The Thinking Muslim The Medina Model: Islam’s Blueprint for Muslims in the West | Dr. Sohail Hanif
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Aug 29, 2025 Dr. Sohail Hanif, CEO of the National Zakat Foundation and lecturer at Cambridge Muslim College, discusses how Muslims in the West can build resilient communities inspired by the Medinan model established by Prophet Muhammad. He emphasizes the importance of collective institutions, ethical leadership, and inclusivity, especially in women's roles. The conversation also explores zakat's historical significance and its modern implications, advocating for meritocracy and collaboration to foster a cohesive Muslim identity that actively engages with societal challenges.
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Three Cultural Rules For Leadership
- Cultivate three cultural traits: discourage craving leadership, move with appointed leadership, and consult deeply.
- Model leadership that values following, delegation, and shura (consultation) to sustain unity and accountability.
Zakat As An Institutional Engine
- Zakat historically seeded institutions, roles and written systems needed for communal governance.
- Collecting and circulating zakat required scribes, custodians and trust, which created local leadership and infrastructure.
Use Zakat To Form Local Welfare Councils
- Use local zakat systems to build communal welfare bodies that include mosques and experts.
- Let those local bodies coordinate with other welfare actors to create accountable community leadership.
