The Chief Missioner of the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Imam Abdul-Azeez Morufu Onike, has urged Missioners and Imams to pursue excellence in Da’wah while protecting their health, families and long-term ability to serve.
Imam Onike made the call in Cotonou, Benin Republic, at the 11th NASFAT Missioners’ Conference.
He said the major challenge was not whether Missioners should serve Allah, but how they could remain committed without destroying themselves through excessive demands.
‘The real question is: How do we serve Allah faithfully without destroying ourselves? How do we remain passionate without burning out, neglecting our families, compromising our health, or diminishing the quality of our service?’ he asked.
According to him, Islamic leadership requires neither exhaustion nor complacency, but consistent, sincere and sustainable excellence, or I?san, in the service of Allah.
Imam Onike urged participants to honestly examine their productivity, engagement and use of time. He noted that while some Missioners were genuinely overstretched, others were working sustainably, while some might be performing below their potential.
He challenged them to consider whether their activities could be reduced without significant impact, how much Da’wah they had personally initiated in recent months, and whether claims of being ‘too busy’ reflected genuine responsibilities or poor prioritisation.
He also encouraged Missioners to reflect on how effectively they were using the knowledge, skills, opportunities and time entrusted to them by Allah.
The Chief Missioner also highlighted the financial pressures facing many Imams and Missioners, including irregular income, rising living costs, healthcare expenses, children’s education and retirement insecurity.
He urged them to plan deliberately for their families’ future and consider what would sustain their dependants if they were no longer able to preach or work.
‘These are not merely financial questions; they are questions of amanah, stewardship, and responsible leadership,’ he said.
Imam Onike also commended participants who completed the Pre-Conference Capability Assessment Test, describing it as an important step toward measuring and improving capacity development. He urged Missioners to study their results and use the findings for personal growth, stressing the importance of mu?asabah, or self-examination.
Drawing from his personal experience of illness in 2009, he cautioned against glorifying excessive workloads while emphasising that sustainability should never become an excuse for complacency.
He said the goal was to help Missioners establish healthy boundaries while maintaining commitment to Da’wah.