Missioners and Imams of the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT) have been urged to pursue excellence in Da’wah without sacrificing their health, family responsibilities and long-term capacity to serve.

The Chief Missioner of NASFAT World Headquarters, Imam Abdul-Azeez Morufu Onike, made the call in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while welcoming participants to the 11th edition of the NASFAT Missioners’ Conference. The event, attended by approximately 300 delegates from the UK, Ghana, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and other regions, was themed “The Overstretched Missionary: Burnout, Boundaries and Sustainability in Da’wah Work.”

Addressing the delegates, Imam Onike emphasized that Islamic leadership requires neither exhaustion nor complacency, but consistent, sincere, and sustainable excellence (Iḥsān).

Imam Onike noted that the central issue facing Islamic workers is learning how to remain faithful to their calling without burning out.

He challenged participants to undertake an honest self-examination rather than assuming every pressured minister is overstretched.

“The real question is how do we serve Allah faithfully without destroying ourselves? How do we remain passionate without burning out, neglecting our families, compromising our health, or diminishing the quality of our service?”

He urged delegates to evaluate their productivity and time management, asking whether their Da’wah activities could be halved without impacting outcomes, and whether claims of being too busy stemmed from genuine duty or poor prioritization.

Addressing the financial challenges facing religious leaders, including irregular income, rising living costs, healthcare expenses and retirement insecurity, the Chief Missioner framed financial planning as a matter of religious stewardship (amānah).

Citing Prophetic guidance on leaving heirs financially secure, he urged Missioners to build assets and plan for times when they can no longer actively preach. “Every Missioner should ask: What will sustain my family if I die today?” he stated.

“We are here to ensure that our zeal is guided by wisdom, our service is strengthened by balance, and our sacrifice is sustained by proper stewardship,” Imam Onike concluded. “Our mission is not merely to start well; it is to finish well.”