Articles
of Incorporation
Constitution of Islamic Shura Council of Southern California
Section 1
The name of the organization shall be the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California to be referred herein and abbreviated as ISCSC.
Section 2
The ISCSC shall conduct its business from a location within the Southern California region, to be specified later.
Section 3
The ISCSC is registered in the State of California, as a Nonprofit Organization, under Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Tax Code.
Article II - Objectives and Purposes
Section 1
The formation of the ISCSC is in accordance with Allah's command for Muslim unity. ‘Hold fast to the rope of Allah all together and be not divided among yourselves,’ (Qur’an 3:103) and Allah's command for Shura, ‘Their affairs are conducted by Shura’ (Qur’an 42:39).
Section 2
The objective of the ISCSC shall be to promote understanding, enhance communication, develop cooperation and coordination among Masajid (Mosques), Islamic Centers and Muslim organizations of Southern California.
Section 3
The ISCSC shall identify, address and take collective action on issues of common interest and concern to the Muslim community.
Section 4
The ISCSC shall engage itself only in such activities which are currently granted and may hereafter be granted by the California State and Federal Nonprofit Corporation Law.
Section 1
All decision making authority shall reside solely in the ISCSC general body. The ISCSC general body can delegate to the Majlis (see Article III Section 2), other Committees and individuals. All policies or actions taken in the name of the ISCSC shall be authorized by the ISCSC general body except as the ISCSC so delegates to other Committees and individuals.
Section 2
The ISCSC shall appoint a ‘Nomination Committee’ from within the ISCSC general body, for the selection process of the ‘Majlis’. This Nomination Committee shall propose a list of people to serve on the Majlis.
The Majlis shall constitute a panel of 9 members and shall be the designated representatives of the ISCSC in all matters.
Such list shall then be presented to the ISCSC general body for confirmation by a simple majority. Before the confirmation process, the ISCSC general body can propose addition of another name(s).
Section 3
The final nominee list for Majlis shall be at least one and a half times greater than the required number of Majlis members. The ISCSC general body shall select the Majlis from the final list by a simple majority.
Section 4
The term of the Majlis shall be two years. They shall serve for no more than two terms (four years) . Upon expiration of their assignment and/or designation, they shall remain a member of the ISCSC general body.
Section 5
The Majlis may appoint voluntary working staff from within the ISCSC; (ii) ISCSC Facilitator; (iii) Book-Keeper; (iv) Record Keeper. This working staff shall serve at the discretion of the Majlis.
Section 6
The scope of this ‘working staff’ shall be:
(a) Execute the decisions of the Majlis.
(b) Facilitate and Liaison with the ISCSC general body.
(c) Prepare Budget and Financial Reports.
(d) Submit Quarterly Progress Reports of all activities.
(e) Propose Ad-hoc Committees and Task Forces.
(f) Maintain ISCSC records and documents.
(g) Other assignments as asked for and requested by the Majlis.
Section 7
The duties of the ‘ISCSC Facilitator’ (to act as CEO) shall be:
(a) Liaison between Majlis and ISCSC general body.
(b) Arrange and facilitate ISCSC meetings.
(c) Call Working Staff meetings.
(d) Represent the Working Staff in the ISCSC general body and Majlis.
(e) Facilitate ISCSC general body and Majlis in execution of their decisions.
(f) Propose and prepare conceptual strategic plans.
(g) Other assignments as asked for and requested by the Majlis.
Section 8
The duties of the ‘Book-Keeper’ (to act as Treasurer) shall be:
(a) Forecast annual budget.
(b) Maintain records of all financial matters.
(c) Co-sign Islamic Shura Council Payment Checks with the designated member of the Majlis.
(d) Propose and prepare Revenue Generation Plans.
(e) Prepare and present quarterly and annual financial report.
(f) Other assignments as asked for and requested by the Majlis.
Section 9
The duties of the ‘Record Keeper’ (to act as Secretary) shall be;
(a) Administrative facilitation during ISCSC meetings.
(b) Maintain records and documents of ISCSC, Majlis and Working Staff.
(c) Provide general assistance to the ISCSC, Majlis and Working Staff.
(d) Other assignments as asked for and requested by the Majlis.
Section 1
Masajid, Islamic Centers and Muslim organizations in Southern California, who adhere to the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and affirm finality of Prophethood (Rasool & Nabi) in Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) are eligible for membership in the ISCSC. In addition, such members must be a CA State registered nonprofit organization (with a constitution in accordance with Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad) and/or have a governing Board. A member organization in the ISCSC shall be referred to as Organization in this document. All members of the ISCSC shall be required to sign acceptance of ISCSC’s constitution with all its addenda.
Section 2
There shall be two categories of membership: Full Member and Associate Member. A Full Member shall have the right to vote and an Associate Member shall not have the right to vote.
Section 3
Full Membership shall be open to any Masjid or Islamic Center that in fact is a CA State registered nonprofit organization in Southern California (with a constitution in accordance with Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad) and/or have a governing Board.
Section 4
Associate Membership shall be open to Muslim Institutions (e.g.; Islamic Schools etc.) that in fact is a CA State registered nonprofit organization in Southern California, who are proven to be constructively contributive to the Muslim communities.
Section 5
The Majlis shall approve new member organizations by a 2/3 majority vote to the ISCSC membership.
Section 6
Each member organization shall be represented by one member in the ISCSC general body, and shall have one vote. ISCSC can approve more than one representative from a member organization by a 2/3 majority vote. Member organizations with more than one representative shall not have more than one vote.
Section 7
Each Member Organization shall designate their representative in writing on their official stationery. Each Organization shall have the right to designate an official alternate who shall have the authority to represent the Organization in the absence of the official representative.
Section 8
The term of the official and alternate representative of the Member Organization to the ISCSC shall be determined by their respective Organization, but shall not be less than one year.
Section 9
The ISCSC shall identify and select by 2/3 majority vote Muslim individuals who are respected as Scholars, Community Leaders, and Resource People. These individuals shall be associate members of the ISCSC.
Section 10
The ISCSC shall identify and select (by 2/3 majority) Muslim institutions who are proven to be a constructively contributive resource for Muslim communities. These institutions shall be associate members of the ISCSC.
Section 11
The ISCSC shall set the amount of dues (as specified elsewhere) that each Member shall be required to pay by a simple majority vote.
Section 12
The ISCSC shall set standards and procedures (as specified elsewhere) to restrict the rights of members due to lack of payment of dues, poor attendance, or conduct found in conflict with Islamic code of conduct.
Section 13
The Majlis upon finding a Representative of Member Organization violating Islamic Shariah, publicly and persistently, shall have the right to ask the Member Organization to take appropriate action toward their representative and designate a replacement. The process of such recommendation from the ISCSC to the Member Organization shall occur by a unanimous consensus.
Failure to achieve unanimous consensus within ISCSC, the ISCSC’s Arbitration Panel (per Article VI, Section 4(h)) shall be asked to study and decide the matter, and such decision shall be binding upon the ISCSC. In case where the recommended corrective measure is not executed by the Member Organization, the ISCSC shall take upon itself to execute such corrective measure and that shall be binding upon the Member Organization.
Section 14
The Majlis upon finding a Member Organization detrimental and/or harmful in achieving the objectives of the Islamic Shura Council, shall have the exclusive rights to take appropriate action toward such Member Organization. The process for such corrective measures by ISCSC toward Member Organization(s) shall occur by a unanimous consensus.
Failure to achieve unanimous consensus within ISCSC, the ISCSC’s Arbitration Panel (per Article VI, Section 4(h)) shall be asked to study and decide the matter, and such decision shall be binding upon the ISCSC. The effected Member Organization shall have the right to contest the decision of ISCSC, by a mutually agreed process.
Section 15
The ISCSC upon finding a Majlis Member violating Islamic Shariah, publicly and persistently, shall have the exclusive rights to take appropriate action toward such Majlis Member by a unanimous consensus. Failure to achieve unanimous consensus, the ISCSC shall either ask its Arbitration Panel or nominate a mutually agreed Arbitration Panel to resolve the matter, and such decision shall be binding.
Section 1
The ISCSC general body shall meet at least four times every calendar year. The Majlis shall meet at least twelve times every calendar year. The Working Staff shall meet at least twelve times every calendar year. The ISCSC general body, Majlis and Working Staff shall decide among themselves a yearly meeting schedule and communicate the schedule to each other.
Section 2
The required quorum for ISCSC general body and Majlis meetings shall be a simple majority. Decisions taken in meetings (of ISCSC and Majlis) with the required quorum shall be binding upon the remaining members.
Section 3
The Majlis can call an emergency meeting with a minimum quorum of 1/3. However, should the Majlis need to make decision(s) in such emergency meetings, 2/3 majority vote shall be required from the total Majlis membership. A mutually agreed Majlis member from the attending Majlis members will contact (via phone, etc.) the absentee Majlis members to secure the 2/3 majority vote.
Section 4
The ISCSC general body can call an emergency meeting with a minimum quorum of 1/3. Should the ISCSC need to make a decision(s) in such emergency meetings, 2/3 majority vote shall be required from the total ISCSC membership. The ISCSC Facilitator will contact (via phone, etc.) the absentee ISCSC members to secure the 2/3 majority vote.
Section 5
All decisions of the Majlis, shall be made by a 2/3 majority, except where specified otherwise.
Section 1
The ISCSC general body and/or Majlis shall appoint Ad-hoc Committees either for a specific task or for a specific period of time. In case of a ‘specific task’ the term of such committee shall be until completion of the task. In case of a ‘specific period of time’ the term of such committee shall be until the expiration of the term.
Section 2
The ISCSC general body shall propose ‘permanent committees’ which will also address issues of emergency nature (Disasters; Crisis; etc.). The scope of work and responsibilities of such ‘permanent committees’ shall be defined elsewhere by the ISCSC.
Section 3
Article VI - Section 1 and 2 shall comprise of but not limited to the following Committees:
a) Education: Liaison between Islamic Weekend and Full Time Schools. Conduct Educational Workshops and Scholastic events. Coordinate resources.
b) Communication: Develop and Implement programs for effective communication and enhanced understanding within and among Muslim communities.
c) Youth and Family: Develop and Implement programs to address prevalent challenges. Develop ways and means to establish an Islamic Judicial Council with executing powers.
d) Daw’ah: Develop and Implement programs involving Muslim communities to introduce Islam to non-Muslims. Establish effective channels of communication with inter-religious forums.
e) Economical Development: Develop and Implement programs to improve the economic condition of Muslim communities. Develop a plan to collect Zakat.
f) Public Relations: Develop and Implement programs to promote better understanding between Muslim and non Muslim communities. Develop and
Establish effective channels of communication with the State Government and its Agencies and with the local Media (Audio, Video and Print).
g) Inter-Community Liaison: Develop and Implement programs to co-ordinate, collect, analyze and disseminate combined data.
h) Arbitration Panel: This committee shall address and attempt to resolve all issues related to the internal matters of the ISCSC and as well to represent ISCSC when needed by the Muslims and/or Muslim Institutions. The selection process and functional details of this Committee is in Addendum ‘__ ‘.
Section 5
The purpose of the above and other such Committees is to coordinate resources for optimum results. The above and other such Committees shall not substitute local member organization activities.
Article VII - Annual Convention
The ISCSC shall organize its annual convention in the Southern California region, in the month of _____________ .
Section 1 - Generation of Income
The ISCSC shall raise its finances based on Islamic Shariah, such as from the following sources but not limited to:
a) Fee from Members
b) Zakat, Sadaqah and special donations from Muslims
c) Special Fund raising events
d) Sale proceeds of its publications
e) Compensation for the services rendered
Section 2 - Distribution of Income
The ISCSC shall distribute its income for each taxable year at such time and in such manner as not to become subject to the tax on undistributed income imposed by Section 4942 of Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time.
Section 3 - Prohibited Transactions/Expenditures
The ISCSC or it’s designated representatives shall not engage in any form of transaction, whether receiving or giving, which is in conflict and in contradiction with the Islamic Shariah, specifically any involvement in Riba (interest).
Section 1 - Financial Year
The ISCSC’s Financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December.
Section 2 - Operational Year
The ISCSC’s Operational year shall be from 1st of Muharram to end of Zul Hijjah.
Section 1
To fulfill the CA State requirement of having a minimum of three Corporate Officers, the current ISCSC shall select from within itself, these three respective Officers.
Section 1
Amendments can be proposed by any member of the ISCSC. Such proposals shall require a simple majority of the ISCSC general body for further process.
Section 2
Amendments to be adopted and incorporated shall require a 2/3 majority of the ISCSC general body.
Article XII - Permanent Trust (Waqf)
Section 1
The Islamic Shura Council shall remain as a Permanent Trust (Waqf). This trust shall be governed by a group of regional Muslims selected by ISCSC (in advance). Specifics of this Trust and its governing body are specified elsewhere.