By the Grace of Allah, the 4^th Annual Quran and Science Symposium was held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at Bait-ur-Rahman Mosque in Silver Springs, MD.  The program began with a combined session led by the Association of Ahmadi Muslim Scientists (AAMS), USA and included a Welcome address from the AAMS-USA President, Dr. Sohail Husain Sahib.

There were three concurrent programs held during the second session: AAMS-USA session 2; the Ahmadi Women Scientists in Action session I; and a Nasirat session.  The first session of Ahmadi Women Scientists in Action was moderated by National Sadr Lajna Imaillah, Saliha Malik Sahiba.  It began with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Qurat ul Ain Sahiba followed by a welcome address by Ahmadi Women Scientists Association (AWSA) president, Dr. Noveera Ahmed Sahiba.  Dr. Shanaz Butt sahiba then led the group in an interactive talk entitled “How does the interaction between nature and nuture shape our brain and behavior?”.  The concurrent Nasirat session included the Abdus Salam Science Fair for Lajna and Nasirat, coordinated by Dr. Nusrat Sharif Sahiba, and hands on demonstrations of food science, coordinated by Alfiya Akhmed Sahiba.  Approximately 30 Nasirat participated in food science experiments.

Ahmadi Women Scientists in Action, session II was held concurrent with the AAMS-USA general body meeting and Atfal food science lab, on the men’s side.  The ladies session was moderated by National Sadr Lajna Imaillah, Saliha Malik Sahiba and began with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Sadia Malik Sahiba.  The winners from the Abdus Salam Science Fair were announced and presented medals by National Sadr Lajna Imaillah.  In Group A (grades K-5), Inayya Virk Sahiba (daughter of Humaira Virk Sahiba) won first place for her presentation entitled “Rainbow Yougart” and Sadaf Ahmad Sahiba (daughter of Najam us Sehar Sahiba) won second place for her presentation entitled “The Brain”.  In Group B (grades 6-12), Aymen Haq Sahiba (daughter of Sumaria Bajwa Sahiba) won first place for her presentation entitled “Which Soda Is Worse for Your Teeth?” and Ilhaam Husain Sahiba (daughter of Syeda Ahmed Sahiba) won second place for her presentation entitled “Go Green Go Clean”.

National Sadr Lajna Imaillah, Saliha Malik Sahiba then delivered an address in which she reminded Ahmadi scientists to try to emulate Dr. Abdus Salam Sahib, who had a deep love for Allah and was so inspired by the Holy Quran that it became the basis of the scientific work for which he was awarded a Nobel Prize.  National Sadr Lajna Imaillah also expounded on the beautiful prayer of Hazrat Musa^as from 20:26-29 of Holy Quran, linking it back to healing effects of breathing.  The session was concluded by brief remarks by the AWSA president, in particular she thanked the local Lajna presidents and members of the Silver Spring, Potomac and Laurel jamaats for all of the hard work and hospitality.  The last session was held a combined program led by AAMS-USA and relayed on the ladies’ side.  In total, approximately 400 guests attended the event.  Approximately 250 guest were Lajna or Nasirat.