Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam.

Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah It is my pleasure to write to you on the first anniversary of the founding of the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA).

Whatever we achieved in this year has only been possible with the help and Blessings of Allah SWT, and all shortcomings were entirely due to us mortals. Our journey began with hopes and ambitions of uniting British Muslim doctors and healthcare professionals by putting in place a grassroots organisation that is committed to the principles of character building, professional development and service to mankind. This we hoped to do for only one objective: seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT.

Our journey began with hopes and ambitions of uniting British Muslim doctors and healthcare professionals by putting in place a grassroots organisation that is committed to the principles of characterbuilding, professional development and service to mankind. This we hoped to dofor only one objective: seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT.

Looking back over the first year of BIMA, we have made significant progress in laying the foundation. We had our sights set high but we kept our feet to the ground. Majority of the work has happened in the background and as a result we now have an organisational presence and infrastructure in all four countries of UK and in all regions of England.

At the same time we have stepped out into the public and participated in the debates around the issues that were concerning the community. These ranged from the issue of veil in hospital, to porcine gelatine in vaccines, to issues surrounding voluntary relief work overseas. We have also been working on community health awareness projects and providing support and guidance to our colleagues. Internationally, we have been recognised as an important player and have started playing active role in Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA).

You will find the detail in the newsletter but the one outcome that has been most rewarding is the increasing sense of brotherhood and sisterhood felt by our members across the UK from Dundee to Plymouth and Newcastle to Cardiff and Belfast.

This, in my own view has been the most valuable achievement of this first year of BIMA. BIMA has emerged as a hope for uniting healthcare professionals on one platform just on the basis of two common factors: being British & Muslim. I am proud to see that our membership database happily shows doctors of all ethnic backgrounds, specialities, grades, women, students, IMGs and UK born and bred graduates have readily joined BIMA.

This has put BIMA in a take-off position. And now we are going to mark the next year as a year of public activities. There are campaigns and projects being planned right now to be rolled out across the UK in the coming year. Please watch this space and get involved if you can.

In the end, on behalf of the whole association and especially the BIMA Council, I would like to thank you all for your continued support.

I pray from Allah SWT that He accepts all our efforts in His Path and forgive us for our shortcomings. May He help us in keeping our intention sincerely for His Pleasure and keep us amongst the people who “Believed and did the righteous deeds, and exhorted each other to follow truth, and exhorted each other to observe patience” (Surah Al-Asr).

May Allah bless us all.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatallah ,

Hammad Lodhi
President BIMA