According to a NPR survey, there are more than 2,100 mosques in the United States but they have a challenge – there aren’t enough imams or spiritual leaders, especially those who realize the challenges of a Muslim American today, to go around. BIS was established to address the gap in qualified American Muslim religious leaders. BIS is also the first Islamic Seminary in the U.S. to receive the authority to award the Masters of Islamic Religious Leadersrhip (MIRL) degree.