The mosques and Islamic organizations in the U.S. and Canada serve millions of Muslims. As an Imam provides an individual ministry of purpose, presence, and peace, NAIF aims to replicate that sacred care to the Imam as an individual. This is a collegial peer-to-peer network of advice and support. Through the support of the spiritual care leader, NAIF also aims to provide a united Muslim voice via a consensus from its Imam members.
A Practical Resource for a Fraternity of Imams
The aim of this clerical consortium is simple: to help meet the tangible and spiritual needs of Imams in the U.S. and Canada. As an anchor umbrella group, NAIF seeks to facilitate cooperation, coordination, and fellowship between the leaders of mosques and Islamic Centers in the U.S. and Canada. NAIF also strives to realize its sacred mission to Imams through periodical conferences, training programs, conventions, and publications. NAIF has established four regional offices in the U.S. and plans to continues its expansion to better coordinate and facilitate within communities the steps necessary for an effective achievement of its goals in North America. NAIF also aims to help Imams enhance avenues to better his relationship with the masjid leaders and administrators as well as the mosque congregation on a whole.
Members connect at the annual NAIF conference and throughout the year in cyberspace to pray with and for one another, to share Qur’anic teachings, to share resources, and to discuss questions about the sacred work of the clergy, and the many challenges facing people, communities, and the world.
NAIF is committed to, and focuses at, supporting Imams in their sacred mission. The loftiest of this mission is calling people to the ways of Allah and encouraging them to observe the Islamic acts of worship.
Members connect at the annual NAIF conference and throughout the year in cyberspace to pray with and for one another, to share Qur’anic teachings, to share resources, and to discuss questions about the sacred work of the clergy, and the many challenges facing people, communities, and the world.
NAIF is committed to, and focuses at, supporting Imams in their sacred mission. The loftiest of this mission is calling people to the ways of Allah and encouraging them to observe the Islamic acts of worship.
A Symbiotic Approach
NAIF establishes relationships with Imams of mosques and Islamic Centers that are licensed to operate in the United States and Canada as a non-profit organization. NAIF's relationships are collaborative, complementary, and cooperative. They are based on interests and common goals. NAIF will collaborate with Islamic organizations to help achieve common goals, complement their efforts to better serve Islam, and cooperate with them in that which is rewarding in Islam including providing a united theological response to the growing and troubling tide of Islamophobia in the West.
NAIF: A History Grounded in Need
NAIF is committed to helping the Imam in his sacred mission. It was founded in October 2002 and formally incorporated two years later to pioneer a new era of collegial support and to serve as a representative voice for the Islamic clergy profession. The impetus for the founding was the lack of a professional body in North America that is concerned specifically with the welfare of Imams. Existing Islamic organizations provided limited or no support to Imams and often had secondary or tertiary goals that were sometimes a departure and often inconsistent from the best interest of the Imam. This left the aspirations, visions, and goals of Imams partially unattended. From this scarcity, a group of Imams took it upon themselves to bridge that gap.
NAIF was incorporated as an organization founded, empowered, and administered solely by Imams. The charter states that the interests, goals, visions, and aspirations of the organization would, in kind, be derived from, and formulated by Imams. Within this from us by us mentality, NAIF believes that it best supports the ethos and justification for an organization particularly concerned with the Imam’s welfare and prosperity.
NAIF was incorporated as an organization founded, empowered, and administered solely by Imams. The charter states that the interests, goals, visions, and aspirations of the organization would, in kind, be derived from, and formulated by Imams. Within this from us by us mentality, NAIF believes that it best supports the ethos and justification for an organization particularly concerned with the Imam’s welfare and prosperity.
