This is the official response from Haroon Qazi, chairman of the board, which is immediately followed by Bro. Ahmad Mustafa's response to Haroon Qazi. Please read both thoroughly.
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Dear Masjid-Al-Fajr Community:
Assalamu-alaikum,
I write this letter on behalf of the IMCA Board of Directors in order to explain its position on recent unfortunate events and communications at the Masjid. I will begin by first providing some historical information about the Masjid and its leadership, as I believe it might shed some light on the reasons behind some of the present discord and conflict.
History
It was around 1990 or so that Ali Talib, a local Muslim attorney, approached me, (Dr. Qazi), being chairman of the Pakistan Friendship Association (P.F.A.) for dialogue to establish a Masjid in Indianapolis. He advised me that three other communities were also on board. A joint meeting was held at the sport centre of IUPUI in February, 1991 for fundraising purposes and discussing the logistics of establishing this new masjid. Mazen Ayoubi, an architect, presented demographics of Muslims living in greater Indianapolis areas and most were on the northwest side of Marion County. Emphasis was placed that all communities, i.e. African-Americans that were praying at the Leon Street Masjid, members from Westside Masjid (probably a Musalla), PFA (Pakistan Friendship Association) and Nur-ullah Masjid on 38th Street or so, shall participate for one joint community venture.
No one community would have the sole authority to run the Masjid. A constitution was developed outlining a Shura and a Board of Trustee. Ihsan Bagby was the first Imam and all agreed to his selection as he was an educated Muslim in Islamic theology (Masters Degree) and held a faculty position at IUPUI.
During the earlier negotiations, many PFA members did express reservations to join this coalition because they were threatened in the past and asked not to build a Pakistani community center Mosque on the northwest side of Indianapolis (Zionsville Road area). However, I convinced the PFA community as things are different now and we are dealing with educated and
sophisticated people. I felt quite confident that the spirit of Iman and Islam was there and we shall in-sha-Allah, have a proper place of worship in Indianapolis for all ethnic communities.
Mazen Ayoubi resigned as chairman of the board (original Leon Street Al-Fajr Board) as he was going to be the architect of this new Al-Fajr Mosque. This was to avoid any conflict of interest.
The old Leon Street house, the site of old Al-Fajr Mosque, was donated by a muslim sister of Libyan descent and was later sold for approximately $35,000.00. This sum was used toward the new Masjid building.
Haroon Qazi then was elected as chairman of the Board of Trustee, with responsibility to oversee the finances and construction of the Masjid by the members of the Board of Trustees. The Shura was headed by Ihsan Bagby and a new constitution was being hammered out. After deliberation for quite a few months, original members from four founding organizations were selected for the Board of Trustees and others for the Shura. New Masjid construction was completed around 1992. The whole community helped with the finances. Immigrant communities (Arabs, Afghani, Indians, Pakistani) and African-American Muslims were the major local contributors. Overseas missions and mailing campaigns in the USA also generated funds for construction for the new Mosque. We borrowed money from NAIT and local Muslim professionals and businessmen. In-sha-Allah, all debts were paid off a little after the completion of the new Masjid building.
The Board of Trustees worked hard to raise money and continued capital development, acquiring more land, getting matching funds for MTI’S new building.
We raised close to two million dollars over last twenty years for all the development and do not owe a cent to any bank, NAIT, or any individual. The Indianapolis community was very generous towards this endeavor.
As time progressed, however, changes and deterioration occurred. Ihsan Bagby went elsewhere for a better job position. A new Amir was elected by the Shura. (The constitution referred to this position as Amir, not Imam.). This individual, however, started to run the Masjid like his private domain. Decisions were being made without consulting with the Board of Trustees. Checks and balances were almost non existent at Shura level as most of the original members left or moved away elsewhere. Undesirable elements and fugitives from the law were sleeping in the Masjid and the “Amir’s “office. Physical violence and verbal intimidation became a frequent occurrence. After a major violent incident due to MVA accident, the driver of the vehicle (a Palestinian brother) was severely assaulted. He needed hospitalization. Due primarily to this incident and probably some problem at MTI (Madrassa-tu-ilm). A whole block of very supportive Muslim community (Arab American Muslims) split away soon after this incident and started their own Mosque (Al-Huda) on the north side, in Fishers area.
Gradual deterioration in the Masjid attendance occurred as the day to day running of the Masjid affairs fell in the hands of a couple of individuals. Some members objected to the distribution of the Sadaqat and Zakat to a few individuals who were selected by the so called Amir. Those very sincere brothers eventually broke away and started their own Masjid.
After a protracted period of deliberation and consultation, a new constitution was enacted after twenty-two draft revisions. The constitution draft and implementation process was monitored by Brother Ali Talib. He eventually resigned as facilitator of this process. The Constitution was approved by both bodies: the Shura and the Board of Trustees. The position of Amir was eliminated. A single Board of Directors was formed to restore authority back to the people. It was a misconception on the part of the Amir and his representatives to believe that he, the “Amir”, had full authority and that the Shura was only just a consulting body. A position of Resident Scholar was created to streamline Jummah Khutbas as the quality of the presentation was becoming very substandard. Additionally, the Resident Scholar was given further responsibilities to impart Islamic knowledge and counsel the members of the Al-fajr congregation. A position of Executive Director and Operational Director for the facility was created by the Executive Committee. The constitution was approved by the general body (members) of Al-Fajr at a meeting at ISNA and was signed by all the current Board of Trustee and Shura members (Haroon Qazi, Umar Al–Khattab, Anwar Shah, Azhar Khan, Naveed Burki, and Hamed Omar).
To now speak of the more current situation, the administrative office previously occupied by the former Amir was not being utilized for the benefit of the Masjid Al-Fajr. Hence, the Board decided to take possession of the office for its official use for administrative and counseling purposes. A letter was sent to the person concerned, by the Board chairman, requesting him to turn over keys and other IMCA’s property to the Board representative. This request fell on deaf ears. Finally, a legal letter was sent asking for compliance to our request.
Not one person was removed from the IMCA membership or from the Board. Due to the loss of the title of Amir and loss of office space, a negative campaign was initiated against the Board Chairman, Resident Scholar, and the IMCA Board in general. A deliberate E-mail smear campaign and illegal “blogs” began in January of 2010. This unacceptable behavior has tarnished the image of the Masjid, the Board, its Chairman, and the Resident Scholar. The Resident Scholar had absolutely no participation in any decisions taken by the Board of Directors.
Members of the Board have served voluntarily over the last 20 years and sacrificed their time,
talent, and financial resources. They did not serve to receive any monetary gain. Therefore, their vested interest is to safeguard IMCA properties from misuse (personal or otherwise). It is loss of power which was a catalyst for these individuals and their proxies, to start this un-Islamic mud-slinging and smear campaign against the people who have devoted their lives to this institution. Their reward is only from Allah SWT.
I hope tempers shall calm down, reason and common sense shall prevail and the perpetrators shall ask forgiveness for their excesses. Hopefully they will never embark on this kind of fitna again. May ALLAH guide us all to the right path and forgive us. The Board members have no malice toward anyone.
IMCA Board is here to serve all of you. We shall institute safeguards to prevent any future problem of this kind. We need your help and Dua at this critical time.
Sincerely your brother in Islam,
Haroon M .Qazi M.D.
Chairman, IMCA Board of Directors
May Allah guide them and forgive them.
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"Getting the Facts Straight"
by
Ahmad Mustafa
As Salamu Alaikum,
Haroon,
Shame on you and your elitist millionaire proxies; you still don't get it! I place all this Fitan at your feet. I say this because I was there along with you at the beginning up to the present. This is an attempt to set the record straight and get the Facts straight!
History
In 1984 the Indianapolis Muslim Community Association (IMCA) - Masjid Al-Fajr was located in two suites on Sherman Drive, just off 38th Street. There were elections held for the new officer holders during the late summer or early fall. The results of that election resulted in one of our brothers from the Pakistani Friendship Association (PFA) being elected as the leader. Unfortunately, a coup was staged by a group of indigenous brothers (African Americans) who refused to accept this valid election. This was probably the second lowest and most shameful period in the history of our great community. When this happened the community split into what turned out to be, Five (5) Groups. Three previously established organizations and two new groups; IMCA, PFA, and the 30th Street Masjid were there and this Fitan gave birth to Islamic Society of Greater Indianapolis (ISGI) and Westside Masjid Committee.
After some time (a few weeks or months), cooler heads prevailed and a dialog started to take place among these 5 groups. Discussion was geared towards how we could come back together with the goal of obtaining and/or building a new Masjid and stop renting the 2 suites on Sherman Dr. This process continued until we were able to purchase a house downtown at 529 Leon St. The monies to facilitate this purchase came from overseas fund raising efforts of Ismail Abdul-Aleem on behalf of IMCA and other brothers from the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). It was at this time that this "Board" was formed among the five groups, not 1990! The expressed purpose of this group of five was to come together to heal the wounds and more purposely to build a New Masjid that would assist the Muslims in living their lives in accordance with the teaching of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) as shown by the "Ahl-el-Sunnah wal-Jamah".
The original members of this "Board" were Haroon Qazi (PFA), Wali Bilal (30th St. may Allah put nur in his grave),Umar Al Khattab (IMCA), Mazen Ayoubi (ISGI), and Ahmad Mustafa (Westside Masjid Committee). Br. Ali Abu Talib was sought out as 'Legal Adviser'. A Trust Resolutions was formulated by Abu Talib on behalf of the 'Board' and the community, and a Constitution was drafted. (Point of clarification; Ihsan Bagby was the Imam for IMCA, but he never served on the 'Board'). According to the Trust Resolutions, the 'Board's' sole responsibility was to build the Masjid and handle the capital affairs of IMCA and act as their fiduciary. The day-to-day affairs of the Masjid were left to the Shurah to run.
Backing up, we engaged in a serious fund raising campaign that included 3 or 4 major dinners (the first being held at IUPUI), overseas fundraising efforts, and 3 or 4 national mailings. With all five groups and the rest of the community working together along with Allah's mercy and blessings, we were able to raise the needed funds, which included money from the sale of the Leon St. property. At this point, Al-Fajr was built and we made our first Jummah on June 28, 1992 Al-Hamdulilah!!! Mazen Ayoubi and Haroon Qazi, who were business partners with development of the adjacent sub-division, donated the land on which the Masjid is built. May Allah reward them!!
Haroon Qazi was elected as Chairman of the 'Board' and thus the "bullying" of the 'Board’ and the community as a whole began! After some time, Haroon and Mazen had a 'falling out' in their business relationship that transcended over to the 'Board' and the contractual responsibilities of Mazen in his capacity as Architect. Haroon was very adamant in not wanting to grant the contract to Br. Mazen and through the course of his contract was overly critical to the point of being unfair in withholding payments to Mazen as well as ignoring his recommendations and clearance for payments to the General Contractor. Mazen agreed to step down from form the 'Board at the repeated insistence of the Chairman. The same fate befell Br. Wali Bilal, and his replacement Br. Kabir Sahreef. It was around this time that the Chairman brought one of his ardent supporters, Br. Neveed Burki, onto the board, initially as an advisor, because of his expertise in construction. Burki was to oversee the Architect for the Masjid construction. This position of advisor turned into a permanent position on the 'Board' from that time until the present. This, in spite of the fact that the constitution and Trust Resolutions specified that the terms of the 'Board’ members would last no longer than Five (5) years with each group having equal turns at each number of years ( 1 thru 5 in ascending and descending order ). Unfortunately this has never been adhered to; not then and not now! The Chairman continued to bully folks off the 'Board’ and replace them with wealthy proxies from PFA in their place. Br. Gusan Hito and Br. Adnan (two more Arab brothers) fell under the Chairman's axe. The 'Board’ went from 5 positions to 7 and now 11, primarily so that this body could be slanted to back the resolve of our dear Chairman. Take a look at the make up of this 'Board’: 5 or 6 PFA members, 4 African Americans and one Euro American. All this is being done while our "Mission Statement" claims that we will uphold and support the teachings and resolve of the Ahl-el-Sunnah wal-Jamah.
I have to admit that I also was complicit in violating the five-year rule; as I stayed on the 'Board' longer than 5 years. I also served on the Shurah at the same time. This seemed to upset our Chairman to no end; as he constantly suggested that there was a conflict of interest to serve in both capacities. Br. Umar Al-Khattab was also in the same situation, but in the constitution at that time, the Imam and or the Amir of the Shurah would also serve on the 'Board'.
Once the Masjid was built, the 'Board's' attention turned to building the school, Madrasa-Tul-Ilm (MTI) and ratifying the constitution. It was at this time that we consulted 6 known and respected Ulemah to help us with the creation of this constitution. Advice was sought from Dr. Ihsan Bagby, Dr. Abdul Hakim Jackson. Sheik Muhammad Noor, Sheik Zubair Abdur-Rahman, Sheik Ali Suliman Ali (Mufti) and Sheik Musa (Mufti). Each was given a copy of the proposed constitution for them to critique and make sure that we stuck to our "Mission Statement".
It was at this time that the responsibilities of the 'Board' and the Shurah became blurred. Our Chairman and several of his rich proxies began to usurp the authority of the Shurah and the community. It was around 1995 or 96 that the 'Board’ and the Shurah decided to have a marathon weekend session to finalize the constitution with emphasis on identifying and assigning responsibilities for each Shurah member as well as each of the Executive committees. I cannot recall the exact time, but do remember that the meeting was held at Br. Azhar Khan's new building located in the 64 or 6600 block of Guion Rd. At the end of that very fruitful and exhausting weekend; we had clarified everyone’s responsibilities and who they were accountable to with one glaring exception, that being the "Board'. As we were about to close this meeting with a duaa; I asked our Chairman exactly who the 'Board would be accountable to? His reaction left an indelible print on my memory. His response was "oh Mustafa, you are always trying to start trouble". The meeting was abruptly adjourned and the matter of the 'Board's accountability was left unresolved! It was during this same time frame that our Chairman and one of his close rich proxies were overheard, while having tea in the kitchen in the basement of Majid Al-Fajr, by one of the teachers of MTI. It was reported that the Chairman said "let them go ahead and build the school and then we will take it over and run it".
The next major occurrence happened during the election of the new Shurah and 'Board'. I cannot recall the year, but the incident is quite vivid in my memory. The Shurah and ‘Board’ had decided to hold the nominations on a Friday after one Jummah (short Kutbah ) and the elections three weeks later again after Jummah (short Kutbah). The results of this election set off a storm wave of protest from our Chairman and certain of his proxies. It was stated that we could "never allow anyone to just walk in off the streets ever again and vote in our elections". This was the beginning of the very divisive concept of 'Paid Membership'. When the question was raised as to how something like this should or could be done by people who represent the Ahl-el-Sunnah wal-Jamah, and where was the evidence for such an exclusive and divisive practice; it was said that those who could not afford to pay would not be excluded from participating in all the affairs of the General Assembly nor being members of the Shurah or the 'Board'. We all know that this is not the case today! This divisive tool is what our Chairman and our present ‘Board’ members use, selectively to keep and maintain their control of the affairs of the Masjid!! They simply discount the contributions of the majority of this Jammah who choose to follow the wise teachings of our wise predecessors; who when they give do so that the one hand does not know what the other hand is doing. These members not only give on Friday but, throughout the entire week on a daily basis. Anyone who attends the Masjid with any frequency has observed others making their donations throughout the week. This policy most definitely is diametrically opposed to our Mission Statement!
The Chairman speaks about the violence that has occurred at the Masjid under the watch of Br. Umar, conveniently tells only half of the story. The act of violence which our Chairman attributes to the loss of a “whole block of very supportive Muslim community (Arab American Muslims)” began when a brother used his vehicle as a weapon and hit two of the volunteer security personnel in the parking lot of Masjid Al-Fajr on Jumah. One of the injured volunteers pressed charges against the brother, but later dropped them after being advised by Br. Umar, for fear of the attacker’s personal safety in jail. Br. Umar even wrote a letter to the court to assist in convincing the judge to release the very person who perpetuated this violence. Our dear Chairman also fails to mention his own act of barbarity against one of the students at MTI. This particular incident also happened on Jumah and it involved my son. Sufyan was helping Security with the parking assignments when our Chairman also attempted to use his automobile as a lethal weapon. The student made the grave mistake of telling our Chairman he could not park in a certain spot, so our Chariman preceded to try run the student over with his automobile. My son had to literally jump out of the way to avoid being run over! This took place because my son had the audacity to challenge our Chairman; in fact he was asked “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!?!” We have forgiven the Chairman and moved on, but we have not forgotten! A few weeks after this incident, our Chairman suffered some medical difficulties; which required some period of hospitalization. My son and I went to visit him at Methodist hospital. When my son asked me why we were going to see about the well being of the person who had tried to do him harm, both his mother and I explained to him that this is what we do as believers, in order to please Allah. This incident of violence could have caused us to leave Masjid Al-Fajr, but we thank Allah that no one was injured by this lapse of good judgment on a certain person’s part and for good reflexes on another’s. Had this result been different, Allah knows best as to what would have happened.
Going back to the constitution and its' ratification, there was a clandestine meeting of the General Assembly, I say that because I can not find 10 people from Al-Fajr who either knew about this meeting or who attended it. The meeting was held in Plainfield during Ramadan after Iftar on September 26, 2006. You will not be able to make me believe that 'ONLY PAID MEMBERS' took part in that vote. I, as well as any number of others, would like to see the minutes of that meeting, and the recorded official tally of that vote. I am sure that you have that information and can produce it to quell the suspicion about these actions.
When our Chairman speaks about the "loss of power” being the catalyst for all the Fitan; he so easily overlooks the selective enforcement of the constitution and in some cases the utter disregard of its' long-standing principles. This brings us to the most critical situation that the community faces. The biggest violation of the majority of this present 'Board' is that they have completely ignored Article V number 2 ( Meetings ), the provision that requires a meeting of the general assembly at lease once a year. Article VI Section 5 ( Term ) has also been ignored. The language of this section is different from the 5 year stipulation in all the other forms of all other constitutional drafts. This simply means that those who have been on the 'Board’ more than FIVE YEARS have done so illegally, in violation of Federal and State Law. In doing so they have placed the Masjid in legal jeopardy of losing its 5013C status and exposed the Masjid to an avalanche of law suits. We have come to know that as of last month (February 2010) the 'Board’ has been operating without the benefit of any By-Laws which are clearly stated in the constitution and a definite requirement of both Federal and State law; the violation of which, renders our institution (Al-Fajr Masjid ) in serious legal limbo and peril!
We are therefore demanding that: THIS ILLEGAL ‘BOARD’ ( all those in violation ) call a General Assembly meeting as soon as possible (ASAP), at which time they can and most assuredly must stand down and place our jamah (The Ahl-el-Sunnah wal-Jamah ) back on solid LEGAL grounds!
Whatever contributions any parties have made, we pray that it was done to please Allahtualah and their reward and acknowledgment is with Him. If on the other hand, folks want to boast and brag about what they have done, then they settle for a small appreciation in this life and forgo a much larger reward in the Hearafter!
This has been an attempt to set the record straight. Any mistakes or inaccuracies are the fault of the author, and may Allah forgive him, and all of the truth that lies therein, surely Allah knows best. May Allah forgive US, bless US, and guide US ALL!! Ameen
MaSalams
Abu Sufyan
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"K-9 Units and Homeland Security"
February 16, 2010
As Salaamu Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,
Below is a chronology of correspondence that explains where Masjid Alfajr is at this point. The seriousness of this current situation cannot be adequately expressed. Just to give you a hint of what is taking place; K-9 units and homeland security were put on standby at the behest of Masjid Alfajr’s Board just this past weekend. The Board was informed one week prior to the incident, that there would be a meeting in Masjid Alfajr’s multipurpose room to discuss the expulsion of Imam Umar Alkhattab, one of the original founding members of Masjid Alfajr. Unbeknownst to us, on the very day of the meeting, the Board posted a sign stating, “There are to be no unauthorized meetings.” They then had Homeland Security and K-9 Units on standby directly across the street from the Masjid. Most of the 20 – 30 people that came that day were men and women in their 50’s and 60’s as well as young children.
All of this began with the Board of Trustees doing away with the Shura, and replacing it with the “Board of Directors”. They then brought in a “scholar in residence”, who effectively forbade everyone from giving Khutba’s unless he approved them first. He said that no one was qualified to give the Khutba, not even Imam Umar Alhattab. I swear by Allah he said this to me along with many other things I have not yet mentioned.
May Allah help us all!
Yaseen (ibn Umar) Al-Khattab
Indianapolis, IN
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Thu, Jan 21, 2010 06:50 PM
Dear Brother Umar
Assalamu-alaikum
As you know very well that we,the original Board of Trustee and Shura members of Al-fajr Masjid worked hard and spent countless hours of our time and life savings along with financial help from the all sections of the Indianapolis Islamic community to establish this masjid. We have experienced internal turmoil and heart aches but with grace of Allah,SWT, masjid has survived and thrived and is thriving despite numerous other masajids got estblished during these last few years. Masjid is a Trust and no single person or his family has any inherent claim or can claim to a perpetual position of authority in this masjid. Many members of the community established their own masajids as they might not have been satisfied with the Masjid's authorities or were mistreated physically or emotionally. Allah knows their motives. I have been expressing to you over the last year,time and again,for us(Haroon Qazi and Umar-al Khattab) to step down from our positions. Due to recent incidence during the Board meeting,Ahmed Mustapha,Your brother Saeed and Sr.Angelica Tangman, disrupted the meeting and threatened the Board of sexual harrasment by Angelica, Pulic agitation and demontration outside masjid by your brother Saeed and Mutapha challenging the validity of the constituition,without ever becoming a paid member in all these years.
Umar,I consider all these people as your proxy.
Umar,I sincerly advise you to resign and vacate masjid's office as your position has become irrelevant You can do good work at Masjid Al-momineen,at Al_Haq.Momineen needs an experienced leader,place is suitable for the activities you are engaged in i.e.Chaplancy,MAYA,Half way house for recently released brothers etc. Please consider my this request carefully as we do not want to destroy what we built with so much effort. Let the Newer generation take over and run the Masjid,school and other programms. I have no vested interest in remaining the Board Chairman.It is about time somebody else take over. I want peace and harmony to return to House Of Allah and then I have done my duty and hope and pray to Allah for forgiveness. Then I can retire in peace.Turmoil is on the horizon and we both shall be held accountable. Please give this request a thorough consideration.
Your brother in Islam
Haroon
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"Get Out!"
January 29, 2010
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February 8, 2010
AS Salaam Alaykum.
Since the new constitution and the dissolution of the Shura that was replaced by the Board of Trustees Masjid Al-Fajr has been in a state of constant chaos. The new board is an absentee board. The majority live outside of Marion County and are really not aware of what goes on at 30th and Cold Spring Road.
I stopped going to Jumu'a at Al-Fajr many months ago because I ceased to feel comfortable there and what I heard from the mimbar is irrelevant to me. Maybe this is "back home Islam" and you and others like it but I find it less than adequate for the diverse community that we have here in Indianapolis. Possibly what you and the rest of the board envision for the Masjid would be adequate in Pakistan or Syria or some other part of the traditional Muslim World but we are not living there.
As for the incident at the board meeting I was not there (you were not there either) I can only comment that the lack of transparency of the board, private meetings, stacking the board with individuals who agree with you created this. Yet I know you are not fully aware of the resentment many feel toward this board's actions. Mustafa and Saeed came own their own accord. Nobody sent them. They came because they see what is happening here in Indy has happened all over the United States and they refuse to allow this to occur without at least making the board aware of their displeasure.
As an example the Masjid in one inner-city where the board took control of the Masjid and now on Fridays the Khutbah is in a foreign language and you have to get headphones so it can be translated in English so the Americans can understand it. This is not a Masjid but a private clubhouse where you drive away those who are not like you. This is the feeling we have at Al-Fajr that the board is trying to drive away those who disagree with what is happening there. I know for a fact that Shaikh Tawfiq told the board he wanted Imam Umar to leave.
Finally we should have an excellent community where everyone feels welcome and part of the community. May Allah most high reward you for your generous contributions through the years however I'm frightened that all the good you have done is being undermined by individuals who are seeking to drive away those who disagree with the out of touch cleric who is destroying this community.
ismail abdul-aleem
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Tue, Feb 09, 2010 09:45 AM
Br.Ismail
ASAK
On one hand you complain about discrimination against Afro-american muslims and at the same time ,you express Bigotory against immigrants(All are US .citizen on the board)' muslims.A long as Afro-American were in control,every thing was peachy and we know ,the damage done by some of the Afro-american people,causing rift in this community by assaulting other muslims and intimidating others. Al-Fajr is a trust.It is not a dynasty.It does not belong to one family ,one person,one group of people etc.etc. Change is a way of life on this earth. Old timers have to relinquish their hold on the authority and give to competant ,capable,young people. I am ,the next one to leave,sooner the better. Masjid ,in sha Allah,is in good hands.There are four Afro-american,four Pakistani descent,one Indian and one White American on the Board,including an afroamerican muslima. Daily operations,security, cleanliness and overall management is being done by Afro-american brothers. They have no complaints against Pakistanis or Arabs. The real matter is losing control over Al_fajr, not Pakistani running the masjid. You have no complaints against Immigrants ,when they were spending hundreds of thousand dollars on building new masjid,Islamic school,acquiring new land,paying towards parking lot expansion and contributing towards New Masjid maintenance. Why would you have any complaint? You brothers were running the show as Shura was ineffective and Board of trustee could not have a say due to constitutional restraints.A lot of donations were coming and all of you were happy ,to use the money as some of the people in authority found it fit. Now,less money is coming.There are Masajids and Masalas fifteen minutes away and people have a choice and so you too. As regards Jumma Khutba,your remarks are deplorable. You can learn a lot from Sheikh Taufik's khutba. Only deaf shall the need the head phones.He speaks very clear English and Board is not subservient to anybody,not Sheikh,not Umar,not Ismail and not to Haroon Qazi or Anwar Shah. Board is totally independant and shall do what is right for the masjid and community over all.just not one group of people.
May Allah forgive me for what I have not been able to do for the Masjid-Alfajr and its associated instituitions. I have always meant well with no desire for any personal gains or recognition as rewards come from Allah SWT.
I apologize for being blunt but I am honest.
Regards
DR.Qazi
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Br.Ismail
ASAK
On one hand you complain about discrimination against Afro-american muslims and at the same time ,you express Bigotory against immigrants(All are US .citizen on the board)' muslims.A long as Afro-American were in control,every thing was peachy and we know ,the damage done by some of the Afro-american people,causing rift in this community by assaulting other muslims and intimidating others. Al-Fajr is a trust.It is not a dynasty.It does not belong to one family ,one person,one group of people etc.etc. Change is a way of life on this earth. Old timers have to relinquish their hold on the authority and give to competant ,capable,young people. I am ,the next one to leave,sooner the better. Masjid ,in sha Allah,is in good hands.There are four Afro-american,four Pakistani descent,one Indian and one White American on the Board,including an afroamerican muslima. Daily operations,security, cleanliness and overall management is being done by Afro-american brothers. They have no complaints against Pakistanis or Arabs. The real matter is losing control over Al_fajr, not Pakistani running the masjid. You have no complaints against Immigrants ,when they were spending hundreds of thousand dollars on building new masjid,Islamic school,acquiring new land,paying towards parking lot expansion and contributing towards New Masjid maintenance. Why would you have any complaint? You brothers were running the show as Shura was ineffective and Board of trustee could not have a say due to constitutional restraints.A lot of donations were coming and all of you were happy ,to use the money as some of the people in authority found it fit. Now,less money is coming.There are Masajids and Masalas fifteen minutes away and people have a choice and so you too. As regards Jumma Khutba,your remarks are deplorable. You can learn a lot from Sheikh Taufik's khutba. Only deaf shall the need the head phones.He speaks very clear English and Board is not subservient to anybody,not Sheikh,not Umar,not Ismail and not to Haroon Qazi or Anwar Shah. Board is totally independant and shall do what is right for the masjid and community over all.just not one group of people.
May Allah forgive me for what I have not been able to do for the Masjid-Alfajr and its associated instituitions. I have always meant well with no desire for any personal gains or recognition as rewards come from Allah SWT.
I apologize for being blunt but I am honest.
Regards
DR.Qazi
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February 10, 2010
Your response to my letter is a clear indicator of what is wrong at al-Fajr. Let me restate my concerns since it appears you misunderstood them.
* Since the Shura was abolished and replaced by the Board of Trustees the Masjid has become chaotic. Since you are the Chairman of the Board the blame lies at your feet. Exactly where do you live?
* Everyone is not appreciative of "back home Islam" Maybe I should define "back home Islam." A stratified society where the elite control everything and hire a shaikh, Imam etc. who is content with taking the crumbs from the tables of the privileged ignoring the ills of those who pay him. That reults in these autocratic dictatorships for which the Muslim World is known .
* I, and let me emphasize the word I, feel uncomfortable at Al-Fajr and I stopped coming to Jumu'a there because of my opinion of what is coming from the mimbar.
* There is growing discontent with the way the Masjid Al-Fajr is being managed.
* Someone asking that Imam Umar Al-Khattab be removed unceremoniously shows a total disrespect of his contribution to this community and to significant part of this community.
I don't think ethnicity was mentioned in the letter I sent to you. However let me respond to your letter. You sound as though the only contribution to the establishment of the Masjid financial or otherwise was from "immigrants" your word not mine. This is hardly the case. Would you like an auditor to come in and give an ethnic breakdown of who contributed what? Remember there is no such thing as Pakistani or Arab or African-American money donated to the Masjid. This is Allah's Masjid and therefore his money.
Exactly what money are you referring to that was spent by the Shura? Since the building of the Masjid there have been two (2) treasurers, Sarwar Shah and Azhar Khan. Are you saying that the treasurers, incidentally both South Asian since you are counting, allowed the executive shura to surreptitiously spend from the IMCA accounts? The board of Trustees mission was to manage capital assets and anything over a certain amount needed authorization from the Trustees.
You insinuate that we have benefitted personally from the IMCA treasury. This is hurtful and unbecoming of a person of your stature. Your board has been spreading rumors and inuendo seeking to taint our reputations. By law IMCA is required to make a financial report to its membership and the State of Indiana, so if there are any financial indiscretions on our part they should have been detected.
Finally, and in my view this is the most divisive aspect of your response, Why is my opinion of what is being delivered from the mimbar on Fridays invalidated? You state "deplorable". When community members are told from the mimbar that there is "no freedom of speech in Islam" and then the board holds private meetings and threatens to throw people out of the meetings because the board invalidates all who hold opinions the board does not want to hear. This is what is deplorable! Freedom of speech may be illegal in Pakistan or Algeria but as I said before we are in America.
Ismail Abdul Aleem
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Fri, Feb 12, 2010 03:24 AM Dr. Ajmal’s Letter. Former Tajweed teacher at MTI.
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh:
I have been following the developments in Indianapolis with regard to the ousting of Imam Umar Al-Khattab by the Board. It is amazing to me that the Board would go to such lengths to forcibly remove Imam Umar from his position and make him feel so unwelcomed in a place that he has helped build and which, for decades, has been, and still is, synonymous with his name. I feel that there is much that is missing in the correspondences I have seen to truly understand the real reason for his ungracious and downright mean dismissal. This move appears preposterous, especially since it has been done through an attorney. As noble and unselfish as the proposition that the old guard should make way for the new guard is, I fail to see why it should be done collectively. If Dr Qazi wants to make way for the younger generation, he should do it without making it conditional: why should it be bound to Imam Umar’s resignation? Something just doesn’t add up, and I can only conclude from this violent and insulting act that there is some other, undisclosed underlying factor that is the real impetus for such a drastic and desperate move.
I am disgusted at the level to which this discussion has degenerated. It is reminiscent of a similar discussion I had with a high income-earning group of immigrants in a town in Indiana who objected to having to pay 20 dollars a week to help prepare food for Ramadhan every day because they felt that there were students who were coming to eat who they assumed did not fast. They had forgotten that this was not something that they had to determine. Theirs was to give in that blessed month. I asked them how much they had dished out in the years that they had been in the community during Ramadhan, and then, dutifully wrote out a blank check to them and asked them to take every single cent they had spent, in all those years, back. (Ah, the impetuousness and brashness of youth, how I miss it!) The point I am trying to make here is simple enough: we are here (hopefully) doing things to seek the pleasure of Allah, to sow for the ultimate harvest in the Hereafter, and never ever shift our focus from that goal. Dr. Qazi has talked about things which are best left unmentioned. I am well aware of the contributions that he had made towards the building of Masjid Al-Fajr. May Allah bless him abundantly for his generosity. To others who have contributed like wise financially, your reward awaits you with Allah. Please do not resort to extolling your virtues through the great financial gifts you had given which, I do not doubt, was done at the time sincerely. However, you should not make it appear as if you had done the community a favor because they were looking for handouts. It may be that you were worried for your own deen and that of your own families. It may be that you were motivated by a real understanding of the corruptive nature of the new society that you were in and was attempting to save yourselves and your families from straying from the path or losing your children to kufr and alluring temptations. You may have been moved to redeem your self in the eyes of Allah for the wrongs of your past (aren’t we all?)
While Allah had given you the means to wealth, you must admit little could have been done without the great sacrifices of our African-American brothers and sisters: working for little and doing much. I still remember Sr. Muslimah and Sr. Jamilah working against all odds to put the school together. No human likes to be reminded that he is beholden to another. It is good upbringing not to say anything of this nature. It is this that undulates and dictates form to a relationship. One can say volumes without uttering a word or express gratefulness in silence in the presence of another to whom he is indebted. What is it that the immigrants want the African-Americans to acknowledge€”that they could not have made it without their funds and generosity? Doesn’t my asking this question itself sound offensive and insulting to both parties?
I am saddened to hear that there are mosques that conduct khutbahs in languages that cannot be understood by all. I was told by a student of mine from New York that the community that she is from suffers from the same debilitating ailment”debilitating because such an act defeats the message of Islam itself. Where is the sense and spirit for the ummah? Are Muslims in the US moving towards an isolationist policy to isolate the poor and destitute because you can? (I guess money talks in the Muslim community too.) Is the ihram not the cloth from which the fabric of the Indianapolis community is cut? Is it silk for the rich and gunny for the poor? In my years in the US, I have always found this disparity in the community unfortunate. Most individuals in the community have too great a sense of self and not self- sacrifice. We talk about Abu Bakr and Abdul Rahman bin Auf, but do not emulate them. They are too far from our imagination; their self-sacrificing is too foreign for us to grasp, almost mythical in proportion and hence too difficult to be made exemplary. No, no, it is too filthy to talk about the good that we have done in such grandiose and affable terms.
What is the real problem here? The name of a certain Sheikh Tawfik has cropped up a number of times. Is that long standing issue of we want an Iman who can read the Quran well still there because in our small minds we feel only then would Allah hear us? (Naauzubillah!) By long standing I mean from the birth of the azan when Arabs used to complain to the Prophet s.a.w. about that glorious moon of a man, Bilal, for mispronouncing words, complaining about the way he said his seen and sad. Do you remember of the response of the Prophet to this? Remember the time when they brought a man with a beautiful voice to give azan, harassing the Prophet s.a.w. for months to allow him to do so? Remember how that ended? Are we still in that mode? Sheikh Tawfik may be a knowledgeable man (may Allah bless him), but surely he must know about the concept of urf, istihsan or masalih al-mursalah and how relevant it is here in this present scenario that is unfolding in Cold Springs? If he is the cause of this division (I am sure that he is not, how can a knowledgeable person be the cause of division?), then he must extricate himself from this situation. He must gracefully exit for the better good, not Imam Umar. If Sheikh Tawfik is no different from the many shuyukh that I have met from the Middle-East who are residing in the US, I can assure you he will have little idea as to the problems of the average man in the street. He will not be able to identify with them. He will not know where to even begin to solve the complex problems the American society presents! He may have prescriptions from the Quran and Hadith for them, but he will not know how to administer them! He will not be able to connect. He will be just as out of touch with the realities of the majority as the rich residents of Carmel who just don’t get it!
If the African-American community in Indianapolis does not have the will to direct its fate, after all this, Allah help us all. I have always believed that the African-Americans have to take the lead to lead the way for Islam in the US. They have their pulse on the heartbeat of society. From their tragic history, they know pyrite from gold. They are neither dazzled by the glitter nor blinded by the shimmer of the American society. They see with clear eyes. I say this because in all the Islamic communities I have served in the US, most of the elite immigrant communities approach Islam like an evening tea party. It is a casual affair for them. There commitment is only skin deep. At the first sign of trouble, in every single society I was in, they were the first to hightail it. During Desert Storm, some of them stopped coming to the mosque for months because they were afraid that they would be targets of investigation for actively participating in the mosque. Some were afraid that our mosque would be bombed! Even after years in a community, a good majority rarely knew much about African-Americans. They viewed the grassroots with disdain and suspicion and had their own stereotypical take on them. In such a case, how is the immigrant Imam supposed to tend to his flock?
I have said enough. I would like to know which Satan spear-headed such an ugly act against Imam Umar? Who suggested in the name of Islam to resort to a legal order to have the Imam evacuate the office he has occupied for so long in this low manner? Do not treat a man who has contributed so much of his time and life to the Muslim community like a common criminal. The act itself places the Board in an unfavorable light. I ask the Board to reconsider. Those of us who have known Imam Umar for decades know that he is a good man. My heart aches to think that he has been wronged in this vile manner. It is downright filthy politics! Do not wrong a brother and tell us that it is for the common good. Wrong is as clear as right and this act of the Board appears to all, friends and detractors, dark, sinister and malicious!
Professor Sayyid Ajmal Al-Aidrus
Malaysia
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