Center for Peace and Spirituality USA Hosts Second Annual Conference Celebrating 50 Years of Al-Risala

BOSTON (November 9, 2026) —  The Center for Peace and Spirituality USA (CPS USA) hosted its second annual conference on October 17, 2026, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Al-Risala, one of the most popular and longest-running periodicals in the Urdu language. First published in October 1976 by Islamic scholar and peace advocate Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Al-Risala has reached readers worldwide with writing on faith, spirituality, peace, history and global affairs.

The conference brought together 75 participants from various countries. Speakers reflected on the history of Al-Risala, the vision behind its creation, its international reach and the lasting spiritual impact it has had on generations of readers.

Dr. Saniyasnain Khan, founder of Goodword Books, spoke about Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s difficult journey and the eventful history of Al-Risala, offering insights into the origins and development of the publication. Dr. Rajat Malhotra, global coordinator of the Center for Peace and Spirituality International, delivered a moving keynote address on the enduring spirit of the Al-Risala mission.

Khaja Kaleemuddin, founder and president of CPS USA, was among Al-Risala’s first subscribers. In the 1980s, he worked to print and distribute the magazine in Africa, and in 1997 he registered Alrisala Forum International Inc. as a nonprofit in the United States. Kaleemuddin discussed the original vision behind Al-Risala and how it gradually reached readers around the world.

Gul Zeba Ahmed, vice president and education program lead of CPS USA, spoke about the periodical’s growth and influence in the United States. Kouser Izhar, chaplain at CPS USA, addressed Al-Risala’s spiritual impact, describing how its writings have helped readers develop a positive personality and a peaceful mindset.

“Al-Risala represents an extraordinary literary contribution, covering an expansive range of subjects, from spirituality and peace to history and global affairs,” said Asad Pervez, director of the CPS USA Boston center. “It has introduced Islam to its readers, and what it means to build a relationship with God, in a clear and accessible way that no other literary body of work has achieved. We regularly hear from readers around the world who share how its writings have touched and influenced their lives.

“Reaching 50 years is a significant milestone, particularly because its readership continues to grow. One indication of its lasting influence is the recent launch of alrisala.spiritualmessage.org by a reader. The platform serves as a digital knowledge base and search engine, preserving and indexing articles published over the past five decades and making this extensive body of knowledge more accessible to a new generation of readers and researchers worldwide.”

The 50th anniversary commemoration provided an opportunity for readers, scholars and members of the CPS community to revisit the publication’s history, share experiences and reflect on its contributions to spiritual awareness and the promotion of peace.

About CPS USA

The Center for Peace and Spirituality USA is a nonprofit, non-political organization dedicated to promoting a culture of peace through spiritual awareness and interfaith dialogue. Inspired by the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, CPS USA works to present Islam as a faith centered on peace, tolerance and coexistence.

CPS USA is the official U.S. representative of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, whose life’s work focused on peace, spirituality and harmony across communities. Founded in 1997 as Alrisala Forum International Inc., the organization is a registered 501(c)(3) and continues to expand its outreach through educational programs, literature distribution and community engagement initiatives.

For more information, visit https://cpsusa.net/.