The Role and Understanding of the Modern Imam
The role of the Imam and the Mosque in the modern Western world is of huge significance and importance. With rapid change in national and international circles, the place of Imams and Mosques is becoming increasing critical. It is essential that modern Imams are equipped with the necessary skills and understandings of the world and country as well as the centrality of balance and moderation in thought and practice.
In view of this, the United Kingdom Branch of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graudates (WAAG UK) put together a unique course for British Imams and Chaplains titled ‘The Role and Understanding of the Modern Imam’. The one day intensive training program was based on workshops and seminars delivered by leading scholars of the United Kingdom with a wealth of knowledge and experience. This included Shaykh Dr Abdal Hakim Murad (Cambridge University, Cambridge Muslim College) and Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada (WAAG UK, Jamia Al-Karam)
The workshops mainly focussed on the following two areas:
- Role of Imams and Mosques in contemporary Britain
- Development and change in British Mosques and related initiatives
The following scholars attended the training program:
- Zagham Ali Mohammed al-Azhari
- Muhammad Qasim Iqbal
- Muhammad Zafran Nazir al-Azhari
- Tahir Mahmood Kiani
- Junaid Gul Pirzada
- Muzzamal Hussain Ahmed al-Azhari
- Abu Bakr Ali
Mahboob Hussain al-Azhari- Muhammad Asim Hussain
- Gul Muhammad
- Iftikar Dad al-Azhari
- Ghulam Moyhuddin
- Imran Muhammad
- Musaddaq Shaheen al-Azhari
- Ayaz Ur Rehman Irfani
- Shuab Hassan Hussain
- Muhammad Ishaq
- Tanweer Ahmed
- Zein Hud al-Azhari
- Haseeb Ul Rehman Saeed Akhtar al-Azhari
- Bakhtyar Haider Pirzada al-Azhari
- Muhammad Ahmad Siddique
The training program was very successful and was enjoyed thoroughly by the tutors as well as the participants. The participants appreciated the efforts of the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates and welcomed such training programs in the future.
