How should people of faith think about mental health, economics, public health, political leadership, and the other pressing questions of our time? The Institute for Muslim Advancement and Renewal (IMAR) was created to help answer that question with care, rigor, and openness.
IMAR is an emerging research and publishing initiative dedicated to bringing Islamic thought into meaningful conversation with the challenges facing Americans today. Founded by Imam Mohamed A. Azeez, IMAR is a project born of the Tarbiya Institute community and operates independently. It brings together scholars, researchers, faith leaders, practitioners, and emerging writers to examine contemporary issues through interdisciplinary research, public dialogue, and accessible publications.
Research That Reaches Beyond the Academy
Serious intellectual work too often stays inside universities and journals that most people never read. IMAR is working to change that. Through annual journals, public symposia, books, and multimedia programming, it aims to make thoughtful research accessible to everyone, and to build relationships across communities along the way.
That approach reflects a simple conviction: the Islamic intellectual tradition has something valuable to offer American society, and its insights belong in the public square as well as the classroom.
A First Symposium on Mental Health
On October 3, 2026, IMAR hosted its inaugural symposium in the Greater Sacramento Area, Mental Health: Beyond Industry Barriers and Biases. The gathering brought together Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other community voices alongside academics, mental health professionals, and members of the public for substantive conversations about well-being.
The symposium accompanied IMAR’s 2026 journal, pairing published research with open, in-person dialogue. It is a model of what IMAR hopes to do each year: take a question that matters to families and communities, study it carefully, and bring people of different backgrounds together to talk about it honestly.
IMAR will also convene working groups to translate Islamic principles into practical solutions for the public good, such as advancing water-based cleansing in American restrooms as a matter of public health and hygiene.
Next: The Anatomy of Leadership
Building on that momentum, IMAR’s 2027 research and symposium theme is The Anatomy of Leadership. The work will explore how political leaders are formed, cultivated, and held accountable, bringing faith and ethical perspectives into conversation with political research.
It is a timely subject. Questions of leadership and accountability shape every community, and IMAR’s approach invites readers to consider them through the lens of faith and ethics as well as policy.
Partner With IMAR
As IMAR grows, it is actively seeking partnerships with institutions, community organizations, and supporters who share its commitment to thoughtful research, meaningful dialogue, and the lasting contribution of the Islamic tradition to American society.
“We’re grateful to AMCF for helping introduce this work to a wider audience,” IMAR shared.
We are glad to help. Initiatives like IMAR strengthen the intellectual life of our community and help ensure that Muslim voices are part of the conversations shaping our shared future.
Support IMAR. You can give directly through IMAR’s patronage page, or find IMAR in the AMCF Nonprofit Directory. If you hold a donor-advised fund with AMCF, you can recommend a grant from there.
Learn more about IMAR, its symposium, and its publications at tarbiya.org/imar.
Photos courtesy of Digital Contrast Media.