first ones to establish the Bay Area SABA Center. Fatima Ali Mirza has been a resident in the Bay Area since 1977. She is blessed with two children and two grandsons. She has witnessed the Muslim community grow from a single bud to a garden of flowers.
Syeda Zille Humma Qadri Syeda Zille Humma Qadri was born in Lahore, and received her primary and secondary education from Karachi, Pakistan. She received her Bachelors in Chemistry from PECHS Women's College. She continued her Islamic education at the Islamic Missionary University in Karachi where she studied Hanafi Fiqh, Science of Hadeeth, Tasawwuf, History, and other Islamic topics. Syeda Qadri delivered her first lecture at the age of 9 years on the topic of Allama Iqbal (may Allah be pleased with him), which began her career as a public speaker. She is the recipient of many awards and trophies in literary endeavors throughout her school and college life. She has participated in and conducted literary debates and trained numerous youth in the area of public speaking. Her articles have also been published in Dawn & Jang, two of the largest newspapers in Pakistan. Currently, Syeda Qadri is a research scholar for IECRC, and Chairperson of its Women’s Committee. She conducts monthly spiritual and educational gatherings for women and children and is a guest speaker at various religious events. She is an active mother of three young children and lives with her husband Mr. Ayyaz Yousaf Qadri, the Managing Director of IECRC in Hayward, California.
Confirmed Guest Reciters Hafiza Nadia Bath (Holy Quran) Sister Nadia Bath is an 18 year old full time student at Yuba College. She memorized the Holy Quran at 14 years of age and, alhamdulillah, it only took her less than a year to memorize it. She helps organize the Annual Milad Sharif gatherings for women only in Yuba City. She is a mureeda of Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri (damat barakatahumul aliya) and is active in Dawate Islami. Sister Naila Naz (Naat) Sisters Benazir Bath, Amina Bath & Samina Bath (Group Naat) Sister Sohab Hamdani (Manqabat) Sister Fareeha Bari (Naat) Sister Wasia Mobeen (Naat) |
General Agenda Part I Introduction and Opening with Holy Qur'an Recitation Poetry Praising Allah - Most High (Hamd) Asr Prayer Break Part II Poetry (Na'at) Recitations Part III IECRC Presentation International Speakers and Keynote Address |
Directions to Location: Mehran Restaurant located at 5774 Mowry School Road in the city of Newark, California
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Contact Us Syeda Zille Humma Qadri, Chair, IECRC Women's Committee: 510-648-9525
Previous Conferences Urs Shareef of Hazrat Badshah Mian Qadri/Mehfil-e-Samaa 1st Annual Women's Mehfil-e-Naat (Sacramento): 2nd Annual Women's Milad Shareef Conference: The 4th Annual IECRC Milad Shareef Conference: 1st Annual Women's Milad Conference - May 6, 2006: The 2nd Annual IECRC Milad Shareef Conference:
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