Within the last 2 months I visited an exhibition in Antwerp, Belgium, called Moslim Expo and was most interested because it was the first Islamic exhibition that I had heard of being held on a regional scale within the country, and for the public. I learned that this year’s exhibition was in its second year of commemoration and that the Expo was designed to attract attendants from all religions as a platform for discovering aspects of life in Islam; aspects such as culture, lifestyle, business and community.
The expo was comprised of exhibitions from companies and organizations which shared ideas, sold products and services related to Islamic lifestyle – such as umrah and hajj travel, halal food, books etc. – and charitable and community organizations. One such organization that interested me was the New Muslim Organization.
The members of New Muslim Organization included mainly muallaf (converts) who had embraced Islam and who offered the opportunity for members to gain more knowledge of the religion. Most importantly, members can find solace and support from other members who can relate to many of the circumstances that occur when parting with one’s old life and family traditions for embracing Islam.
Most of the exhibitors sold their products, ranging from beautiful kaftan garments and halal cosmetics to books, halal food and much more. Some of the exhibits that caught my attention were the fashionable dresses on display and the halal food stand for my kids is the halal food stand.
The Expo was composed of not only exhibitions of stands, but there were also several workshops and lectures throughout the day. It was great to see that some of the workshops were fully booked with participants eager to gain new knowledge. The workshops covered various subjects and catered to topics like the Life of the Prophet, Islamic Finance & Entrepreneurship, Fashion & Ethics with Hijab Calligraphy, The Development of Mekkah and Madina, and Roles of the Muslima. There were also activities such as the presentation of Islamic Poetry, stand up comedy, and a panel discussion about Islamic Feminism.
The visitors were abundant and came from many backgrounds; not only Muslims attended. This expo has served its purpose for the 2 days during which it was held and it was one of the first Islamic expos in Belgium. Although some improvements are needed, I hope it will be organized again in future years.
