Islamic Society of Central Florida holds Third United Muslim Conference. (Muslim-American Activism).

Walt Disney World's Hilton Hotel in Orlando, FL was a challenging location for the Islamic Society of Central Florida's (ISCF) and the Islamic Society of North America's (ISNA) third annual conference from Dec. 21 to 25. How could organizers entice families to attend conference presentations instead of exploring Disney World in the mild Florida weather?

While the conference theme, "Islam: Model Community--Successful Family," was chosen in early spring 2001. following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks organizers and speakers decided to address as well the new problems faced by American Muslim families. As a result, Mickey Mouse lost a lot of Muslim visitors whose urgent need for current information and advice outweighed even the attractions of Disney World.

Some Muslim attendees were afraid their gathering might invite outside trouble. ISCF president Imam Muhammad Musri and Dr. Zuliqar All Shah, president of ICNA, along with conference organizer Heba Ali and other staff met that possibility head-on, posting guards in the lobby and checking conference badges carefully at the door to assuage any fears conferencegoers may have had.

The action-packed convention included programs for Muslims of all ages and interests. Imam M. Bashar Arafat, president of Civilizations Exchange, and Imam Benjamin Perez, a Native American Muslim from Oakland, CA, discussed the importance of interfaith dialogue. Dr. Muqtedar Khan, secretary of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (MSS), and Dr. Louay Safi, MSS president, discussed the role of progressive Muslims in a session entitled, "Bridging the Gap: Islam and America."

Dr. Khan declared that as a result of …