The Africa Federation Tabligh Board (AFTAB) successfully hosted the Madrasah Leadership Summit from Friday, 24th January 2025, to Sunday, 26th January 2025, bringing together madrasah leaders, educators, and administrators for three days of insightful discussions, strategic planning, and collaborative learning.
Diverse Participation from Across Africa
Held at Seascape Hotel, Dar es Salaam, the summit welcomed 33 participants from madrasah institutions across Africa. Attendees represented various cities, including Antananarivo, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Mauritius, Morogoro, Mombasa, Mwanza, Mtwara, Nairobi, Reunion, and Zanzibar. This diverse representation provided a rich platform for exchanging ideas, addressing key challenges in Islamic education, and fostering regional collaboration. The AFTAB team, led by its Chairman, Alhaj Mulla Sajjad Walji, was present throughout the retreat, actively engaging with participants, facilitating discussions, and ensuring the smooth flow of the event.
Esteemed Scholars and Facilitators
The summit was enriched by the presence of distinguished scholars and facilitators, including Shaykh Ali Rajani and Br. Hameed Sheriff, with co-facilitation by Fatema bai Kermalli, Zaheera bai Raza, and Zahida bai Chagani. A special highlight was the participation of Shaykh Dr. Murtadha Alidina, Head of the World Federation Islamic Education (WF IE), whose insights and guidance added immense value to the discussions. AFTAB’s team, led by its Chairman, ensured continued engagement and support to all at the summit.
Purpose and Objectives
The Madrasah Leadership Summit aimed to:
Strengthen leadership skills within madrasah institutions.
Develop strategic action plans to address educational challenges.
Promote collaborative learning and best practice sharing.
Explore innovative teaching methodologies to engage learners.
Challenges across various fields and departments of the madrasah were openly discussed by one and all, allowing for collective problem-solving and the exchange of valuable insights among participants.
Event Highlights
Over three days, participants engaged in dynamic and interactive sessions, including:
Visionary Discussions – Identifying challenges and envisioning the future of madrasah education.
Collaborative Challenge Mapping – Group work to develop solutions for educational hurdles.
Leadership Development Activities – Equipping leaders with tools for effective decision-making.
SMART Goal Setting – Formulating actionable and measurable strategies for curriculum improvement.
Spiritual and Motivational Talks – Inspirational sessions by Shaykh Ali Rajani and other distinguished speakers.
The summit emphasized activity-based learning, encouraging the adoption of innovative teaching methodologies to foster both spiritual and academic growth in students. Challenges faced by madrasah institutions across various fields and departments were openly discussed, ensuring a holistic approach to problem-solving.
A Transformative Experience
The summit was widely hailed as a transformative experience, with participants expressing appreciation for the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and gain valuable insights. The closing ceremony was a fitting conclusion to this impactful event, graced by distinguished guests and featuring a video message from Alhaj Amine Nassor, Chairman of AFED. In his address, he emphasized the value and importance of the summit in strengthening madrasah leadership and advancing Islamic education, further reinforcing AFTAB’s commitment to this cause.
During the closing ceremony, AFTAB Chairman, Alhaj Mulla Sajjad Walji assured all madaris of AFTAB’s continued support, promising access to essential resources, training programs, and ongoing guidance to enhance Islamic education across institutions.The event reaffirmed AFTAB’s dedication to supporting madrasah leaders and educators in their mission to nurture future generations with a robust and spiritually enriching education.
Participant Feedback
Participants expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to attend the summit, highlighting its impactful discussions, eye-opening experiences, and valuable learning. Some of the reflections shared included:
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to AFTAB, especially Sajjad Uncle and his team. We all learned a lot, and may Allah bless our beloved madrasah institutions worldwide.”
“A huge thank you to AFTAB for the generous invite, full of efforts and activities. This was a great platform for exchanging ideas and views. Alhamdulillah, I greatly benefited.”
“The experiences and ideas shared were very eye-opening and helpful. Inshallah, we will take these ideas back to our Jamaats and try to implement them in our classes. Such summits should be conducted more frequently to maintain motivation.”
“We extend our immense gratitude to AFTAB for hosting a revolutionary summit. Insha'Allah, this will pave the way for great advancements in madaris in the near future.”
Looking Ahead
The Madrasah Leadership Summit 2025 successfully achieved its objectives by fostering collaboration, inspiring innovative thinking, and strengthening leadership capabilities within madrasah institutions. Moving forward, AFTAB will continue to pursue the outcomes of the summit, ensuring the implementation of key solutions across Madaris, and further supporting educators and leaders in their mission.
AFTAB extends its deepest gratitude to all participants, facilitators, and organizers for their invaluable contributions. We look forward to future initiatives that will continue to advance Islamic education across the continent.
TABLIGH BOARD OF AFRICA FEDERATION (AFTAB)
