Thousands gathered at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October for the IFAM Convention 2025, one of Australia’s largest Muslim family events with the theme “Healing humanity through Islam.”
Hosted by the Islamic Forum for Australian Muslims (IFAM), the two-day convention brought together prominent scholars, community leaders, families, and youth for an inspiring blend of learning, reflection, and family-friendly fun for its third year.
The convention featured a full program of lectures, workshops, panel discussions, youth activities, poetry sessions, food stalls, and exhibitions — transforming Rosehill Gardens into a vibrant showcase of Islamic knowledge and community spirit.
Day 1 – Saturday 4 October: Faith, resilience and leadership
Day 1 opened with Qur’an recitations by Hafiz Mohammad Yahya, Hafiz Momin Mohsin, Hafiz Aneeq, Hafiz Affan Arif, Qari Rehan Arif, Ruheen Sajid, and Ibrahim Sajid.
The formal opening followed, with welcoming remarks by IFAM President Brother Rais Khan and greetings from political and community figures including Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman, Senator Fatima Payman, Hon Ed Husic MP, Warren Kirby MP, and councillors Khodr Saleh OAM, Clr Moninder Singh, and Clr Ahmed Ibrahim Ouf.
Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman delivered the keynote address, “Prophetic Mercy: The Legacy of Prophet Muhammad (s),” reminding the audience that compassion and service lie at the heart of Islamic character.
After Asr, the program continued with a special Zaky / Kids Activity segment featuring nasheed presentations and a children’s quiz. Zaky — the much-loved purple bear — has long been a favourite among Muslim children for teaching Islamic values in a fun, engaging way. The segment drew laughter and excitement from young families, setting a cheerful tone for the afternoon.
The Future Leaders session spotlighted youth voices, with Hamza Khan, Arooba Arif, Ubaidullah Saiyaz, and Ibrahim Khalil delivering heartfelt talks on leadership, mercy, and reclaiming Muslim identity in the modern age.
A lively Mushaira led by Dr Nawaz Deobandi brought an artistic flair through Urdu poetry, followed by a thought-provoking joint presentation by Dr Waleed Kadous and Dr Junaid Zubairi on “Artificial Intelligence: A Boon or Bane for Humanity.”
Later in the evening, Sheikh Abdool Rahman Khan (US) spoke on “Witnessing a Genocide: Reflecting the Role of Muslims in the West,” and Sister Mariam Ardati offered a moving session on “Women in Gaza: The Symbol of Strength and Resilience.”
The day concluded with Dr Muhammad Mustafa and his wife delivering “The Struggles in the Frontlines of Gaza,” followed by a Volunteer Plaque Presentation recognising the tireless efforts of those behind the event.
Day 2 – Sunday 5 October: Healing humanity and building hope
Day 2 began again with Qur’an recitation from Hafiz Yahya Nadvi, Hafiz Momin Mohsin, Hafiz Aneeq, Hafiz Affan Arif, Qari Rehan Arif, Ibrahim Sajid, and Ruheen Sajid.
The morning featured Ustadh Ameenul Hasan’s talk “The Qur’anic Blueprint for Healing Humanity,” followed by Sister Mariam Seddiq’s workshop introducing her book “A Legacy that Changed the World.”
A key highlight was the panel “A World on the Verge of Collapse: The Islamic Solution,” featuring Sheikh Abdool Rahman, Brother Waseem Razvi, Ustaz Ahmed Ibrahim Ouf, Ustaz Anis Qureshi, and Shaykhah Umm Jamaal ud-Din, who together discussed restoring balance and moral clarity in modern times.
After lunch, Sr Sadia Mohsin and Br Sahban Irshad led the Future Leaders session on hijab, modesty, social activism, and youth empowerment.
Brother Waseem Razvi’s address, “Transformative Power of Gaza,” drew strong emotion, while Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad (Grand Mufti of Australia) spoke on “Healing through Service to Humanity: The Islamic Tradition of Khidmah,” interpreted by Ahmed Hijazi.
An Urdu-English Mushaira followed with Dr Nawaz Deobandi and Tariq Mirza, while the afternoon panel on “Artificial Intelligence: Preserving Humanity in the Rising Age of AI” reunited Dr Junaid Zubairi and Dr Waleed Kadous.
Shaykha Umm Jamaal ud-Din then delivered “Raising Resilient and Unapologetic Muslim Youth,” followed by Sheikh Bilal Dannoun’s session “Healing the Mind: Islamic Principles for Emotional and Mental Wellbeing.”
As the day drew to a close, Sami Hamdi joined online to present “Navigating in a Post-Truth World,” before final remarks by IFAM President Rais Khan and a concluding dua by Vice President Usaid Khalil.
Outside the lecture halls, families enjoyed the Future Gen Zone filled with rides, games, competitions, and giveaways, while the food stalls offered a mouth-watering mix of traditional cuisine and festival favourites. The marketplace also featured modest fashion, henna art, books, and crafts, reflecting the community’s rich cultural diversity.
The IFAM Convention 2025 event partner included ANIC and IPDC while its media partner was AMUST.
The diamond sponsors of the event were Human Appeal and Charity Australia International while House of Sakinah being its Platinum sponsor.
The Gold sponsors included ThinkStudio, Blacktown City Council and Rooty Hill Masjid while Salaam, Malek Fahd Islamic School and AAA Rapid Homes were its Bronze sponsors.
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