The Why Islam Symposium that took place on March 18th 2006 at the Ritz Theatre in New Jersey was filled with knowledge and inspiration. The speakers Imam Zaid Shakir, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Sheikh Abdalla Idris Ali, Dr. Jamal Badawi, and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf all came from different backgrounds but each had a unique but powerful message.

One of the key note speakers, Dr. Jamal Badawi, who is an Egyptian born, Muslim Canadian professor, activist, preacher and speaker with several books and articles on Islam, gave a powerful, speech entitled "Prophet Muhammad: A Mercy for All." His speech spoke on the character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his patience with those who wronged him. He began his speech with a short history of the upbringing of the Prophet as an orphan and how his character inspired his people for his time and for years to come. He explained that Karen Armstrong in one of her books stated that Prophet Muhammad's image and character has been distorted in Western Literature. He said that despite the wrong depiction of the Prophet's character in Western literature, in the Quran the Prophet had displayed mercy to the people, the animals, the jinn, the earth as a whole and his mercy should also have a reflection in our character. The Prophet had many roles. He was a teacher, a judge, a commander, an organizer, a reformer, and lastly a family man. His character reflected the past characteristics of the Prophets that came before him. He had the devotion of the character of Abraham, the courage of Moses and David, the patience of Job and Noah, and the humbleness of Prophet Jesus. Prophet Muhammad's message was for the whole of mankind.

Dr. Badawi gave an example of a man who came and shook the Prophet demanding that he pay him what he owed him because the Prophet's tribe was known for not paying their dues on time. Umar, who was with the Prophet, wanted to hurt the man but the Prophet said, "No, I will pay the man what I owe him and more since he was scared when Umar frightened him." Dr. Badawi gave another example of a man who urinated at a Masjid and the people wanted to beat the man up but the Prophet stopped the people and allowed the man to finish urinating and then explained to him gently that this is the not the place to do that. Dr. Badawi ended his speech emphasizing that Allah made Prophet Muhammad a walking Quran and we need to change the depiction of Prophet Muhammad not by reacting violently to those who attack his character but with patience and teaching those who are misinformed.
(notes about the conference have been taken from www.icna.org)