The Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) hosted a landmark elective conference of the Ulama Council of Malawi (UCAM) in Blantyre in March 2023, bringing together approximately 65 Muslim scholars from across the country for the selection of new UCAM leadership and the unveiling of Malawi's new Grand Mufti.
MAM National Chairman Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad presided over the conference, opening proceedings with a call for unity of purpose among Malawi's Muslim scholars. "We need to pull in one direction and build on each other's strengths for the good of the Muslim community in this country. We depend on you scholars gathered here to research widely and guide us accordingly," said the Chairman.
The conference unveiled Sheikh Muhammad Osman Mtalika as Malawi's new Grand (State) Mufti, replacing the late Grand Mufti Abbas Cassim who passed away three years prior. Sheikh Ali Kennedy was elected as Deputy Grand Mufti.
The newly elected UCAM committee also includes Sheikh Swaly Chilundu as Vice Chairperson, Sheikh Abassie Vinjenje as Secretary, and Sheikh Salimn Omar as Vice Secretary, among others. In a constitutional update, the tenure of the UCAM committee was extended from five to ten years to provide greater institutional stability.
MAM Publicity Secretary Sheikh Dinala Chabulika announced that the new UCAM committee will be mandated to establish a national moon-sighting committee — a long-standing need in the Malawian Muslim community. "Whatever will come from this sub-committee as regards sighting of the moon will be final," he said.
MAM congratulates the new UCAM leadership and pledges its full cooperation as the association works to strengthen Islamic scholarship and religious guidance for all Muslims in Malawi.