Singapore Mosque Leaders Visit HIU to Explore Collaboration

In an effort to strengthen religious education and pastoral care in Singapore’s Muslim community, Senior Director Zalman Ali of the The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) led a delegation to the United States for a study visit from April 27 to May 6, 2025. The visit aimed to engage with leading Islamic and interfaith institutions, including Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (HIU), to explore best practices in religious content development and chaplaincy.

Ali, an HIU alum, reached out to Dr. Bilal Ansari, Director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program, given his extensive experience in chaplaincy and spiritual care. The delegation’s primary goal was to enhance the Singapore Muslim community’s religious life by improving religious programming and equipping mosque officers with pastoral counseling skills. Their focus areas included youth engagement, family counseling, and spiritual care for inmates.

Key Objectives of the Study Visit:

1. Religious Content Development – Learning best practices from leading Islamic scholars and organizations to create impactful content for diverse community segments.
2. Pastoral Care & Chaplaincy Models – Examining chaplaincy approaches in educational, healthcare, community, and correctional settings.
3. Contemporary Challenges – Engaging with U.S. Muslim leaders on addressing modern-day religious and societal issues.

"When a fellow alum from your graduating class at Hartford Seminary reaches out for a favor, you do everything you can to assist them," Dr. Ansari said. "It is remarkable to see how Hartford International University alumni are leading religious life in Singapore's Muslim community." 

During their visit to HIU, Ali and his team met with Dr. Ansari and Chaplain Aida Mansoor, along with Dr. David D. Grafton and Karla Grafton, who provided a tour of the university’s library. Discussions centered on HIU’s chaplaincy programs and potential collaborations with Singaporean institutions.