Imam, Community Builder and National Coordinator

Sheikh Imam Sakandar Zulqarnain Madani is one of the early and most respected imams in Norway, having served Islam and the Muslim community in the country for several decades. He is regarded as one of the pioneers who established organized imam leadership in Norway and has played a central role in the development of religious guidance, dialogue initiatives, and institutional cooperation.

He is a knowledgeable scholar with broad linguistic competence, fluent in multiple languages, enabling him to serve a diverse Muslim population. With many years of experience as an imam, he has worked extensively in teaching, delivering khutbahs (sermons), counseling, officiating marriages, mediation, and conflict resolution.

Sheikh Madani has also served as a prison imam, providing spiritual guidance, rehabilitation support, and faith-based counseling to inmates. His work in this capacity has contributed to reflection, accountability, and reintegration into society.

He has over 14 years of experience working within the police, where he has played a significant role in preventive initiatives, trust-building, and dialogue between authorities and minority communities. Through long-term cooperation with public institutions, he has helped strengthen relations between Muslim communities and Norwegian authorities. He is widely recognized for his extensive efforts in bridge-building, inclusion, and interfaith dialogue, and has been an important voice for mutual understanding, civic responsibility, and constructive integration.

Sheikh Madani has been one of the key driving forces behind the establishment of a unified ʿEid observance in Norway. After more than 40 years of differing practices, this effort has contributed to Muslims in Norway largely uniting around common Ramadan and ʿEid celebrations—making Norway unique in the European context.

He has also been a central contributor in establishing a unified Norwegian prayer time standard, making Norway the first country in the Nordic region to achieve broad imam consensus on a national model.

Furthermore, he has been among the imams working to develop a unified Islamic curriculum in the Norwegian language, aimed at strengthening quality, unity, and academic structure in religious education.

All of this work has been carried out under the auspices of the Islamic Council Norway, where he also serves as Head of the Imam Committee, contributing to professional development, coordination, and national representation of the imam body.

As a family therapist and advisor, he has assisted individuals and families facing challenging life situations, including marital conflicts, youth-related issues, and social difficulties. His approach reflects a balance between Islamic legal understanding, pastoral care, and practical wisdom.

His work is characterized by integrity, experience, and a strong commitment to justice, unity, and societal responsibility.

Languages: Norwegian, English, Arabic, Urdu, and Punjabi.