Imaad's raison d'etre:
Imaad exists as a forum for the Muslim community. Through networking, and promoting awareness in matters of education and religion, our aim is to raise the community's position in society.

What does 'Imaad' mean?
Imaad is an arabic word meaning pillar. The name symbolises the group's vision of being a support network for the community. By working together, and sharing our collective knowledge, strengths and resources, we believe that the Muslim community can build a much stronger foundation for success.

How did Imaad come about?
Imaad was born out of the frustrations of a group of young muslims. They were unhappy with the predicament many young muslims face today: a desire to be better, more knowledgeable muslims, searching for ways to bring together Islamic teachings and modern living and a desire to increase the spheres of control and influence the muslim community has in society. However, the solution offered by most Islamic groups to these issues is a one-dimensional approach to implementing Islamic teaching involving dogma and a degree of separation from 'Western society'.

Imaad is a rejection of this status quo. It is not another Islamic group trying to promote a certain interpretation of the Qu'ran or Hadith. Instead it calls for a two-pronged approach to build a stronger muslim community:

Firstly, a more creative approach to solving the everyday problems muslim's face in dealing with the modern world and living by their values. Imaad believes that muslims are able to decide for themselves what the appropriate course of action might be in a given situation. What they need is the knowledge to fuel this thought process.

Secondly, a commitment to empowering the muslim community through education, knowledge and finance and to thus build a powerful network that allows muslims to contribute even more significantly to society. Imaad is not an Islamic group as such. Rather it is a group for muslims. The scope of its activities therefore extend beyond just imparting Islamic knowledge. It is first and foremost about bringing muslims together, strengthening the networks and relationships that exist within communities.