When an imam in a rural African village wished for a motorcycle, it was not a luxury. It was a necessity. With no vehicle, he had to walk hours to collect bags of cement for the mosque his community was building. Today, thanks to the Imam Development Program (IDP), that same imam uses a donated motorcycle to ferry cement and roof sheets across rocky terrain—building a place of worship for new Muslims in his village.
This is just one story among hundreds. Since its founding, IDP has been dedicated to strengthening the leadership of imams across Africa. The vision is simple yet profound: empower imams, and you empower entire communities.
From Recognition to Partnerships
The turning point came at the past forum of Muslim leaders and institutions, where IDP was honoured with the Excellence and Innovation Award. For Sheikh Bilal Ismail, the recognition was more than symbolic.
“Recognition is not about ego. It is about opening doors,” he explained. “If it helps more people know about us, and more are willing to partner with us, then it is all worthwhile.”
And doors have opened. Since the forum, IDP has cemented partnerships with organisations such as Human Concern International and Collective Continuum, unlocking new funding for zakat and Qurbani programmes.
A Technology-Driven Model
At the heart of IDP’s success lies innovation. Each imam receives a smartphone with the IDP app installed, creating what Sheikh Bilal describes as an “Uberised system for imams.”
Through the app and WhatsApp, IDP can track sermons, community visits, classes, and GPS locations in real time. This allows donors – sometimes thousands of miles away – to directly support an imam at the press of a button.
“If there was no internet, our system would collapse,” Sheikh Bilal admitted. “But with it, an imam in a super-rural village is as connected as any leader in a capital city.”
Scaling the Impact
Today, IDP supports over 600 imams across 14 countries. Yet thousands more remain on waiting lists. The programme’s next steps are clear:
- Strengthen the management engine that processes donations, ensures transparency, and supports imams consistently.
- Expand reach to more imams, each of whom represents an entire community of families, students, and future leaders.
“With every imam comes the community around him – elders, children, orphans, families. Strengthening the imam means strengthening them all,” said Sheikh Bilal.
Advice for the Next Generation
Reflecting on the challenges of running a social impact programme, Sheikh Bilal “With haraka comes baraka. Movement and effort bring blessing. The results are with Allah, but we must make the effort.”
From a single imam’s wish for a motorcycle to a continent-wide network of leaders, the Imam Development Program is reshaping Muslim leadership at the grassroots. Its journey from recognition at the past forum to scaling through technology and partnerships demonstrates the power of persistence, faith, and innovation.
About the Excellence and Innovation Prize
The Muslim Impact Forum Excellence and Innovation Prize awards organisations that embody resilience, creativity, and values-driven. With more than funding, the awards provide visibility, credibility, and access to mentorship across philanthropy, business, and policy networks.
Applications are now open. Apply here to showcase your organisation’s impact.
