Imam Zaid begins by stressing that we have to recognize the reality of the times we live in: a time of symbols and slogans that are void of any real meaning or value. And this fact, unfortunately, has affected the Muslim ummah in a profoundly negative way. Meaningful youth and social programs have been replaced with slogans. We've reduced Islam to mere slogans about unity, the lofty status of women, racial harmony, etc. But we haven't been able to transform these slogans into viable institutions and programs of benefit. Imam Zaid encourages the audience to understand the political, social, and cultural context within which we live and to realize our responsibility in living true Islam and presenting it to the world as the alternative and the solution.

Imam Siraj follows with a speech about scholarship and its need for transforming not only our personal condition but the condition of our society. He shares his experience of scholarship, its importance, and how he came to realize the depth of Islam through the differences of opinions we have. He reveals the two main things he learned in his own training. And these are the two things, as he says, we desperately need besides speeches. His talk is followed by a fundraising session and a beautiful dua.

"Part of our crisis is that we've turned away from the guidance of our scholars. And we're following the guidance of politicians, journalists, revolutionaries, and any number of people who have set them up as those who would give direction to the ummah. And this is a major factor in the mess that we're in." -Zaid Shakir

"Knowledge is not only about books and what books contain. As [the scholars] say... 'knowledge is in the hearts of men, not in the minds of books', because those hearts have been trained. Before the Prophet (S) got the revelation, his heart was trained. And it became a fitting vessel to receive the revelation... So those scholars are trained to understand that revelation, and these are the people that we need to turn to." -Zaid Shakir

"If America is an accommodating country and can accommodate all of these religions, all of these races, all of these ethnic groups, then why can't Islam accommodate the Muslims who might have little differences here and there? And I was told by some Muslims who came to this country for the first time, they met Muslims from around the world here in America. So just maybe Allah has brought us here in this country for a reason to bring us together to create a system and create an institution." -Siraj Wahhaj