The Voice of Islam Radio UK held its 10-year anniversary conference on 15 February 2026 at the Baitul Futuh Mosque Complex in London. This historic gathering marked a decade since the station first began broadcasting on DAB on 7 February 2016 under the blessed guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa.
Workers and volunteers of the station, including presenters, producers, technical staff, missionaries, Lajna members and board members, travelled from across the United Kingdom and abroad to participate in what proved to be a deeply spiritual, intellectually enriching and forward-looking occasion.
The proceedings commenced at 10 am under the chairmanship of Abid Khan Sahib, Press Secretary to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. The session began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by the showing of the video of the historic inauguration of the station by Huzooraa.
In my opening remarks, my humble self reflected upon the journey of the station and reminded all those present that the Voice of Islam is not merely a radio platform but a sacred trust granted under the guidance of Khilafat. This was followed by an address delivered by Abid Khan Sahib, who spoke about the special blessings attached to the establishment of the station under Khilafat. He urged all volunteers to recognise the honour of this opportunity and to ensure that their work always reflects the highest standards of sincerity, humility and obedience. The opening session concluded with a silent prayer.
The first presentation of the day was delivered by Athar Ahmad Sahib of University College London, who explained the essential principles of effective radio communication, drawing attention to the importance of understanding the listener, structuring narratives in a compelling way and using the human voice with clarity and emotion. This was followed by a panel discussion with Ibrahim Ikhlaf Sahib, Voice of Islam Board Member and National Tabligh Secretary UK, which focused on how programme topics are selected. A video presentation was then shown, highlighting the station’s national recognition at the London Dangoor Awards, where the Voice of Islam received the award for Outstanding Services to Faith and Belief in Greater London in November 2025.
Throughout the day, attendees were also able to visit a dedicated exhibition marking the 10-year journey of the station, which illustrated its development from a modest studio to a national broadcaster and showcased the breadth of its programming and production processes.
The conference then turned to the subject of leadership, with a presentation by Sitara Akbar Sahiba titled “Leading Teams with Grace.” She spoke about the Islamic concept of leadership as service and humility, drawing inspiration from the life of Hazrat Sir Zafrulla Khanra.
The technical development of the station over the past decade was then explored in a panel discussion with Mian Safdar Ali Sahib and Zaki Ullah Ahmad Sahib. They described the early challenges faced in establishing the station, the decision to broadcast on DAB, the formation of the technical team and the continuous efforts required to maintain a 24-hour broadcast. A further session with Fareed Ahmad Sahib examined the growing importance of social media and digital outreach.
After Zuhr and Asr prayers and lunch, the conference resumed with a discussion on the production of recorded programmes by Zawar Butt Sahib and Haider Hameed Sahib. They took the audience through the complete journey of a programme from its initial concept to its final broadcast and spoke about the careful planning, scripting, editing and teamwork required at every stage. This theme was developed further in a dedicated presentation on artificial intelligence by Shermeen Butt Sahiba, who explained both the opportunities and the risks associated with these new technologies. An interactive session with my humble self provided insight into the day-to-day running of the station and the internal systems that ensure quality and consistency.
An extended question-and-answer session with the board members allowed volunteers to contribute ideas and seek guidance. A dedicated exhibition displayed throughout the day illustrated the 10-year journey of the Voice of Islam, from its modest beginnings to its current position as a recognised national broadcaster.
The closing session was chaired by Rafiq Ahmad Hayat Sahib, Amir Jamaat UK, bringing the formal proceedings to a conclusion. Following the awards ceremony recognising outstanding service, he reflected upon the remarkable progress made over the past decade and reminded all present that the station must now strive to meet the highest professional standards in line with leading broadcasters, whilst always remaining firmly rooted in its spiritual mission.
The highlight of the conference was the reading of the special message of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Huzooraa graciously acknowledged the sincerity and devotion of those who have served the Voice of Islam during the past decade and noted its expanding reach through DAB, online streaming and podcasts. At the same time, he also granted valuable guidance as well.
Huzooraa urged all workers to continually reflect upon their efforts, to raise the standard of every programme and to study the teachings of Islam in depth so that they may convey them in a manner that resonates with people and enriches their lives.
The conference ended with a silent prayer led by Amir Sahib Jamaat UK, followed by dinner. The total attendance was 350 in-person and 200 people were able to watch the live stream online provided by MTA International.
