The Forum is a proposed collaborative platform designed to unite Muslim organisations across Greater Manchester. Its aim is to foster networking, shared learning, advocacy, and joint action to address community needs and promote social good, guided by Islamic values and best practice.
Our Vision
“A unified and thriving Muslim civic presence in Greater Manchester—empowered by collaboration, committed to justice (Adl) and excellence (Ihsaan), and contributing meaningfully to a more compassionate and equitable society.”
Our Mission
“To provide a collaborative platform for Muslim organisations across Greater Manchester to connect, share resources, and work together. Through partnership, knowledge-sharing, and strategic advocacy, we aim to strengthen our collective impact, address community needs, and promote positive change—guided by Qur’anic values, Prophetic principles, compassion and best practice.”
Our Values
- Ihsaan – Integrity with Purpose
- Excellence in Work: We pursue the highest standards in our services, communication, and decision-making — doing things not just well, but beautifully and meaningfully
- Integrity in Conduct: Maintaining high ethical standards, honesty, and openness in all actions, reflecting Islamic moral imperatives and good governance practices.
- Compassion in Service: We serve our neighbourhoods, communities and one another with kindness, empathy, and a genuine desire to do good
- Reflection and Growth: We regularly reflect on our actions and systems, seeking constant improvement in line with our mission and values
- Harnessing Diversity
- Embracing the richness of Greater Manchester’s Muslim communities by encouraging a diversity of culture, age, and ethnicity. The forum will be non-denominational.
- Collaboration and Shared Learning
- Encouraging teamwork and resource-sharing.
- Empowerment and Advocacy
- Strengthening member organisations through leadership training, mentoring, and skill development.
- Acting as a unifying voice for Muslim organisations where possible, representing them in policy discussions and public dialogue.
- Promoting the contributions of young people and facilitating female leadership.
What We Do (Objectives)
- Networking, Resource sharing and Collaboration
- Enable networking between members and organisations from the Muslim community across Greater Manchester.
- Build partnerships and foster joint initiatives to address shared challenges and maximise community impact.
- Share ideas and current streams of work, especially when overlapping with other organisations.
- Facilitate access to tools, expertise, and funding opportunities for member organisations.
- Capacity Building
- Provide training and development programs to enhance organisational capabilities.
- Advocacy and Representation
- Represent the collective voice of Muslim organisations as much as possible in policy discussions and public discourse.
- Knowledge Exchange
- Encourage sharing of best practices, innovative solutions, and specialist knowledge.
- Succession Planning
- Promote leadership development and ensure continuity for member organisations.
- Policy Development and Gap Analysis
- Identify unmet community needs and advocate for policy changes to address them.
- Media & Public Relations
- Provide focussed training, resources and consultancy on media engagement, media related capacity building and public relations.
- Building Bridges & Social Cohesion
- Encourage and facilitate the development of real engagement with wider society
Background
Faith communities have long played a vital role in promoting the common good within civil society. Muslim organisations in Greater Manchester contribute significantly across sectors, from education and health to social justice and interfaith dialogue. Despite these contributions, there is currently no unified platform for collaboration, resource sharing, and collective action.
Efforts to establish collaborative networks in the past have often been fragmented or short-lived due to challenges such as lack of inclusivity, limited resources, or unclear goals. However, the need for such a forum has become increasingly evident over the past few years, with growing calls for unity and coordination among Muslim organisations in Greater Manchester.
This concept paper proposes the establishment of a Forum of Muslim Organisations (Greater Manchester)—a unified platform to strengthen collaboration, amplify collective impact, and represent the diverse voices of the Muslim community in the region.
Theological and Ethical Imperative
Islamic teachings offer a compelling framework for unity and cooperation, aligning with scholarly insights:
- Qur’anic Foundations of Unity
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided…” (Qur’an 3:103)
This verse highlights the moral imperative of togetherness, urging Muslims to avoid fragmentation.
- Prophetic Teachings on Brotherhood
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
This hadith underlines the responsibility to care for one another—an ethical cornerstone of collaborative ventures.
- Ummah as a Collective Body
By describing the Ummah as one body, Islamic tradition implies that local communities (such as those in Greater Manchester) should act in solidarity, exemplifying compassion and unity in addressing societal challenges.
These theological precepts form a robust foundation for the Forum of Muslim Organisations (Greater Manchester).