The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) worked with major British Muslim charity Islamic Relief, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) over the last year to install lifesaving defibrillators at 57 mosques across the country. 

Eleven lifesaving defibrillators were funded by the BHF within mosques , after BIMA helped them to apply for the funding and work with BHF to identify areas of the highest cardiovascular risk. 24 mosques were funded by a UK programmes grant from Islamic Relief, and 22 mosques received heavily discounted devices from a £1million DHSC through the charity London Hearts.

In addition to the installations, BIMA supported the training of over 300 mosque staff and volunteers in the use of defibrillators and in bystander CPR. This is ahead of the annual BIMA Lifesavers programme taking place at the end of September, where volunteer health professionals teach CPR to thousands of members of the public in mosques across Britain.

Heart disease is a serious problem in the UK and significantly raises the risk of cardiac arrest. According to the BHF, there are over 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK. Unfortunately, fewer than one in ten survive, which is why a publicly accessible defibrillator can save lives. 

The rate of cardiovascular disease can be higher amongst different demographics, and unfortunately some British Muslim communities experience increased risks of heart disease and diabetes. 

The work that BIMA is doing that Islamic Relief UK supports hopes to help this specific need amongst the community, by installing defibrillators in local mosques as they serve as community hubs amongst British Muslims. The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) has partnered with Islamic Relief, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to install life-saving defibrillators in 57 mosques across the UK over the past year.

The BHF directly funded eleven of these mosque defibrillators, with BIMA facilitating their applications and collaborating to identify high cardiovascular risk areas. Islamic Relief’s UK programmes grant funded 24 mosques, while 22 mosques received significantly discounted devices through the charity London Hearts, supported by a £1 million DHSC initiative.

In addition to the installations, BIMA provided training on defibrillator use and bystander CPR to over 300 mosque staff and volunteers. This initiative precedes the annual BIMA Lifesavers programme in late September, where volunteer health professionals teach CPR to thousands in mosques nationwide.

Heart disease poses a significant health challenge in the UK, greatly increasing the risk of cardiac arrest. Timely CPR and defibrillation can more than double someone’s chances of survival from a cardiac arrest, underscoring the critical role of publicly accessible defibrillators in saving lives.

Cardiovascular disease rates can vary across demographics, with some British Muslim communities unfortunately experiencing elevated risks of heart disease and diabetes. BIMA’s efforts, supported by our partners, aim to address this specific community need by installing defibrillators in local mosques, which serve as vital community hubs for British Muslims.

Dr Ali Abbas Hasham, a trustee of KSIMC of London who received a defibrillator at their mosque, wrote  “Allow me to express our thanks and gratitude for this. We recently had a cardiac arrest at a neighbouring centre and this will inshallah allow us to protect our communities better.”

Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Hossain from Northampton Mosque & Islamic Center, said ‘On behalf of the NMIC Mosque, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of a defibrillator to our mosque. We are incredibly grateful for this valuable life-saving device, which will serve not only our masjid but also the wider local community. Your kindness and commitment to supporting the well-being of others are deeply appreciated, and this defibrillator is a testament to that. It will be an essential asset to our community, ensuring that we are better equipped to respond to emergencies and protect the health of those who visit and live nearby.

Thank you once again for your generosity and for thinking of our mosque and community.’’

The partnering organisations are looking to raise awareness of the need to live a healthy lifestyle and how to prevent cardiovascular diseases which are high among Muslim communities. If the worst does happen, an immediate response with a defibrillator can significantly increase the chances of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest. That is why it is essential that UK mosques are equipped with a defibrillator along with the training on how to use it.

Tufail Hussain, director, Islamic Relief UK adds “It’s important for our community to look after one another and these defibrillators are an excellent way to do this. We’re excited that our work with BIMA will provide people with the tools and know-how to act in emergency medical situations when time is of the essence and to help save lives. Remember, whoever saves a life, it is though they have saved the lives of all mankind.”

Dr Sahira Dar, BIMA President, commented: We are proud to partner with Islamic Relief UK, DHSC and London Hearts to bring life-saving defibrillators into mosques across the country. 

With British Muslims being one of many communities facing disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease, early access to defibrillation and CPR training can mean the difference between life and death. This initiative is not only about saving lives in emergencies; it’s about empowering our communities to act swiftly and protect one another when it matters most.” 

Sam Kennard, Senior Defibrillator Manager at the BHF said: “Defibrillators save lives and it’s vital they’re accessible to everyone – no matter where they live. By funding defibrillators in these mosques, we’re helping to close critical gaps in community access and ensure more people have the best chance of survival in a cardiac emergency.”

About BIMA

The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) is a leading organisation representing over 12,000 Muslim healthcare professionals in the UK. BIMA is committed to promoting health and wellbeing within Muslim communities and advocating for equitable healthcare access for all.

About Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief is a faith-based relief and development agency working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Established in 1984, Islamic Relief now works in over 45 countries assisting individuals, families and communities through emergency response and development projects that typically help over 10 million people each year.