University Chaplain named one of Europe’s Top 50 Influential Muslims

The University is proud to celebrate Imam Mohammad Asad MBE, one of our dedicated Chaplains and lead imam at Birmingham Central Mosque, who has been recognised in the Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe Awards.

The award, presented by EqualityX, honours Muslim professionals whose work has made a meaningful impact in their communities and wider society. Imam Asad was recognised for his longstanding commitment to interfaith dialogue, community cohesion, and pastoral care, both within the University and in the wider community.

Imam Asad has a solid track record of making positive impact across the community and in 2023 was awarded an MBE for organising food parcels for the homeless, refugees and people self-isolating during the pandemic, as well as arranging welfare packs for NHS heroes in hospitals, and running various community projects such as autism-friendly spaces in his Birmingham Mosque. 

He has forged partnerships with local schools in Walsall and Wolverhampton to arrange clothing donations for the University’s Chaplaincy Winter Warmer Drive and cutlery for the Pre-Loved Project. These are distributed to our students. He arranges for the school pupils to be rewarded in return by sharing leadership sessions with them and by the Careers staff, delivering sessions on CV writing, interview skills and statement writing etc.

He organises annual Iftar events with The Molineux Stadium which helps builds bridges with our students and staff who are invited to be part of such occasions.

During summer holidays he leads on youth leadership projects where youngsters from the community are accommodated by our Paramedic Science staff, to learn about university life and attend various educational sessions at the University.

He continues to build relationships with local faith communities and external organisations where our students can go and deliver First Aid courses, as they gain experience of working within the faith communities and he creates opportunities for our students to attend faith events celebrated by West Midlands Ambulance Service, where he also serves as a Chaplain.