Ambassadors

— Ermin Sinanovic, MA,PhD

International Institute of Islamic Thought

“I have been following the work of II&M & Dr. Padela for several years. II&M is truly a trailblazer that is breaking new grounds in the fields of Islam, medicine, & bioethics. I am looking forward to many years & decades of outstanding research & contribution to our understanding of contemporary Islam & its place in relation to modern scientific knowledge.”

— Hatem al-Haj, MD, PhD

Practicing Pediatrician Dean of the Academic Committee of the College of Islamic Studies at Mishkah University Member of the Resident Fatwa Committee of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA)

“I write this in support of II&M and its founder, Dr. Aasim Padela. The contribution of this organization to the field of Islamic Bioethics cannot be overstated. Within the context of the Muslim community in America, it is unprecedented and matchless. It is rooted in the tradition and shaped by it, while being versed in, and considerate of, the current standards in the field. Whether it is familiarizing Muslim physicians with the Islamic value system and codes of conduct pertinent to their practice, informing Muslim patients of the proper way of approaching healthcare, acquainting researchers and policy makers of the wealth of Islamic contribution in the field of bioethics, the role of II&M is crucial. Supporting it should be one of the priorities of our community”

— Dr. Yasir Qadhi

Dean of Academic Affairs, The Islamic Seminary of America

“I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Aasim Padela personally, and seen firsthand the positive impact of his Initiative on Islam and Medicine (II&M). II&M is a one-of-a-kind initiative for the study of Islamic Bioethics. Their unique research bridges the gap between Muslim ulama and physicians, helping scholars to engage with modern medicine. The work of II&M is more important now than ever; I recently hosted a conversation with Dr. Aasim Padela regarding the medical ethics surrounding COVID-19 that was well-received by many segments of the Muslim world. The Fiqh Council of North America (of which I’m a member) has regularly consulted II&M for specific medical issues, and their insight has helped us craft fatwas relevant to modern problems. As we face unique medical challenges, initiatives like II&M are crucial in helping Muslims make informed decisions that are properly rooted in Islamic jurisprudence.”

— Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid

Muslim Chaplain at Harvard University Chair of the Board of Religious, Ethical and Spiritual Life at Harvard University

“As the Muslim Chaplain at Harvard University, I have found that the impact and importance of IIM in the context of the work and services I provide to the Harvard University Muslim community is fundamentally important in laying the foundational knowledge about an Islamic framework of life and wellness to the diverse population of students, faculty, and clinicians of multiple religious backgrounds at Harvard. The work of IIM is absolutely critical to the growth, development and wellness of Muslim community in America. For researchers and academics, IIM offers a new discourse and produces key insights and inquiries into Muslim health disparities as well as a body of research that is religiously and medically sound based on collaboration between religious and medical experts. For students on campus, IIM is an indispensable resource about medical ethics from an Islamic lens. It affords students the rare but valuable opportunity to conduct inter-disciplinary research related to religious, spiritual and ethical life at the intersection of medicine and even health policy. For clinicians, IIM offers bioethics intensive trainings, research literature, and educational materials that provides resources for Muslim clinicians to gain literacy in the religious ethics of our profession. The American Muslim community relies on Islamically informed advice regarding medical interventions. IIM fills the knowledge gap in the American Muslim community by serving as the sole provider of sound, reliable advice about the right approach to seeking medical interventions designed to improve the accommodations of American Muslim families in a variety of health care settings”

— Ingrid Mattson, PhD

Huron University College

“I have a lot of hope for this Initiative on Islam and Medicine at Chicago. I would love to see it grow. I think it’s critical that we have a much more robust ongoing and sustaining program in this area.”

— Sh. Taha Abdul Baseer

Straightway Ethical Advisory

“As an expert in Islamic ethics and its application to multiple contemporary fields of inquiry, and a researcher who has collaborated in academic projects with IIM, I can attest to the fact that IIM has created and pursued academic lines of inquiry into Islamic bioethics that are critical to the growth and development of Islamic bioethics as a field; a significant contribution to the field of bioethics in general and highly beneficial to the Muslim community.”

— Trinka Klima, DNP, CNM

Director, Quality and Safety Committee Cherry Hill Free Clinic

“I came to II&M because of questions about prenatal genetic testing that came up almost every day in my practice as a nurse midwife. Muslim patients wanted to know what to do; and these issues often profoundly affected their lives. Under Dr. Padela’s mentorship I was able to seek answers that were informed both by Islamic tradition and current medical practice. Over the years, collaboration with religious and medical experts at II&M has benefited me tremendously as a researcher, clinician, teacher, and community health advocate. Most people do not think about medical ethics until they suddenly find themselves in the middle of a life and death situation. Medical developments will continue to raise new and challenging questions for Muslims; and we need II&M to help us address them.”

— Dr. Michael Murray

President, Arthur Vining Davis Foundations

“IIM has become a leading convener of scholars, practitioners and faith leaders on issues at the interface of Islam and medicine. Too often the topic of religion and medicine has marginalized Muslim voices and this project has put the challenges for and contributions by Muslims at the forefront. Just as important, this project has brought scholars from medicine and other biological sciences into direct conversation with both theological scholars and leaders of Muslim religious communities to better understand and address the practical challenges confronted by Muslim physicians, as well as Muslim patients and that health professionals that provide their care. The continuing work of this important center is vital to a well-functioning and inclusive healthy care system.”

— Sh. Mustafa Umar

President California Islamic University, and Member Fiqh Council of North America

“There is a dire need for guidance on how Muslims should make medical choices and decisions about what is Islamically permissible. The research conducted by IIM is essential for the American Muslim community to properly contextualize challenging issues in the field of medicine. The research produced by them is of the highest quality and meets both religious and medical criteria through collaboration between experts in both fields.”

— Amal Killawi

Doctoral student Rutgers University

“IIM sits at the unique intersection of religion and health, helping me as a researcher and clinician bridge the worlds of scholarship and practice. IIM’s EMARCH program offered me training and a network of researchers to help foster a culture of health in Muslim communities. IIM’s innovative focus on Muslim health disparities and bioethical issues empowers me to advocate for myself, my family, and others in the healthcare system. I would recommend IIM to anyone interested in impactful and relevant work on Muslim health.”

— Kamal Abu-Shamsieh, PhD

Director, Ziyara Muslim Spiritual Care

“The Ziyara-II&M partnership is unique and helping Muslim families at their most vulnerable stages: the intersection of life and death. As an end-of-life chaplain and researcher, I numerously consulted with Dr. Aasim Padela to help Muslim families decide in cases where medicine and Islamic bioethics influence the receiving or discontinuing medical treatment. I hope II&M will continue to expand and fill this niche and provide bioethicist scholars who can be called upon to help our religiously and ethnically diverse community.”

— Dr. Mona Elgredly

Founder and CEO, Shifa Health; General Surgeon

“The Initiative on Islam and Medicine is a unique centre that has empowered our Muslim community and has equipped clinicians and religious leaders with necessary skills through internships, post-doctoral scholar programs, teaching tools and conferences When the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the essential need for bioethical guidance that is sound religiously and medically, II&M led the way producing critical knowledge to inform decisions related to the spiritual, ethical, and policy dimensions of the crisis. This knowledge was disseminated internationally through webinars and position statements utilized by the US, UK and Canadian Muslim Taskforces on COVID-19. II&M is innovative, broadly impactful, and foundational. We must do everything we can to support its work long term.”

— Aminah Beverly Al-Deen, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, Islamic World Studies and Department of Religion

“Over the last decade, I have had the wonderful and thoroughly exciting opportunity to work with IIM as a community member and as an academic in the field of Islamic Studies. Not only has this adventure been fruitful, it has enhanced my teaching and research along with community involvement. The research engagement has transformed the work of many practitioners as they have to make their observations known in the community in accessible ways and the community gets an often unheard of opening to see themselves in their health care decisions along with options for improving their personal knowledge about the health care systems that interact with. I have met some of the students who will go on to be practitioners with broader competencies especially regarding research and faith understandings that may influence medical outcomes. The holistic patient-centered approach that includes faith as a definitive part of ethical/moral existence and its community focus are what makes this program unique. This program must continue as its service to the tiers of academics, community members and clinicians is vital.”

— Sohaib Sultan, MA

Chaplain, Princeton University

“The II&M is a critically important project that the Muslim community in America needs to support. It will offer much needed guidance on medicine and ethics in hospitals, medical professions, and chaplains. This Initiative is the next step we need to take in providing compassionate and ethical care to patients. There is no one better than Dr. Aasim Padela to lead this effort.”

— Mawlana Bilal Ali Ansari

Lecturer and Academic Advisor, Darul Qasim; Religious Consultant, Khalil Center

“It is an absolute joy to observe the manifestation of a dream of ulama-practitioner collaboration thanks to the Initiative on Islam & Medicine.”

— Faisal Qazi, DO

Western University of Health Sciences

“The II&M has undertaken a critical study of intersecting medical & Islamic religious concepts with a serious focus on applications for patients & health practitioners alike. The rapidly evolving clinical solutions to a myriad of medical conditions has raised many ethical & moral questions in the minds of the community & II&M is poised to make significant inroads in addressing these questions.”

— Fatema Mirza, MBA, MPA

Executive Director, Worry Free Community, Glendale Heights

“I have been working with II&M for more than 5 years. First as a peer educator in their breast cancer project and now as a collaborator on multiple community health endeavors. II&M address issues of import in our community, it is that necessary light of knowledge ... that shows us the path of [intellectual] survival. The pursuit of the question of mind, body & spirit interaction... deals with the questions of ethics and morality... II&M is the timely opportunity for all of us to contribute.”