Karbala 2024 Summit

I. Overviw of WISE 2024 Summit

With the blessing of Allah, the Third WISE Summit took place in the holy shrine of our beloved Third Imam (AS) in Karbala. The summit brought together school leaders and educators from around the world. The summit dinner reception took place on January 2, 2024. The summit opening ceremony was held on Wednesday January 3 on the birth anniversary of Lady Fatima Zahra (AS). The summit ended on January 5 with a closing ceremony inside the holy shrine of Imam Al Husayn (AS). The summit included presentations by keynote and guest speakers, school leaders and religious scholars. The overall theme of the World Islamic Summit on Education (WISE) is Training Future Leaders. The sub-theme for WISE 2024 was “Family” as it relates to the overall theme. Special thanks to Samim Institute and Al-Kisa Foundation for their sponsorship, support and collaboration in planning and organizing specific aspects of WISE 2024.   

II.  Summit Mission and Objectives

The mission of the World Islamic Summit on Education is the periodic and systematic meeting of Islamic Schools. WISE 2024 had four main objectives:

  1. Learn and Apply: Schools/speakers present best practices and practical concepts that other schools can benefit from and apply in their own schools if they wish.
  2. Network: Participants network with other participants during the summit with the hope of leading to further collaboration between schools or participants.
  3. Sharing Resources: Schools and organizations share their resources with other schools during and after the summit.    
  4. During the business meetings, provide updates about the WISE initiatives taken place between the second and third summits. In addition, solicit input from the participants in planning the next WISE summit. 

III.  The Message from the Office of Grand Ayatullah As-Sayyid Ali Al Sistani

WISE 2024 was blessed with a powerful message by the Office of Grand Ayatullah As-Sayyid Ali Al Sistani. The message was read by Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, the Imam-e Jum‘a and Resident ‘Ãlim of the Jaffari Islamic Center / Jaffari Community Center of Toronto, Canada. 

This special message for WISE 2024 began with “greetings to the participants of this blessed conference, to the principals of the Islamic schools that are participating in it, and, through them, to each teacher and student at these schools from different countries.”

Full text of the message: Arabic / English

The highlights of this beautiful message are below:

  1. To cooperate in guiding the new generations toward the fundamentals of true faith, the values of pure religion, and uncorrupted nature.
  2. To help one another in teaching them the salient features of their religion, raising them and purifying their souls so that these fundamentals and teachings are instilled in them.
  3. To protect them from misguidance, deviation and confusion. 
  4. To understand the importance of the present time present time in which the banners of misguidance are increasing, erroneous opinions and challenges are spreading, deviating views are circulating, and the elements that are distorting pure nature and noble moral values are expanding
  5. To establish private schools that would allow protection of the elements of faith and culture for the children of the believing generations.
  6. To support these schools spiritually, culturally and financially so that they can materialize the expected results in the best of forms; rather, establishing even more schools to cover the huge deficiency in this field.
  7. To organize this important gathering [of WISE] to study various aspects regarding their common work and to become familiar with diverse experiences in this field in order to correct any deficiencies that may exist in some of them and raise them to a higher level of perfection and mastery.
  8. [For the school leaders] To strive for sincerity for the sake of Almighty Allāh, further organizing their tasks, constantly increasing their knowledge, and familiarizing themselves with whatever benefits them and the work that they are doing.
  9. To pay more attention to their own character and behavior so that they can be role models for their students.
  10. To compete in the field of pious fear, righteousness, humility, hard work, kindness and other noble ideas and virtuous morals, present the best of the best, and seek consultation and synchronize their affairs among themselves in the best manner.

The summit organizers and schools will use the above points from the message of the office of this great Marja’ in planning future initiatives. 

IV.  The Participants

School leaders and religious scholars representing schools from six different continents, serving more than 50,000 students in more than 50 schools around the world participated at WISE 2024. Sixteen new schools joined WISE 2024 that were not present in the previous summits. Participants included the heads of schools, religious scholars, principals, vice principals, administrators, lead teachers, board members, founders and advisors from Islamic schools around the world. In addition, this year we were blessed with families and students that joined us with the SABA Ziyarah Caravan and the WISE Talks competition. 

V.  The Program 

The opening ceremony included our keynote and guest speakers discussing the important topic of Family as it relates to Training Future Leaders. The WISE Café speakers also focused on the topic of Family. The Head of International Affairs of the Al Atabah Al Husseiniya also spoke on the important steps the Atabah has taken supporting education and families especially orphans. 

The main program consisted of a series of panel presentations by school leaders. The topics of the panel presentations included:

  1. Family and Islamic Schools
  2. Mental Health and Islamic Schools
  3. Training Future Leaders
  4. Curriculum and Instruction
  5. School Operations, Transformation and Accreditation
  6. Artificial Intelligence and Training Future Leaders

Two workshops were conducted at WISE 2024:

  1. Facing the Modern-Day Gender & Sexuality Deviation Crisis: Practical Guidance, Lesson Plans & Resources for Educators
  2. Building Resilient Leaders

Eight additional presentations were made by speakers on various topics related to Islamic schools. A total of 40 school leaders and speakers presented in WISE 2024 in which 22 of them were attending WISE for the first time. 

The program included three business meetings in which the initiatives taken place between WISE 2022 and WISE 2024 were discussed, and the input of the participants were solicited in planning of the next summit.

The closing ceremony included the award ceremony of WISE Talks. In addition, Maulana Dr. Syed Nabi Abidi gave the closing speech discussing the future of Islamic schools. He discussed the implications of schools working independently, in friendship, collaboration or partnership. He also presented the pillars of success including education, strong families and being ambassadors. At the end of the closing ceremony, the Flag of the Dome of Imam Al Husayn (AS) was given as a gift to WISE and the program ended with the participants being blessed with this flag while reciting the ziyarah of Imam Al Husayn (AS).

VI.  The Venue

WISE 2024 took place in the holy city of Karbala. We were honored to have our opening and closing ceremony in the conference hall of the holy Shrine of Imam Al Husayn (AS), thanks to the Al Ataba Al Husseiniya. The participants were staying was in Almas Hotel and Dur Kadhimiyya Palace Hotel. In addition, thanks to the Shahrestani family, we were able to host some of the parallel sessions including WISE talks in the Shahrestani Husseiniah. 

This decision was made due to logistical issues of not having the needed venues in Almas Hotel. This was the first time more than two venues were used for the summit. 

VII.  Feedback

Feedback surveys were sent digitally to participants after the event. More than 30 schools completed the surveys from all participating continents. Participants were satisfied or very satisfied with WISE 2024 and 100% recommend attending future WISE summits to their colleagues and other schools. 95% of the participants were either satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of the presentations. Only 77% of the participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the venue and participants provided valuable feedback about the effect of having multiple venues during the summit. Given all the logistical challenges, 46% of the participants believed that the summit should only be held in holy cities such as Karbala. 41% indicated they prefer that the location of the summits alternates between holy cities and other countries. The answers to the open-ended questions provided much feedback that will be used for planning the next summit.

VIII.  WISE Talks

WISE Talks was a new initiative at WISE 2024. WISE Talks is an international public speaking competition between Islamic Schools. Participating schools held the internal competition in their respected schools and the finalists of around 20 schools came to WISE 2024. The students competed in two categories: 10-14 years old, and 15-18 years old. The students did an amazing job in two rounds and the finalists were awarded during the closing ceremony. The top three winners were each awarded $1000, $600 and $400 respectively. The judges included experts and educators from various schools and organizations. Below are the names of the WISE Talks 2024 winners:

15-18 years old category

First place: Aala Rezaian – RISE Academy, USA

First place Fatima Ala Jamalan, Al-Sadiq and Al Zahra Schools – London, UK

Third place: Musabbiha Bachoo, Az Zahraa Islamic Academy – Vancouver, Canada

10-14 years old category

First place: Batoul Rojaeb, Az Zahraa Islamic Academy – Vancouver, Canada

Second place Zamina Nathani, As-Sadiq Islamic School – Toronto, CanadaFatima 

Third Place: Anyebilkees Rashid, Al Muntazir Islamic International School – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Third Place: Hannah Kawsan, RISE Institute, USA

IX.  Next Steps and Outcomes

WISE 2024 had a focus on establishing regional collaboration between the schools. The business meetings discussed this important issue along with getting feedback on planning the next summit. Wise Café initiatives and plans was also presented. 

The first item that was voted during the business meeting was how often should the summit take place. 80% of participating schools voted to hold the summit every two years. 20% of the participating schools voted to hold the summit every three years. The high number of votes for holding the summit every two years was very heart-warming as it shows the value and perceived benefits of WISE summits. 

The next item that was discussed was the venue for WISE 2026. The following venues were suggested:

  1. Karbala (per invitation from the Atabah Al Husseiniya)
  2. Bosnia (per invitation from the Persian-Bosnian College)
  3. Indonesia (per invitation from the Muthahhari Schools)
  4. Tanzania (per invitation from Al Kisa Foundation)

In addition, schools provided valuable input on the sub-theme of WISE 2026. Most of the topics mentioned were related to student character and character building. The Board of Directors of WISE will be researching the above venues from a logistical and operational point of view and announce the location and sub-theme for WISE 2026.

There was a call to get more involved at WISE. Several participants shared that they wish to get more involved in the governance of WISE including regional WISE officers, WISE Board of Directors and committees. The first educator that showed interest in joining the WISE Board of Directors was Dr. Leila Mouhanna from Al Zahra College in Australia. Her nomination was discussed in the WISE Board of Directors and approved at the Founding Members (Secretariat) level. We would like to welcome Dr. Leila Mouhanna to the WISE Board of Directors.  Below are the list of names of the Board Members:

  1. Seyed Alireza Khoei – Affiliation: Al Sadiq and Al Zahra Schools – Al Khoei Foundation, UK
  2. Nijad Cherefuddine – Affiliation: Rihab Zahra School – Sadr Foundation, Lebanon
  3. Elham Shaheidari – Affiliation: Enlight Academy, RISE Education System, USA
  4. Miftah Rakhmat – Affiliation: Muthahhari Group of Schools, Indoensia
  5. Hussein Mirzapour – Affiliation: WISE Founding Member
  6. Leila Mouhanna – Affiliation: Al Zahra College, Australia
  7. Ali Jafarabadi – Affiliation: Alavi School, Head of WISE Operations
  8. Alireza Shamszadeh – Affiliation: Founding Members Chair, Avicenna School, Ausrtia
  9. Nooh Kasraie, Chair – Affiliation: RISE Education System, Enlight Academy, Al Kisa Foundation, Noor Academy, Wisdom Academy, USA

During the collaboration session of the last day of the summit, schools were grouped into regions to discuss future collaboration initiatives. The Asia-Africa group of schools discussed utilizing resources by Al-Kisa Foundation and WISE Education registered in India for future collaboration. The WISE AEA (Americas, Europe and Australia) discussed the following initiatives:

  1. Creating a telegram group for future communication of WISE AEA and adding other school leaders and schools from schools in the region. 
  2. Meetings every other month to discuss common issues and brainstorm solutions.
  3. Registering WISE in Australia by Haj Ali Hussein (Bellfield College) and Dr. Leila Mouhanna (Al Zahra College).
  4. Forming a new group called WISE MSN (Montessori Schools Network) for collaboration between Montessori and Montessori inspired schools within the WISE network.
  5. Holding a regional WISE Summit for schools in Canada in 2025.
  6. Quran teacher training for schools by forming a group of expert Quran teacher trainer and holding online workshops
  7. Continued support of WISE Talks in the upcoming years
  8. Initiate a new student competition in schools focusing on Introducing Imam Al Husayn (AS) to non-Muslims with arts, language and poetry
  9. Initiate a Quran competition between the schools and explore the possibility of joining forces with the Urwatul Wuthqa Quran Competition formed by Al Hadi School, USA
  10. Promote collaboration between smaller groups of schools on common issues (such as for Islamic High School Planning)

X.  Special Thanks and Appreciation

The Office of Grand Ayatullah As-Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani

The Al Atabah of Al Hussainiya and Dr. Syed Sad ud-Deen and Dr. Haider

The Attending Religious Scholars especially Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

The Shahrestani Family 

Samim Institute

Maulana Syed Nabi Abidi and Al-Kisa Foundation

Management of Almas Hotel and Dur Kadhimiya Palace Hotel

Br. Zakeri and the AV/Recording Team

Dr. Ali Jafarabadi and the Operations Team

Br. Alireza Shamszadeh and the WISE Founding Members (Secreteriat)

WISE Advisory Group

WISE Board of Directors

WISE Program Committee

Sr. Elham Shahiedary and the WISE Talks Team and Judges

The Participating Schools and Speakers

SABA Ziyarah Caravan

WISE Talks Students and Families

And all those who helped us planning and organizing WISE 2024 in Karbala.