End of Summer Convert Connection BBQ

ISLAM, FOOD, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, FRIENDLY PEOPLE, and a FUN START to Ramadhan!!

UPCOMING EVENT:

What: Preparing the mind, body and soul for Ramadhan

Where:Harrison Park (Corner of 18th and Damen)

When: Sunday August 24th @ 1pm

Why: To have our last BBQ of the summer and prepare ourselves entirely for the blessed month of Ramadhan.

How: Pot Luck style- Try to bring food to share with everyone!

 

The Agenda:

   -1:00 : Socialization and dhuhr Prayer (prayer around 1:30)

   -1:30 : Socialization and food (pot luck stlye)

   -2:15 : Discussion about the spiritual and practical aspects of fasting and of Ramadhan led by Imam Abdul-Hakeem Dickenson

   -3:00 : Activites- Brothers Basketball tournament and pick up games (Bring your jordans and bball shorts

                          -Sisters=Volleyball, Basketball, and socializing (All will be available)

   -6:30 : Asr prayer

 

IMPORTANT NOTES: We learned from our previous BBQ and have made sure this BBQ will be phenomenal!

  1. Easy to access location via the Pink Line 

  2. TONS of easy street parking

  3. Captivating and very knowledgeable speaker (Imam Abdul-Hakeem Dickenson)

  4. More organization and structure

 

Please Email convertconnection@gmail.com to RSVP for this event and join our convert connection listserv

Please forward to all converts or people who could benefit from this event!
 
FUTURE EVENTS:
-2 Convert Connection Iftars during Ramadaan (one at Downtown Islamic Center and another at ICC or MCC inshaAllah)
-Convert connection Eid celebration – an eid celebration for us converts and anyone else - details to follow
 
Thank you for all your support!
Please continue to check out our blog for any updates!   ccchicago.wordpress.com or contact us at convertconnection@gmail.com
Also, if any of you guys have a blog we can add to our blog roll, please email it to us!!!

 

The Fundamentals of Salaat- Recap

Asalaamu alaykum (may peace be with you)

    A big thank you to everyone who made it out to our third event on July 14th 2008 @ Downtown Islamic Center.  We had a good turnout despite the distraction of beautiful weather.  The topic of this event was “The Fundamentals of Salaat.”  Our speaker Mufti Hussain Kamani, may Allah reward him for the knowledge he passed, made this event beneficial to long time muslims, new muslims, and non-muslims.  He discussed the importance and virtues of prayer in Islam, the role of prayer related to imaan, and the practical aspects of prayer.  For those of you who could not make it, we hope to see you at our next event.

 

-Some notes from Mufti Hussain’s discussion —  DOWNLOAD HERE—> fundamentals-of-salaat

Upcoming Events

   The next official Convert Connection Event will be another summer BBQ!  Clear your calendars on August 24th for “Preparing Mind, Body, and Soul.”This is an event targeted to help us all establish the mindset necessary to make the most of the blessed month of Ramadaan. InshaAllah our speaker will be Mufti Hussain Kamani.This fourth event will be hosted at Harrison Park on 18th and Damen (right off the pink line).  Easy to access location with plenty of street parking, 5 minutes from i-290 and 5 minuntes from i-55!

 

Activities:

-Discussion forum led by an Imam (inshaAllah Mufti Hussain) regarding the preparation for Ramadaan and how to make the most of this month. 

-Food will be provided pot luck style

-Brothers basketball tournament – please contact Br. Ashraf Elhofy @   ashelhofy@gmail.com to register or ask any ?s

-Sisters will also have a bball game or possibly a volleyball game (It is up to you sisters, whatever you want!)

 

Future Events:

-2 Convert Connection Iftars during Ramadaan (one at Downtown Islamic Center and another at ICC or MCC

-Convert connection Eid celebration – an eid celebration for us converts – details to follow

Thank you for all your support!

Please continue to check out our blog for any updates!   ccchicago.wordpress.com or contact us at convertconnection@gmail.com

 

Convert Connection Lunch and Learn

Assalaamu Alaykum,

  The third convert connection event will be from 1-3 pm on Sunday June 13th at the Downtown Islamic Center (231 S State St # 4, Chicago, IL 60604)

The topic is “The Fundamentals of Prayer” Lunch will be a potluck and people are encouraged to bring some food.  Mufti Hussain Kamani will be discussing the virtues and the “how to’s” of Salaah.  His discussion will be beneficial to non-muslims, new muslims as well as people who have been muslim for quite some time.  All questions will be addressed, inshaAllah.  The flyer is below:

Please RSVP to the evite.  If you would like to receive future evites, email convertconnection@gmail.com

 

Community Cafe Friday June 27th

An unofficial convert connection outing to IMAN’s Community Cafe.  Brothers who want to meet up or roll with, email me at michaelswies@gmail.com or call me at 630-hey-mike ( Seriously, thats my number)… Sisters contact Emaan Nafees at crevana121@gmail.com .  The flyer is below………..

Also, expect an email for our next official event on July 13th @ Downtown Islamic Center.  It is a lunch with socialization and a discussion all about salaat (muslim prayer). Whether your a veteran muslim or a newbie, come through and inshaAllah you will enjoy it!  Mufti Hussain will be explaining the virtues and fiqhy details of prayer.  This is a great venue to ask ANY questions you have. Try and make it, I assure you will have a good time and leave with some type of new knowledge. 

 

Convert Connection BBQ #1

On May 25th we had our second convert connection event.  Alhamdulillah, we had a wide variety of people, activities, delicious food, wonderful company, and intriguing discussions.  Despite slight confusion regarding our last minute change in BBQ location (Hopefully, nobody got lost!!) and dysfunctional cellphones, this event yielded approximately 60 people!  I know I personally met many amazing brothers that I hope to have lasting friendships with.  Our soccer game was intense and I was proven to be out of shape! Ricky, Josh, the Ghoul brothers, Mustafa, Bilal, and everyone else really made our game exciting!  So many of the sisters made delicious food, discussed important topics, and played games like lasso golf!!!  Unfortunately, I cannot comment much on the experiences of the sisters, but I do know that a few want to assist us in planning future events! Alhamdulillah!  A lot of networking was done and friendships were definitely forged.  I know a group of brothers that met at the BBQ are planning on getting together to play volleyball and Bball, another group is planning on doing a camping trip!  The uniting force of Islam is truly unique..  Special shoutout to EVERYONE who brought food, Grill masters M.Gaber and A.Elhofy, and all the sisters with babies on the way who still came out to support us!  Hope to see everyone @ our next event!

We are trying to line up a speaker for our next event “All you need to know about Salaah (Prayer)” on Sunday July 13th, inshaAllah.  We are also planning events to do in between our BBQs this summer, such as, bowling, Community Cafe, and Muslim day @ 6 flags!  Join our mailing list if you havent already! Just email convertconnection@gmail.com

Your brother in Islam,

    mike

Please post your comments about this event! It will be beneficial for everyone to hear about your various experiences.

 STAY TUNED!!! This blog is updated weekly!

 

Zaytuna Institute Workshop May 31st and June 1st

                             

This flyer is a bit misleading, not too mention I did a poor job scanning it.  So, jsut to clarify, there is a workshop on Sat and Sun form 8-5ish @ northwestern law school (Downtown Chicago campus) where these great speakers will endow their wisdom and knowledge upon us.  The workshop is $85 for the normal adult and $65 for the starving student (must have ID). The other event is on Sat night hosted by Zaytuna and IMAN at the museum of science and industry.  That event is a fundraiser at about $100 a pop… The money goes to a great cause though!

These scholars have a tremendous amount of knowledge and if you have the opportunity, it is highly recommended that you try to attend!

Assalaamu Alaykum….

 

Tomorrow on Radio Islam!

Tomorrow on Radio Islam we are going to host a Convert/Revert roundtable to discuss the Challenges Muslim Convert/Revert. Please listen in (Chicago 1450AM, Live on the web, call in, or join us in studio. 

 

Convert Connection BBQ : 5/25

 

New Muslim Online Class

We recently came across a online Muslim class being delivered by ICNA, register by today!

 

Successful Brunch for Chicago’s Convert Connection

Alhamdulillah!  The first Chicago Convert Connection event was held on April 20th 2008 at the Downtown Islamic Center in the heart of the windy city.  It was a great success with approximately 30 people in attendance representing the cultural breadth of our community.  We all put our creative minds together and discussed how this group can be used as a device to strengthen our bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, in addition to providing a safe haven for those who are new to Islam or those who are willing to overcome misconceptions and learn about what Islam truly is. 
We had amazing conversation, great refreshments, beautiful insights, and delicious pizza catered by Fiamma Pizzeria.(zabiha pepperoni pizza too!) Everyone who attended had a great time and strongly encouraged more people to join us at our next event planned to be in downtown Chicago towards the end of May. The event will be a picnic/barbeque. If you are interested in coming, please email us for more info convertconnection@gmail.com!

We came to a collective conclusion that this group should not attempt to provide services that already exist, nor to reinvent the wheel!  The general concensus was that the Convert Connection would function as:

 A social support group for people who have accepted Islam..
A representation of the diversity of Islam for non-muslims..
A refresher for the imaan of people raised muslim..

Events will be hosted once a month in an easily accessible location in downtown Chicago. Our events will be aimed to fit the following goals:
1. Provide support for any muslims who need it and as a form of Da’wah for the American public
2. Provide a source of Islamic education acquired via social learning, book/topic discussions, and halaqas
3. Function as a social networking organization focused on providing refuge and resources that are necessities to new muslims
4. Assist in fostering a true “Muslim-American” identity

This group is organized and run by converts to Islam in the Chicagoland area. Please join us at our next event! All are welcome (muslim, new muslim, and non-muslim)!

Join our google group for discussions and frequent updates! convertconnection@googlegroups.com