iERA
The Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) is a United Kingdom-registered charity established in 2010, dedicated to advancing the Islamic religion through educating the public on its teachings and training individuals to conduct dawah—public proselytization efforts—to convey Islam's message compassionately and intellectually.[1][2] Co-founded and chaired by Abdurraheem Green, a British convert to Islam, the organization operates internationally, supporting over 1,300 dawah practitioners across more than 30 countries via online courses, seminars, and outreach initiatives aimed at fostering understanding and conversion to Islam.[3][4] iERA's activities emphasize methodical training in argumentation and interpersonal communication for sharing Islamic beliefs, positioning itself as a counter to perceived misconceptions about the faith while promoting tolerance in response to global events like terrorism.[5] However, the group has encountered significant backlash, including university bans for enforcing gender-segregated seating at events and a multi-year Charity Commission inquiry prompted by concerns over links to individuals with histories of radical statements, though no misconduct was ultimately found and iERA was directed to enhance governance.[6][7] These incidents highlight tensions between iERA's orthodox Islamic practices and secular institutional norms in the West.[8]Founding and History
Establishment and Early Years (2009–2012)
The Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) was formally incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee on 23 June 2009 in the United Kingdom, with the primary objective of advancing the Islamic religion through education, research, and proselytization (dawah).[9] The organization was co-founded by British convert Abdurraheem Green (born Anthony Green), a prominent dawah practitioner, alongside Hamza Andreas Tzortzis, a researcher focused on Islamic apologetics, and other figures including Adnan Rashid and Abdullah al-Andalusi.[10] iERA emerged to address perceived shortcomings in prior dawah efforts, such as those of Tablighi Jama'at, by emphasizing rational, modern arguments compatible with science and philosophy to engage non-Muslims, particularly atheists and youth.[10] In its initial phase, iERA prioritized online and street-based outreach, launching MissionDawah.com in 2009 as a platform for training materials and video distribution, including content like "This is the Truth" by Abdul Majid al-Zindani.[10] Street dawah activities began in locations such as Birmingham city center by 2010, involving leaflet distribution and public interactions aimed at inviting passersby to Islam.[10] The organization also engaged in public debates, notably confronting atheist biologist P.Z. Myers at the 2011 World Atheist Convention in Ireland, to defend Islamic positions using intellectual arguments.[10] These efforts built a significant online following, with hundreds of thousands of Facebook adherents by 2012, facilitating global reach despite limited physical infrastructure.[10] Key intellectual outputs included Tzortzis's 2011 publication "Embryology in the Qur'an: A Scientific-Linguistic Analysis," which underwent revisions through April 2012 and sought to demonstrate Qur'anic prescience on human development, though it later faced scholarly scrutiny for methodological issues.[10] In 2012, iERA developed the Guided Outreach and Propagation (GORAP) methodology, a structured dawah template covering God's existence, oneness, revelation, and prophethood, inspired by classical sources and tailored for contemporary audiences like atheists and Christians; this was disseminated via videos featuring Green.[10] The group also released the booklet "Science in the Qur'an" that year, highlighting purported scientific themes to bolster faith and apologetics.[10] Early challenges included a 2010 plagiarism allegation against Tzortzis regarding the Kalam Cosmological Argument, prompting a public apology, yet these did not halt expansion into training programs equipping Muslims for effective, non-confrontational engagements.[10]Expansion and Organizational Development (2013–Present)
Following the initial years of operation, iERA underwent rapid expansion in its dawah activities and organizational scale around 2013, which included increased public events, speaker engagements, and volunteer recruitment, but also highlighted governance challenges such as inadequate due diligence on partnerships and improper trustee payments totaling approximately £44,704 between 2010 and 2014.[9] This growth prompted the UK Charity Commission to open a formal inquiry in June 2013, examining allegations of links to extremism stemming from media reports on certain guest speakers and a high-risk partnership with an entity associated with a UK-proscribed individual.[9] [11] The inquiry concluded in November 2016 without finding evidence of serious misconduct warranting trustee removal or charity dissolution, though it identified regulatory breaches and mandated improvements in risk management, speaker vetting, and documentation.[11] [9] In response, iERA established a Risk Management Group, terminated the problematic partnership, and enhanced compliance policies, enabling sustained development amid scrutiny from sources later criticized for unsubstantiated claims of organizational extremism.[9] [7] Post-2016, iERA focused on professionalizing its structure through expanded training initiatives, including online courses via the iERA Training Academy to equip dawah volunteers with methodological skills, and the launch of Destination Dawah programs for structured outreach trips.[2] [12] This period saw international growth, with the development of a global network of over 1,000 dawah specialists operating in more than 30 countries, including dedicated efforts in Africa (such as Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Botswana, and South Africa) and a Canadian affiliate conducting local and regional projects.[4] [13] [14] Financial resources supported this scaling, with annual income rising from £979,154 for the year ending June 2017 to £3,500,991 for the year ending June 2024, funding enhanced staffing, resource production, and cross-continental activities.[15]Mission and Objectives
Core Dawah Methodology
iERA's core dawah methodology emphasizes inviting non-Muslims to Islam through a structured, rational approach grounded in Islamic principles of wisdom, patience, and kindness, as outlined in Quran 16:125.[16] This methodology views dawah as a collective obligation (fard al-kifayah) with individual responsibility based on capacity, prioritizing sincerity and recognition that ultimate guidance comes from Allah alone (Quran 28:56).[16] It draws from the examples of prophets such as Noah, Moses, and Muhammad, focusing on conveying tawheed (Allah's oneness) and proper worship while avoiding argumentation or extremism.[16] Central to this approach is the G.O.R.A.P. framework, an acronym for God's Existence, God's Oneness, Revelation, and Prophethood, designed as a flexible conversational guide rather than a rigid script.[16] The method begins with establishing God's existence through arguments from design and fine-tuning, such as analogies to human artifacts like mobile phones or the universe's ordered parameters.[16] It progresses to God's oneness by demonstrating a singular, uncreated Creator free from infinite regress or partnership with creation.[16] Revelation is affirmed via the Quran's preservation (Quran 15:9), linguistic inimitability (Quran 2:23), and universal applicability, while prophethood validates Muhammad's messengership through his character and the Quran's veracity, supported by hadith collections like Sahih al-Bukhari.[16] In practice, G.O.R.A.P. seeks incremental agreement at each stage, redirecting off-topic questions back to foundational beliefs and concluding with an invitation to the shahadah (declaration of faith).[16] iERA disseminates this methodology via its flagship online dawah training course, comprising over 16 video lessons, quizzes, and webinars, accessible for free to equip participants from beginners to advanced levels with step-by-step techniques.[2] The course integrates practical application, such as post-conversion mentorship emphasizing prayer and community integration, to support sustained engagement.[16] This systematic focus on rational foundations distinguishes iERA's efforts from less structured outreach, aiming for intellectual conviction over emotional appeal.[16]Educational and Research Focus
iERA's educational initiatives primarily emphasize training Muslims in the skills of dawah, or inviting others to Islam, through structured programs grounded in the Prophetic methodology. The organization's core offering is the iERA Dawah Training Course, a free online program launched around 2020 that consists of more than 16 video lessons, supplemented by webinars, quizzes, handouts, and community forums.[17][2] This self-paced course covers foundational concepts, including the definition and rewards of dawah, ethical guidelines, and practical techniques for addressing common questions, aiming to equip participants with confidence in one-on-one and public interactions.[18] It has trained thousands globally, with in-person variants like "The Messenger's Way" workshops held at mosques and events as recently as October 2025.[19][2] Complementing training, iERA's research efforts focus on empirical insights to refine dawah approaches, such as conducting surveys on non-Muslim perceptions of Islam to identify barriers and opportunities in outreach.[20] These studies inform resource development, including publications like books, pamphlets, and the Pocket Dawah Manual, a beginner's guide emphasizing systematic invitation strategies aligned with Islamic jurisprudence.[1][21] The academy integrates findings from decades of field experience into its methodologies, prioritizing relational building with community leaders and sustainable team deployment over confrontational tactics.[16] This dual emphasis supports iERA's statutory aims to inform the public about Islamic teachings and prepare educators for seminars and engagements.[1]Leadership and Governance
Key Founders and Executives
Abdurraheem Green, born Anthony Waclaw Green, founded iERA in 2009 as a dawah organization aimed at promoting Islam through education and research.[22] [23] He has served as chairman since its inception, overseeing strategic direction and public outreach efforts.[24] Subboor Ahmad currently holds the position of chief executive officer (CEO), leading iERA's global dawah initiatives, including training programs and international expansion.[25] [4] With a master's degree in philosophy, Ahmad focuses on intellectual engagement and organizational strategy.[25] Hamza Andreas Tzortzis served as CEO from April 2017 to February 2020, during which he developed internal systems, processes, and governance structures to enhance operational efficiency.[26] Tzortzis, known for his work in Islamic apologetics, contributed to research and training methodologies before transitioning to other ventures.[26]Board of Trustees and Oversight
The Board of Trustees of iERA, registered as a UK charity (number 1134566), bears legal responsibility for directing the organization's charitable activities, managing assets, and ensuring compliance with the Charities Act 2011, including duties of care, prudence, and avoidance of conflicts of interest. Trustees oversee strategic decisions, financial controls, and risk management, such as vetting speakers and partnerships to mitigate reputational and legal risks.[9] Anthony Waclaw Green, also known as Abdur Raheem Green, has served as chairman since the organization's founding in 2009, providing leadership on dawah initiatives and organizational direction.[27] Saqib Sattar acts as a founding trustee, contributing to foundational governance and ongoing oversight.[28] External oversight is provided by the Charity Commission, which regulates iERA's operations. In 2016, the Commission concluded a statutory inquiry into the charity's trustee decision-making and financial practices, determining misconduct and mismanagement due to unauthorized payments totaling £44,704 to multiple trustees between July 2010 and May 2014 (exceeding limits in the governing document), inadequate due diligence on high-risk partnerships (e.g., with entities linked to banned individuals), and holding charitable funds in a non-charity company account for 2.5 years.[11][9] The inquiry found trustees had not sufficiently recorded risk assessments or enforced policies like the Counter-Extremism Policy, leading to orders for policy reviews, record updates, and compliance by November 2016.[9] No further public inquiries have been reported as of 2023, with annual accounts submitted on time reflecting ongoing regulatory compliance.[29]Activities and Outreach
UK-Based Programs
iERA conducts dawah training programs in the United Kingdom, emphasizing methodologies derived from the Prophet Muhammad's approach to outreach. These include the flagship "iERA Dawah Training Course," a self-paced online program with over 16 video lessons, handouts, quizzes, and webinars designed to equip participants with skills for sharing Islam effectively.[17] In-person sessions occur at UK venues, such as events hosted by the London Muslim Mosque in October 2023, where training focused on conveying Islam with wisdom.[19] The organization has trained thousands globally, with UK-based cohorts contributing to a domestic network of dawah practitioners.[2] Street dawah initiatives form a core UK activity, involving direct public engagements in urban centers. In London, iERA teams have conducted outreach at locations like Leicester Square, where interactions led to dozens of on-the-spot conversions to Islam in December 2024, followed by support through iERA's imam programs.[30] Similar efforts in Leicester Square and other sites feature unscripted conversations without staging, emphasizing sincere dialogue, as documented in iERA's video recordings.[31] These programs prioritize immediate follow-up for new converts, integrating them into mentorship and educational resources. Support for new Muslims includes UK-specific retreats and mentoring. The annual New Muslim Retreat, held in Cheshire, offers a four-day all-inclusive experience for recent converts, covering foundational practices like prayer and community integration, with events scheduled as recently as May 2025.[32] Complementary online courses on the six pillars of faith (Imaan) and five pillars of Islam provide self-paced video content, quizzes, and bonus materials, accessible to UK participants alongside local mentor matching.[33] Weekly webinars over 14 weeks further aid interactive learning.[33] The National Dawah Convention, launched in 2025, serves as a key UK gathering to strengthen the domestic dawah ecosystem. This event unites practitioners for sessions on training, mentoring, campaigns, and retreats, fostering collaboration across regions and attracting attendees from the UK and abroad to build a unified network.[14] It features speakers from iERA leadership and addresses practical elements of outreach, marking the first such national-scale convention organized by the group.[34]International Dawah Initiatives
iERA operates a worldwide network of dawah specialists, with 813 du'aat active in 31 countries as of October 2024, supporting efforts to invite non-Muslims to Islam through direct engagement, material distribution, and post-conversion assistance.[35] These specialists have aided 10,703 new Muslims and distributed 11,590 dawah materials in recent reporting periods, spanning continents including Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia.[35] Countries of operation include Austria, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, and others, facilitated by full-time and volunteer teams focused on street dawah, workshops, and community events.[4] A notable large-scale initiative was the 2016 global dawah campaign launched on August 20, coinciding with the Rio Olympics, which mobilized volunteer teams for peaceful street outreach in over 180 countries to convey Islam's message, correct misconceptions, and promote rational dialogue.[36] This effort, described as the largest international dawah push by a Muslim organization at the time, expanded on prior campaigns like the 2015 "Global Messenger Day" in 55 countries, emphasizing compassionate invitation over confrontation.[36] iERA develops targeted resources for cross-cultural outreach, including the traveling "Jesus Exhibit," which outlines Jesus's life and prophethood from an Islamic perspective to bridge understandings between Muslims and Christians, with deployments in U.S. locations such as the Logan Islamic Center in Utah.[37] The organization backs digital platforms like DawahNow for online proselytizing, training users in evidence-based responses to common questions about Islam.[38] Country-specific programs include monthly sessions in Mexico drawing 600–800 visitors and averaging 10–15 conversions, alongside training and resource provision for newly reverted traditional leaders in Malawi.[39][40] These initiatives prioritize empirical follow-up, such as mentoring new converts to sustain engagement beyond initial contact.[41]Training and Resource Development
iERA operates an online training platform providing free, self-paced dawah courses designed to teach effective communication skills for inviting non-Muslims to Islam, drawing on what the organization describes as Prophetic methodologies. The flagship iERA Dawah Training Course features over 16 video lessons, quizzes, handouts, and community access, targeting participants from beginners to advanced levels, with an emphasis on building confidence through structured, bite-sized modules and practical application.[2][42] Central to these programs is the GORAP methodology, a sequential framework for dawah interactions that includes greeting to build rapport, identifying opportunities for discussion, removing preconceptions, posing questions to engage the listener, and presenting Islamic concepts such as God's existence, divine unity, prophethood, and scripture. This approach aims to guide conversations progressively while minimizing confrontations, as outlined in iERA's training notes and manuals. The organization has conducted GORAP-based training for preachers in 15 languages, as reported in its 2024 charitable activities.[16][43][29] In resource development, iERA produces and distributes dawah materials through its publishing efforts, including over 1 million books, leaflets, and cards sent to more than 100 countries, with a rigorous process from content conception to multilingual printing and global deployment. Key publications include the Pocket Dawah Manual, a beginner's guide integrating GORAP principles, and materials from its One Reason imprint focused on informing non-Muslims about Islamic tenets. These resources support training by providing printable tools and digital downloads for on-the-ground outreach, with the organization claiming to have trained thousands worldwide via such integrated programs.[44][43][10][2]Achievements and Impact
Conversion and Engagement Metrics
iERA reports facilitating 201,288 conversions to Islam (shahadas) across more than 100 countries in 2024.[45] This figure, self-reported by the organization during a July 2025 dawah conference it hosted, represents a substantial increase from prior years and aligns with its emphasis on scaling specialist deployment.[45] Historical data from iERA's outreach campaigns indicate steady growth in annual conversions since 2018, attributed to expanded training and deployment of dawah specialists:- 2018: 3,200 shahadas
- 2019: 4,442 shahadas
- 2020: 5,250 shahadas
- 2021: 13,925 shahadas
- 2022: 50,417 shahadas[46]