Assalamu alaikum and a warm welcome to the October edition of BIMA Pulse. As your Council Member and Communications Team Lead, I’m pleased to share the latest updates from the British Islamic Medical Association.
Alhamdulillah, BIMA was honoured to receive not one but two prestigious national awards in October - a testament to the excellence and hard work of our volunteers and members.
This month, we highlight our advocacy work for equitable healthcare and efforts to address Islamophobia within the NHS, and ensure Muslim healthcare professionals and patients are heard.
You’ll also find details of the upcoming British Muslim Health Awards 2025, where we celebrate the remarkable contributions of Muslim healthcare professionals and health advocates nationwide. You’ll also find updates from our community health initiatives, national campaigns like the Cancer Awareness Talks and the Mindsavers Project, reflecting our shared commitment to serve the community with compassion. You will also find reflective blogs on the success of the Ace Optometry as well as BIMA's first Ace Nursing and Midwifery Careers webinars.
As Islamophobia Awareness Month approaches, we are conducting a national survey to better understand and document the experiences of Muslim healthcare professionals across the NHS. Your voice is essential, so please take part and help us advocate for a more inclusive, equitable workplace for all.
Thank you for being part of this growing movement. Together, we advance BIMA’s mission and the values that unite us.
Regards, Dr Arshad Latif Council Member & Communications Team Lead
Upcoming Events
British Muslim Health Awards
Join us on Saturday 13 December at the Quaid-E-Azam Grand Ballroom, Birmingham for an evening of inspiration, recognition, and celebration, honouring the incredible individuals shaping healthcare within our communities. Enjoy a 3-course meal, entertainment and networking with healthcare leaders.
Exclusive BIMA Member Discounts:
General / Full / Student Members – £65 per ticket
Associate Members – £85 per ticket
TeamBIMA volunteers – extra £10 off
Reserve your seat or table today and be part of this inspiring night.
Webinar: Financial Planning Tips for Health Professionals
Take control of your finances and plan confidently for the future! Join our exclusive webinar to learn practical strategies for managing your income, savings, and retirement, and get your questions answered.
Delivered by Simply Ethical, a UK-based, FCA-authorised wealth management firm offering ethical and Sharia-compliant financial planning and investment services.
A unique event bringing together healthcare professionals and Islamic scholars to explore contemporary ethical dilemmas in medicine through an Islamic lens.
📅 Wednesday 5th November 🕡 Doors open 6:30pm 📍 Imperial Banquet Hall, Preston
Featuring Mufti Taqi Usmani, alongside Dr Rafaqat Rashid, Mufti Zubair Butt, Mol Yunus Dudhwala, and others. This event is open to healthcare professionals and scholars. Organised by the Fulwood Doctors Community of Preston in collaboration with BIMA.
Whether you’re just starting out or already established in your career, there’s so much more to explore beyond the ward. From specialist training to leadership, education, and community roles — your path can be as unique as you are.
Join BIMA’s upcoming webinar, Exploring the Nursing and Midwifery Path, and hear from inspiring nurses who’ve built diverse and fulfilling careers in healthcare.
New BIMA Survey: Islamophobia and Censorship - Experiences of Muslim Healthcare Workers in the UK
This Islamophobia Awareness Month, BIMA invites all Muslim healthcare professionals across the UK to take part in our latest national survey exploring experiences of Islamophobia, discrimination, and censorship within healthcare settings.
Previous BIMA surveys have been published in leading journals such as BMJ and Medicine, Conflict and Survival, and have been cited in academic research, media coverage, legal proceedings, and government inquiries. BIMA research is being used to shape policy and promote inclusion across the NHS and beyond.
Your voice matters. Help us document experiences and drive meaningful change.
At times, it can feel as though we, as Muslims, are constantly firefighting and responding to yet another wave of hostility, scrutiny or a headline. The rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric in mainstream media and politics is exhausting. And while the Department of Health and Social Care’s recent confirmation of a hierarchy of discrimination validates what many of us already knew, it is painful to see that not all prejudices are treated equally, and that our experiences are still so often dismissed, explained away or met with silence.
Even so, we continue. We continue to serve our patients, our communities, and one another with compassion and conviction. We continue to show that our faith is not a barrier, but a source of strength and purpose.
As Muslims, we embrace every part of our identity because it make us rich, complex, and perfectly imperfect human beings. We are proud of the faith that shapes how we live, care, and love. And we are proud to be healthcare professionals who strive every day for equitable, healthier communities.
Taking from Mamdani’s speech from this week but with my own twist, (and what a powerful, empowering rallying voice of resilience and hope), we will continue to stay in the light because we were never in the shadows.
Dr Sahira Dar President, BIMA
October at a Glance
BIMA Statement on Government Announcement to Tackle Racism in the NHS
BIMA welcomes the government’s announcement to tackle racism in the NHS — a long-overdue recognition that discrimination continues to harm staff, patients, and public trust.
However, this effort must address all forms of hatred equally, including anti-Muslim, anti-Black, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Jewish racism. Selective concern risks deepening division.
BIMA Writes to Government and NHS Leaders Addressing Islamophobia and Inequality
Before the government announced its review into racism and antisemitism in the NHS, BIMA had written to the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, raising urgent concerns about Islamophobia, racial inequality, and the rise in hate affecting NHS staff.
Following the announcement, we have also written to Lord Mann, who will lead the review, and to Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS England.
Our message is clear: Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, and anti-Palestinian racism must be recognised and tackled with equal seriousness. There must be no hierarchy of racism within the NHS.
Launch Workshop Sets the Stage for a Month of Mental Wellness
Our new Mindsavers initiative successfully launched at Palmers Green Mosque, introducing a unique workshop designed for the Muslim community. This first workshop represented a pivotal step in making mental health support more accessible and actionable, moving beyond theory to provide real-world tools for resilience. The energy in the room confirmed a deep community need for exactly this kind of open dialogue.
Powered by the collaborative spirit of Anjum, Amena, Shoaib, Tayyib and Shahan, the session provided an easy-to-understand framework for maintaining mental wellbeing, identifying signs of poor mental health, and learning how to support others. The engaging format included practicing simple wellbeing techniques and a supportive Q&A, all met with overwhelming positivity from North London attendees. This powerful debut sets the stage for more Mindsavers workshops planned throughout November.
Discover the full schedule of upcoming workshops and learn more about the initiative below.
Empowering Communities: Launch of Cancer Awareness Talks 2025
The launch event of the Cancer Awareness Talks 2025 at Solihull Community marked a significant shift for the BIMA Cancer Team.
Historically, our efforts centred on cancer screening, but this year we expanded our focus to include cancer awareness and prevention. For the first time, we incorporated discussions on lifestyle choices and early prevention strategies, which were met with great enthusiasm from the public.
Delivered through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach, the programme brought together nurses, GPs, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and medical students, each offering valuable insights into cancer care and prevention.
Attendees showed genuine interest in learning practical ways to reduce their cancer risk. The event set a positive tone for future initiatives, highlighting the community’s growing commitment to proactive health education. The success of this launch event sets the stage for more community awareness sessions planned throughout the year.
This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside healthcare professionals and academics dedicated to advancing Muslim medical publishing.
Volunteering with JBIMA offers the chance to build your editorial experience, expand your professional network, and contribute to meaningful, faith-aligned academic work.
BIMA is proud to announce it was awarded Best Professional Services at the Islam Channel Business Awards in October.
We are grateful to all our volunteers, staff and members who have contributed to winning this award. May Allah accept all our efforts.
BIMA Receives APNA Shining Light Team Award for Dedicated Service and Impact
We are honoured to receive the APNA Shining Light Team award for dedicated service and impact.
This is our second award this month and is a testament to our volunteers and staff that are passionately united to build a professional home for muslim HCPs and healthier communities.
BIMA President Named among the Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe
We’re proud to share that Dr Sahira Dar, President of BIMA, and Dr Salman Waqar, former BIMA President, have both been named among the Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe (2025) by EqualityX!
This recognition celebrates their tireless leadership, advocacy, and dedication to advancing equity, representation, and health for Muslim communities across the UK and beyond.
Nurturing Faith and Career: Reflections on BIMA’s First ACE Nursing & Midwifery Event
The first BIMA Nursing and Midwifery ACE Webinar, held on 5th October 2025, was a valuable and inspiring session for newly qualified nurses and midwives.
The webinar explored the role of Islam in nursing, offering guidance on how to maintain faith and professionalism within the workplace. Speakers shared practical tips for surviving the first year as a newly qualified nurse or midwife, alongside important reminders about infection control. The session also introduced the BIMA uniform policy, supporting Muslim healthcare professionals in balancing religious identity and workplace requirements.
We look forward to our next event on Sunday 21st December, 12–2pm, which will focus on career pathways.
This month, we hosted our second online webinar for BIMA ACE Optometry, this time focusing on the varied career pathways available for optometrists. The ACE Optometry team members, plus 2 esteemed guest speakers shared their experiences on working in areas such as multiple, hospital, locum and domiciliary optometry as well as partnership, academia and supervision.
Attendees also benefitted from an open Q&A at the end, and so far the feedback received has been positive and we look forward to hosting similar events in the future.
Become a Paying Member
Become a paying member today to help BIMA continue to do amazing work and become eligible for special discounts.
Join BIMA Whatsapp groups
There are 40+ BIMA professional and regional WhatsApp groups that you can benefit from. These groups are a chance to network and discuss topical issues with colleagues in your professional area(s) and/or region.
BIMA's work is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsor and partners. Here's a message from a few of our generous sponsors - Precept Finance, Wahed Invest and OFFA.
Looking for Islamic Finance?
Precept Finance is your one-stop solution for Sharia-compliant home, buy-to-let, HMO, commercial, bridging, and asset finance.
Trusted experts, tailored solutions, and ethical funding.
At Wahed, our mission is to provide our clients with Riba-free financial alternatives that allow them to reach financial freedom without compromising their values.
Our goal is to democratize Shar’iah compliant investment options that are accessible to the community regardless of financial background or investment experience. Join us as we create a more equitable and just financial system that benefits everyone.
Offa is the UK’s leading Islamic home finance provider, and the first to offer Sharia-compliant bridge finance in the country. Their mission is to empower Muslims to achieve financial security and growth while staying true to their faith.
From helping families buy their first home to supporting investors build halal passive income through real estate, Offa offers a range of tailored solutions designed to create long-term, sustainable wealth in line with Islamic principles.
.png?upscale=true&width=800&upscale=true&name=SE%20-%20BIMA%202025%20(1).png)
%20-%20Arshad%20Latif.jpg?upscale=true&width=800&upscale=true&name=IMG-20251024-WA0092(1)%20-%20Arshad%20Latif.jpg)
%20-%20Naomi%20Green.png?upscale=true&width=800&upscale=true&name=Copy%20of%20Advocacy%20-%20Webinar%204%20(2)%20-%20Naomi%20Green.png)
.png?upscale=true&width=800&upscale=true&name=Nursing%20and%20Midwifery%20(2).png)
