IGIC 2026 Appoints Nasaruddin Umar as First President of IAMI
Jakarta, UIN News Online - The International Grand Imams Conference (IGIC) 2026 established The International Assembly of Mosque Imams (IAMI) and appointed Minister of Religious Affairs and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, Prof. Dr. KH. Nasaruddin Umar, M.A., as its first president. The international forum addressing the reinforcement of imams' roles, mosques, religious diplomacy, and global peace took place in Jakarta, September 25-27, 2026.
IGIC 2026 was attended by grand imams, muftis, and delegates representing 46 countries from various regions, including Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Southeast Asia. Attendees included representatives from Italy, Argentina, Scandinavian nations, France, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, and Malaysia. Domestically, the assembly was joined by the executive board of the Mosque Imams Brotherhood Association (IPIM) and grand imams from various provinces.
The election of Nasaruddin Umar as President of IAMI was warmly welcomed by attending delegates. He expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him while requesting ongoing support from global grand imams to fulfill this mandate effectively.
“I feel unworthy to be chosen to lead the grand imams; I fear disappointing the expectations set here. Therefore, if it is indeed His will to choose me as leader, I hope you will understand my shortcomings and assist me in overcoming them,” Nasaruddin stated.
As its inaugural president, Nasaruddin emphasized the necessity of restoring mosques to their strategic roles in societal life. According to him, mosques should serve not merely as places of worship, but also as spaces for education, community empowerment, social assembly, and the reinforcement of humanity.
“We must transform the mosque. Up until now, the congregation has been empowering the mosque, but we must reverse this—it is the mosque that must empower the congregation,” he asserted.
The establishment of IAMI stands as one of the principal outcomes of IGIC 2026, serving as a permanent platform for imams and religious leaders to exchange knowledge, strengthen cooperation, and advance peaceful religious discourse. IAMI is also structured to address issues such as intolerance, social fragmentation, environmental challenges, youth affairs, poverty, misinformation, and humanitarian crises.
IAMI is anchored by five strategic pillars: Mosque Harmony, Imam Leadership, Religious Diplomacy, Global Peace and Humanitarian Action, and Sustainable Mosques and Communities. IAMI's permanent secretariat is headquartered in Jakarta, with regional offices in Kuala Lumpur, Cairo, Nairobi, London, New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Canberra.
In executing its programs, IAMI will host monthly virtual assemblies of global grand imams to address pressing issues facing the ummah. Nasaruddin also opened opportunities to involve leaders of other places of worship in discussions concerning humanitarian and environmental issues.
“We will not engage in practical politics or matters that disrupt mutual comfort, but rather align our perspectives that humanity is one,” he expressed.
In addition to establishing IAMI, IGIC 2026 produced the Jakarta Understanding on mosque harmony, religious diplomacy, and global peace. The consensus positions imams not only as leaders of worship, but also as conflict mediators, unifiers of diversity, moral guides for society, and agents of peace.
The Jakarta Understanding further outlines the commitment of imams to reinforce character education, moderation and tolerance, digital literacy, protection of vulnerable groups, interfaith dialogue, rejection of extremism, violence, hoaxes, and hate speech, as well as dedication to environmental sustainability. The declaration also affirms full support for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, protection of civilians, enforcement of international law, and the realization of independence, justice, peace, and sustainable dignity for Palestine.
Through the establishment of IAMI and the Jakarta Understanding, IGIC 2026 reinforces the elevated role of mosques and imams in building inclusive religious life, strengthening religious diplomacy, and driving cross-border cooperation for peace and humanity.
