MuslimFest is an annual three-day festival that celebrates the best in Muslim Art, Culture, and Entertainment. The event showcases

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

artists, musicians, and comedians, and takes place every summer in

Mississauga Mississauga ( ), historically known as Toronto Township, is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, adjoining the western border of Toronto. With a popul ...

, Ontario. MuslimFest is a signature event in Canada that won various awards including Top 100 by FEO and also Greenest Festival in Canada award. The 2023 event will take place at the Mississauga Celebration Square from July 07 to July 09. General features of the event include several educational

workshops Beginning with the Industrial Revolution era, a workshop may be a room, rooms or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods. Workshops were the only ...

, a variety show,

puppet show Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human or animal figure, that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer. Such a performan ...

, programs geared towards women, and an international

bazaar A bazaar () or souk (; also transliterated as souq) is a marketplace consisting of multiple small Market stall, stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, North Africa and India. However, temporary open markets elsewhere, suc ...

. Programs held during the day have typically consisted of an international

art exhibit An art exhibition is traditionally the space in which art objects (in the most general sense) meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhi ...

, film competition, and

fashion show A fashion show ( French ''défilé de mode'') is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase their upcoming line of clothing and/or accessories during a fashion week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fa ...

. A performance finale at the end of the final day typically includes spoken word artists, Muslim musicians and

nasheed A nasheed (Arabic: singular ', plural ', meaning: "chants") is a work of vocal music, partially coincident with hymns, that is either sung ''a cappella'' or with instruments, according to a particular style or tradition within Islam. Nasheed ...

artists, and a comedy show. MuslimFest organizers claim that the event has attracted over 70,000 visitors over the course of three days.

About

Launched in 2004, MuslimFest is an annual cultural festival that brings together Muslims from all over Canada and even the US. MuslimFest has played a large role in encouraging arts and entertainment as well as showcasing the diversity of Islamic culture and identity. MuslimFest is a celebration of the intersection of religion and culture. MuslimFest is organized by a team of young dedicated volunteers that come from various backgrounds and experiences, high-school students are encouraged to volunteer to get their community hours and also learn skills that will help them with their careers.

Opening Ceremony

The festival will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday with

Friday Prayer In Islam, Friday prayer or Congregational prayer ( ar, صَلَاة ٱلْجُمُعَة, ') is a prayer ('' ṣalāt'') that Muslims hold every Friday, after noon instead of the Zuhr prayer. Muslims ordinarily pray five times each day according ...

with the annual Canada National Flag Unveiling Ceremony and a children’s choir singing the national anthem.

Entertainment

The festival stages will be busy with a full line-up of entertainers scheduled for the event. Amal Kassir and Labibah will present their poetry and spoken word pieces. Boonaa Mohamed, Illyas Mao, & Abdullah Bustami will entertain festival guests with their musical performances. Comedians Nadira from NYC and Spoken word by Ammar Al Shukry will keep guests laughing on Saturday night.

The Fortunate Slave – Play

A prominent Fulani Muslim prince from West Africa was kidnapped to the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade. He was released due to an English humanitarian’s intervention and lived in England along with the nobility before returning home to Senegal.

Art Battle

The ‘Battle of the Brushes' is a painting competition between artists who will create works of art LIVE in a bid to win and wow the audience with their talents.

International Bazaar

Those attending the event will have the chance to browse and shop at many unique vendors over the weekend. There will be a Fragrant Oils Boutique and vendors selling Turkish clothing, Middle Eastern ornaments, Turkish lanterns, and more.

Workshops

On Saturday and Sunday, festival attendees can learn how to create Phulkari Embroidery, Calligraphy, Water Marble, and Hacer Ozcan Style Water Marble. Registration for workshops is based on a first-come-first-served basis. In addition to the workshops, there will be an arts and crafts tent and carnival games where children and families can drop by throughout the day.

Flavors of World Food Festival

Taste buds will be delighted by the food offerings at MuslimFest with food from various parts of the world.

Art Exhibit

The Art Exhibit at Muslimfest to immerse yourself in talented artwork from all backgrounds, with three different age groups - explore some of our local artists!

A Night of Nasheeds

MuslimFest invites you to come out for a night surrounded by creative cultural and spiritual music.

Poetry Night - Park Bench Chroncicles

MuslimFest brings you an exciting play, Park Bench Chronicles, filled with poetry and comedy featuring talented artists Ammar Alshukary, Bonna Muhammad, Bustami, Essam, Ilyaas Mao, and Yousef Kroma.

Performers and Artists

Maher Zain Maher Zain ( ar, ماهر زين; born 16 July 1981) is a Lebanese-Swedish R&B singer, songwriter and music producer. He released his debut album ''Thank You Allah'', an internationally successful album produced by Awakening Records, in 2009. ...

Humood AlKhudher Humood Othman AlKhudher (Arabic: حمود عثمان الخضر; born 24 January 1989), commonly known as Humood Alkhudher, is a Kuwaiti singer and music producer. Humood released his compilation album ''Fekra'' in 2013. In 2014, he was signed t ...

* Amal Kassir *

Waseem Badami Waseem Badami ( ur, ) is a Pakistani television host and news anchor who currently hosts a political talk show ''11th Hour'' on ARY News. Early life and education Waseem was born in Karachi, Pakistan on 7 February 1985. He graduated with MBA ...

*Faisal Salah *Khaled Siddiq *Mustaqeem * Yahya Hawwa * Boonaa Mohamed *

Junaid Jamshed Junaid Jamshed Khan ( ur, ; 3 September 1964 – 7 December 2016) was a Pakistani singer-songwriter, television personality, fashion designer, actor, and preacher. After graduating with a degree in engineering from the University of Engineeri ...

Dawud Wharnsby Dawud Wharnsby (born David Howard Wharnsby; June 27, 1972) is a Canadian Universalist Muslim singer-songwriter, poet, performer, educator and television personality. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known for his work in the musical/poetic g ...

* Saleem Hameed *

Idris Phillips Idris Phillips (January 1958 – July 16, 2022) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, and music producer based in Nashville. In recent years, he was best recognized for his work as a pianist, guitarist and producer for Canadian sin ...

Zain Bhikha Zain may refer to: People *Zain (name) *Zain (gamer) Places Business and economy *Zain Group, a Gulf telecommunications company **Zain Iraq, telecommunications company in Iraq **Zain Jordan, telecommunications company in Jordan **Zain Saudi Ara ...

* Khaleel Muhammad * The Fletcher Valve Drummers *

Irfan Makki Irfan Makki ( ur, عرفان مکی; born October 30, 1975) is a Pakistani Canadian Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider th ...

*Ilyas Mao *

Preacher Moss Bryant Reginald Moss (born 1967), best known by his stage name Preacher Moss, is an American stand-up comedian and writer. He is best known as one third of comedy trio Allah Made Me Funny. Early life Moss was born in Washington, D.C. to Africa ...

, of

Allah Made Me Funny Allah Made Me Funny are an American stand-up comedy troupe consisting of Bryant "Preacher" Moss, Azhar Usman, and Azeem Muhammad, who was later replaced by Mohammed "Mo" Amer. They are the longest-running artistic collective of Muslim comic pe ...

fame * Amir Sulaiman * Native Deen * seven8six (786 Boyz) *

Baba Ali Ali Ardekani ( fa, علی اردکانی; born October 11, 1974), best known by his stage name Baba Ali ( fa, بابا علی), is an Iranian-born American comedian, games developer, businessman, and actor. Early life Although born into a Per ...

* Aman Ali *The Sound of Reason *Sofia Baig *

Azhar Usman Azhar Muhammad Usman (born December 23, 1975) is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer of Indian descent. He is a former lecturer, community activist and lawyer and has been referred to as the "Ayatollah of Comedy" and "Bin Laug ...

fame *Rasul Somji * Mo Amer, of

fame *Azeem Muhammad, formerly of

fame *Mezba Mahtab *

Brother Dash Brother Dash (born Dasham K. Brookins; December 3, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York, United States) is an American Muslim spoken word artist, essayist and photographer. Career Brother Dash has performed and spoken at innumerable venues for both Musl ...

Adam Saleh Adam Mohsin Yehya Saleh (Arabic: ادم محمد يحيى صالح ; born June 4, 1993) is an American YouTuber. Early life Adam Saleh was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on June 4, 1993, to Yemeni parents. He went to Manhattan Center For Sc ...

External links

MuslimFest official websiteMuslimFest profile, Festivals & Events OntarioMuslimFest 2005 overviewOmni news report about MuslimFestMuslimFest 2005 Concert overviewMuslimFest 2005 GalleryMuslimFest 2007 GalleryMuslimFest artist Mezba Mahtab
{{Islam in Canada Festivals in Ontario Islam in Canada