An Imam who also works as a lawyer has been awarded an MBE for his services in enhancing community relations. Imam Qari Asim, aged 34, has been named in the latest honours list and will be invited to Buckingham Palace to receive the award.

He is the first Imam ever, who leads daily prayers in a mosque, to be awarded an MBE.

Imam Qari Asim has served the Muslim communities of Leeds as an Imam for over 17 years and has won the award of “UK’s Model Mosque” for his mosque, Makkah Masjid.

Imam Qari Asim has been awarded an MBE for having achieved remarkable success in three areas affecting British Muslim communities.

He has worked to enhance community relations and create bridges between communities.

He has strived to inspire young British Muslims, leading the “Being a British Muslim” programme and authoring the “Mosques & Youth Engagement Toolkit”.

The recommendations made in the pioneering Youth Engagement Toolkit have the potential to revolutionise mosques to make them not only places of worship, but also centres for knowledge and platforms for civic dialogue. The recommendations are being implemented by a number of British mosques.

TImam Qari Asim has also campaigned against issues such as domestic violence, forced marriages, anti-social behavior and child abuse in faith institutions.

Imam Qari Asim said, “I am incredibly humbled and immensely honoured by the MBE award. I am deeply indebted to my family and friends and the attendees of Leeds Makkah Masjid, all of whom have played an important part in enabling me to serve the Leeds communities.”

“I dedicate this award to my late father, who has been an inspiration throughout my life”, said the Imam.

A representative of Leeds Makkah Mosque, Haji Arif, said, “Imam Qari Asim’s award is a cause of celebration for us all because it signifies and recognises the ground-breaking work that Qari Asim has being doing to enhance communal relations, engage with disenfranchised young people and lead the way in tackling some the of taboo issues in the British Muslim community.”

Leeds Muslim Council said, “We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Imam Qari Asim and his family and wish them every success and blessings for the future.”