IMAMS FACING NEW DEMANDS OF JAMAAT

Abstract

Imam is the backbone of the work and activities in each jamaat. He is the central figure around which all activities of the jamaat revolve, whether he initiated, planned and designed them, or whether he is an active participant or mere observer, critic or obstructionist. In their calling, imams are also counsellors of their jamaat members in different aspects of life, and often there is also the issue of family and family problems. It is noteworthy to say that the role of the imam in this context is mainly reflected in the personal abilities of the imam himself, and not in the worked-out form or institutional acting in order to deal with such problems. This paper examines the challenges of the profession of imam as family counsellor, and it offers some directives in context of future, more concrete and more comprehensive institutional care for families.