Islamic Society Of Windermere

In the Name of Allah, The most Compassionate, The most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, who sustains everything in place


The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever builds a Masjid for the Sake of Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)


Last Night, I met an upstanding member of the community, and he asked me about the status on the Masjid on this side of the town. It seems that the other effort has not succeeded in last year, and we will have to restart the effort to build a Musallah or Masjid ourselves.

Effort will be to build a place to pray 5 times salah on or around County Road 535 (Winter Garden Vineland Rd), and Reams Rd.

We will be meeting on 2 PM Sunday, December 25, 2011. Location will be decided soon. If any of you have suggestions, please let me know. Agenda will be as following.

- Praise Allah
- Open Forum to collect thoughts
- Ratify constitution
- Electing Imam (Ameer) to lead the effort
- Location update
- Fund collection (monthly pledges and/or cash donation)

These are some preliminary proposals for the constitution, based upon the examples of rightly guided Khalifah.

- Quran and Sunnah will be the only source
- Community will not adopt any rule that contradicts Quran and Sunnah.
- There will be one Ameer elected by an appropriate election process, and has to be a qualified person according to Quran and Sunnah to lead in Salah and World matters.
- Election of Ameer will be permanent.
- Ameer will be the final Authority on all matters of the organization, however, he can have advisers to help him make the decisions.
- Any matter of the Fiqh will be resolved by Ameer.
- Community can remove the Ameer with a super majority consensus, and replace with another qualified Ameer.

These are just some proposals, but please send me your ideas, so we can prepare them for discussion during our first meeting. It will be important to ratify these, before moving forward.

I need responses with names, phone numbers, and email addresses of people who are interested. One doesn't have to live in this area to be a member, so please come forward and help us with this effort.

If you know someone that will benefit from this, please forward this email, or get their contact information to me.

Please bring cash, check, ideas, and anything that will help us with this. Even a quarter will add to the support. If you like to come forward before the meeting to help arranging it, please let me know.

There are two ideas for masjid location right now, and please provide your input.

- Renting a land and a portable.
- Renting a store in the new plaza close by.

After all the effort, we leave our affairs to Allah, as nothing can happen without his permission. May Allah make this effort successful. Aameen.

JazakAllah Khairin

AbuArman Jumani

Dead Community

In the Name of Allah,


إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا


"Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little. "
( سورة النساء , An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #142) 




(By Him, in Whose Hand my soul is, if anyone of them had known that he would get a bone covered with good meat or two (small) pieces of meat between two ribs, he would have turned up for the prayer, and had it not been that the houses have women and children in them, I would burn their homes around them.) (Tafseer ibn Kathir)

Last Night, Imam told us that he sent emails to 1300 people who are registered with Masjid, and 13 show up to listen to a scholar. Now, sometimes one is busy and can't make it to these optional things. I was busy myself with my classes online and couldn't attend this week. However, this has become a trend, and I can't believe that these people are busy every single time.

If it is announced that there will be dinner, you will see people crawl out of every rock. Women and children are brought so they didn't have to cook at home. They get mad if the chicken pieces are not up to their standard. I have seen one brother have a fight over the food during Ramadhan.

There are same 25 people who are regular to masjid and want to learn. Even the Shura Members are not to be found in this group. Persons running the new masjid construction meeting are not seen anywhere either. They only come when there is Shura meeting probably. Why do we have these people running the community?

As the Prophet (PBUH) said, we should throw some food at them every time, or burn their homes so they can visit masjid more often. Of course, he didn't mean that he will do it. It just shows the seriousness of the matter when the most soft person the world has ever seen gets angry at that level. It boils my blood to see 100 people show up for dinner, but 10 people for gaining knowledge.

In reality, the community is about 25 men, then there are some guests who come and use our facilities, but don't consider the knowledge in the masjid as authentic. Then, there are some who come when they feel guilty of committing sins the whole month, so they will come and make extra nafl and long duas. Who are they fooling? Then, there are some who come only for food. Oh, aren't they the interesting bunch. They will meet you like they have been in the masjid all along. Then, there are some who come to chat, and that's what they do. Then, there are some who invite others to masjid (only to tablighi masjid acitivities to be more specific), but are absent from circles of knowledge. Then, there are some who come for cricket, and May Allah give them all the enjoyments they are seeking.

In short, there is no true large community here. I mean Imam invites 1300 people, and even the people involved in the leadership role ignore him. I think I have been wasting my time trying to wake up the large community that is clinically "Dead". Inna lillahi WaInna Ilahi Rajiyon. This is probably the last post about this masjid, and the imaginary community that I had in my mind. I have much better things to do.

I seek forgiveness from 25 community members, for wasting their time. I seek forgiveness from 1275 guests who just looking for a good time whether at home or in the masjid. I hope the masjid can add some more dinners, melas, etc to keep them entertained. I just need to find a place to pray the five times Salah in congregation. For now it is this masjid.

Also, if you are one of the 1275, and get my emails, please let me know, and I will remove you.

Please don't send me emails saying that I am a quitter. I am just smart enough to divert my attention to other set of people who are more responsive.

JazakAllah Khairin

AbuArman Jumani

Islamic method for Jumma Prayers.

In the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, the King of mankind.

I received the following question from a brother regarding my analysis of Jumma Prayer format followed by my local masjid. Following is his question.

AoA Adnan:

I find your articles very thought provoking. Since this blog was not very clear to me, can you please let me know what the correct way of conducting the Jumma Prayers is? Thank you for your time.

JA

*****

If I understand the question correctly, he is wondering what is the correct method for Jumma Prayers, since the current format is against Quran and Sunnah. Lets try to answer this question.

If anything benefits you is from Allah, and anything annoy you is from me.

Jumma is a Salah, and Prophet (PBUH) asked us to imitate him in the Salah. Following was his method in the later part of his life. He will enter the Masjid, and said Salam, and sat down. Adhan was called to gather people. Then, he will rise and deliver first part of speech (in Arabic as his audience was Arabs), and then he will take a small pause, and then rise again to deliver the last part of the speech. At the conclusion of the speech, he will established Salah, and after the Salah he would mingle with people before praying his nafl rakah. 

If one follows the above structure, they have completed the obligation. Some scholars allow speech to be in another language, but there is a difference of opinion. Best opinion is to allow speech in local language with recitation of Quran mixed so believers are benefited, which was the main purpose of the Khutbah.

However, there are somthings that are prohibited on this day, like following.

- Engage in any world matters after Imam rise for the speech.

-      Praying nafl salah when Khutbah has already started.

- Buying and Selling inside the masjid

- Giving speeches before Jumma

-       ...

Any speech before Jumma is prohibited, and it should be stopped. If one is following an opinion that Khutbah has to be in Arabic, then that is fine. However, you can not go against the Sunnah, because following the weaker opinion causing people not to understand the speech. May be they should reconsider blindly following hanafi school. 

No one should drag believers to the masjid before adhan, as we live in a non-muslim country, and we work on Fridays. Changing the time from 1:45 PM to 1:15 PM to compel them to come causes hardship, which does not make sense. It is cruel and heartless, and may Allah question these leaders who causes hardship on their subjects. Imam should do ijtihad and break from Taqleed (blind following). 

I hope this answers the question. I apologize for making my words complicated. Sometimes it is needed to grab attention. 

JazakAllah Khairin

Abu Arman Jumani

A bucket with many holes. Patch it!

In the Name of Allah,

All praise is due to Allah, the one who Forgives.

Update on Masjid: We are still pursuing a location for Musallah, and a land for Masjid. Nothing confirmed yet, but there is hope on both front, Alhamdulilah. 

"Those who avoid the greatest sins and indecencies, except for oversights, (will find that) surely your Lord is ample in forgiveness. (Al-Najm 53:32)"

(Those who avoid great sins and Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) except Al-Lamam), Al-Lamam means, small faults and minor errors. (Ibn Kathir)

I have seen people put a lot of emphasis on good deeds, and most of the effort is toward optional deeds. For example, Taraweeh in Ramadhan is not Fardh, but you will see that people will be fighting over each other to get a spot in the Masjid. Now, there is goodness in that, but what happens when we do these optional good deeds one month, and commit major sins throughout the year. I mean major sins like paying interest, shaving our faces, illegal relations, breaking promises, etc...

I would like to present a visual that may help understand what my point is. See, our life is like a bucket that is empty in the beginning, and gets filled with our good deeds. More we perform Salat, fasting, Hajj, dhikr, and other good acts, more liquid gets added to the bucket. However, if we commit a sin, a hole is punched in the bucket and the liquid starts leaking. Bigger the sin, bigger the hole would be. So, if a person performs a lot of good acts, a continuous stream of liquid will be pouring in, but if they are also performing a major sins continuously, the wholes are being punched in the bucket.

Imaging the bucket that has some holes, and we try to fill it with liquid. After a few minutes, it will be empty. This is the situation of ours, when we commit sins on the regular basis. Moreover, These holes can be repaired with repentance, but that require desisting that sin, promising not to commit it again, and asking forgiveness from Allah. Above verse makes it clear that emphasis should be on avoiding major sins. Goal is to reach our death with a few drops of liquid in our bucket that will carry us through the accounting, InshAllah.

We should make an oath today that we will chose one major sin that we commit regularly, and we will avoid that sin this year, and will not repeat it again. Just pick any. This is better than praying optional Salat in Ramadhan and in the late night. People who think that good deeds will wash up their sins are mistaken, and will be standing on the day of judgement day with a pile of sins that can not be voided, and good deeds that have been leaked out from the holes. In other words, it is better to skip Taraweeh, then driving for Taraweeh in a car financed with interest loan.

A few days back, Imam made an emotional plead for people to stop watching TV programs that  may have some fahash (indecency)  in it. He is correct in saying that, but I doubt that any of them would cancel the cable right after that speech, because it is just not practical. In fact, I spoke to a few of them, and they agreed it was not possible. A leader should bring the follower to the truth, and not beat them with it, because they will consider it so impossible that  they will ignore it.

What I suggest is weening strategy. Don't stop sinning completely, because one can not. Rather find an activity that is less sinful and try to replace with it. For example, if you have cable at home, don't force yourself and your family to stop watching all American channels, because women are not covered in them. Rather, cancel the subscription of movies, and cut down on number of movies watched per month. Slowly but progressively implementing reforms will lead to long lasting avoidance of sins.

This is the Sunnah of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). We do not control our nafs right now, and we should not declare war with it, because it will win, rather compromise with it, and bring it under control with wisdom. And, Allah knows best.

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Masa that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) deputed any of his Companions on a mission, he would say: Give tidings (to the people) ; do not create (in their minds) aversion (towards religion) ; show them leniency and do not be hard upon them. (Sahih Muslim #4297)

JazakAllah Khairin

A struggling sinner
AbuArman Jumani

Imam Abu Hanifa, A struggling believer

In the Name of Allah.

I compiled the following paper for my Fiqh class, and would like to share with everyone. After the Prophet (PBUH) and Umar, I follow the example of Imam Abu Hanifa, and owe my ideology to him. may Allah reward him for his struggles. Just like today, he found himself surrounded by Scholars without clear understanding of practical implication of Islam. He fought hard with extreme right, and extreme left, and gave us a model to follow today.

Text book gives a very high level and brief biography of Imam Nu’man bin Thabit aka Imam Abu Haneefah, but it does not provide the background and details that one should have to understand his status and contributions. There is an aspect of his life that is usually not discussed, which is very unique to him in the history.

He was born to an affluent family in Kufa, and his ancestry was from non-Arabic origin, and was brought up as a businessman. He was a master mind in business, and understood the intricacies of trade, and rules of trade, and his mind was very sharp, logical, and full of ambitions. As far as “Sirat-i-Nu’man” is concerned, Nu’man did not have any formal religious education until he was in his adulthood, which is a great contrast to other leading Imams of his era. His objective in life was not to become an Imam, but to become a businessman. This unique background gave him the edge over other scholars in his time over matters of trade and social rulings.

Once, he was passing by the house of Imam Sha’bi, and Imam called him “Where are you going, young man?”  Imam Abu Haneefah explained him that he was going to see a merchant close by. In fact, Imam Sha’bi called him by mistake believing him to be his student. Since they were talking, he offered him to join his classes (Sirat-i-Nu’man pg 9). Imam Abu Haneefah made up his mind to learn about Islam, and studied with many teachers for a long time to become a great teacher. When, he became a teacher, he had a mission that changed the world as we know it. He was, unlike other Imams, a man of trade in heart, and understood the direction the world is heading towards. In his time, there were a lot of foreign business contracts that were being exposed to Muslims, and it was very difficult for lay person to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) with every new case that came up. He made tons of rulings in the field of business and trade, and most of the rulings that Non-Muslims were exposed to in Islamic history, originated with him.

 Of course, with any change, comes the criticism, and he was given different titles, and labels. Some said that he rejected hadith, and others called him “what iffer”, and some even denied his status as faqhi, due to lack of him narrating ahadith. However, the fact remains that he was the first one to compile the fiqh in a way that paved the way for the future. He looked at each issue without the lens of local custom or culture, and allowed his students to debate when other scholars dictated the conversation. His mastery on qiyas, and unique background allowed him to look at fiqh from a different perspective. Muslims in the west can relate to his life story, as he was born, grew up and studied outside the mainstream schools of learning, and came to Islamic knowledge at a later age.

He compiled many books but most of them did not survive to us. Three are well known. Fiqh Akbar, Al-‘Alim Wa’l-Muta’allim, and Musnad. What reached to us mostly are his student’s compilations, which were influenced by his methodology, and provided the foundations for Muslim Ummah for centuries as their official Fiqh. Unfortunately, there are many false extraordinary stories attributed to him, like he prayed Fajr with same wudu from Isha prayer, and he completed seven thousand readings in the jail (Sirat-i-Nu’man pg 43). There is no evidence that they were true, however. What seems to be his great contribution is his unique way of looking at fiqh. While conventional scholars restricted themselves to direct meaning of the Quran and Sunnah, in most occasions, he explored the spirit of the rules of Islam within sources, so answers could be given to the new arising cases. Today, it is a necessity for the scholars to answer whether Quran saved in the phone, makes the phone a mushaf.

Nevertheless, his wisdom and keen mind was well known. His famous encounter with Imam Malik left Imam Malik sweating, and on many occasion, he solved people’s issue with his wit. For example, a man took an oath that he will not speak to his wife unless she speaks first, and the wife also got angry and took the oath that she will not speak unless he does first. Later, they realized their mistake and went to Sufyan Thauri, but he told them that the only way out is atonement of oath. Unsatisfied, they went to Abu Haneefah, and he told them that you can speak to each other all you want, and no atonement is required. When Sufyan Thauri found out, he went to Abu Haneefah to complain about the invalid ruling. Abu Haneefah told him that when she spoke to take her oath, she fulfilled his condition, and his oath completed, so he can speak to her as he likes (Sirat-i-Nu’man pg 71). Imam Abu Haneefah had the gift of having sharp mind that could see through clutter of details, and he could solve problems with the most ingenious solutions in a moment.

In reality, the most important characteristic that he had was that he could explain the difficult matters in simple terms, which was unique to him in his era among scholars of his status. Today, this is the biggest weakness in our Ummah that there is a gap of understanding between the scholars and lay person, and the scholars are not able to prove to people using practical examples their legal opinions. If he was alive today, he would look at the division among Muslims based on fiqh, and will laugh at it, and then cry at it. He will laugh, because the correct ruling is in front of the scholars, but they refuse to accept it. He will cry because, one of the reason people will not accept the correct ruling is because it will mean to admit that a certain fiqh followed the wrong ruling for centuries.

Imam Abu Haneefah continued his trade throughout his life, and presented an example of balancing the religious duties and worldly duties. He was able to understand the issues of common folks, and was able to deduce rulings, and was able to articulate his rulings in a convincing way.  Other scholars of his time could have been more educated, and well versed in hadith, perhaps, but his understanding of deen (fiqh) was second to none.

JazakAllah Khairin

Adnan Jumani (Abu Arman)

References

“Sirat-i-Nu’man”, Written by Allamah Shibli Nu’mani, Translated by M. Hadi Hussain.

Shirk crawls a little further. Can we stop it?

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

All praise is due to Allah, the lord of the worlds

"O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may acquire Taqwa. Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He alone has the right to be worshipped)." (Quran 2:21-22)

The Prophet (PBUH) said: O people, save yourselves from this shirk for it is more inconspicuous than the creeping of ant. (Musnad Ahmad 4:403)

After returning from NYC, I visited the masjid, and I noticed this creeping of ant on the prayer schedule of the masjid. They have moved the time for Jumma from 1:45 PM to 1:15 PM. We know that Jumma starts when the first adhan is called in the Masjid, so why does it says 1:15 PM now. My guess is that my criticism of their UnIslamic format for Jumma caused someone to include the english talk as part of the Jumma services, which it is clearly not. So, why do I bring it in the context of Shirk?

Before all of you gather outside my home with stone and firewood, let me explain what is happening here. Iblis has a very practical plan, and he implements it with complete patience, and understanding of human psychology. He will never outright ask a believer to commit shirk, as no practicing muslim will follow him. Instead, what he does is that he places an acceptable ant that you can't really see while standing up, and then  the ant crawls very slowly towards us. In every movement of this ant, we will find benefit and acceptance, but once this ant reaches its destination, we have left Islam.

Prophet (PBUH) said, “I warn you of the newly invented matters (in the religion),and every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire” (an-Nasaa’ee)

In the above hadith, innovation does not mean any new thing, because that would be very limiting. For example, using loud speakers, or websites to help in deen. What it means is that anything that requires belief has been enumerated for us in the Quran and Sunnah, and if we add to it, it will be innovation in deen. Blessings of Jumma service is a belief, and our belief is that it begins at the Adhan, because that is the method of the Prophet (PBUH). Any attempt to mark the start time for Jumma earlier than the first adhan is an innovation.

Also, english talk in Islamic Center of Orlando is prohibited by another hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) , but they continue it, and the ant is moving. Now ant has moved to include this innovation into Jumma time, and it will crawl further, and in a few years, the Jumma services will be a strange affair that will not be recognized. This is how shirk enters our life, and this is the method that doomed the early children of Adam. Let me provide an example.

When Noah came to his people with this message, they rejected it. Allah tells us: “And they said (to each other): ‘Abandon not your gods, abandon neither Wadd nor Suwâ`, neither Yaghûth nor Ya`ûq nor Nasr.” ( Quran Sûrah Nûh : 23)

Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "The idols that were among the people of Nuh wound up among the Arabs afterwards.... These idols were all named after righteous men from the people of Nuh. Then when these men died, Shaytan inspired his (Nuh's) people to erect statues in honor of them at their gathering places where they used to come and sit, and to name these statues after these men (with their names). So they did this (as Shaytan suggested), but these statues were not worshipped until after those people (the ones who built them) had died and the knowledge was lost. Then, those statues were later worshipped.'' ... Ibn Jarir recorded from Muhammad bin Qays that he said concerning Yaghuth, Ya`uq and Nasr, "They were righteous people between the time of Adam and Nuh, and they had followers who used to adhere to their guidance. Then, when they died, their companions who used to follow them said, `If we make images of them, it will increase our desire to perform worship when we remember them.' So they made images of them. Then, when those people died and other people came after them, Iblis approached them and said, `They (your predecessors) used to worship these statues and they were granted rain by their worship of them.' Thus, they (the latter people) worshipped them.'' [Ibn Kathir]

When my youngest son Arjan grows up, and if I fail to explain this blog to him, he will look at the hadith of Angels closing the book when Imam stands up, and the timings for Jumma, he will certainly think of the whole thing as the Jumma service. Interestingly, in my email debate with local supporters of this invalid format of Jumma, they gave me assurances that the speech at 1:15 PM is not part of the Jummah, rather a beneficial pre-cursor. I warned them that any prohibition from the Prophet (PBUH) has a purpose, and now we know that this innovation has become part of the Jumma.


Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:
Mujahid reported: I was in the company of Ibn Umar. A person invited the people for the noon or afternoon prayer (after the adhan had been called). He said: Go out with us (from this mosque) because this is an innovation (in religion). (Dawud :: Book 2 : Hadith 538)


The ant is moving faster than I expected, and it is stronger than all of us. I hope you all understand this plan of Iblis, and do not attend the english speech at 1:15 PM. There are many similar addition happening all the time which need to be stopped. The way to stop is to not support the addition, and not support the institution financially. I have withdrawn my financial support from the masjid, until they come back to the Sunnah, and I urge you to do the same. May Allah give us all guidance to follow the path shown by Muhammad ibn Abdullah (PBUH).

JazakAllah Khairin
An ant watcher

AbuArman Jumani

Headless Community

In the Name of Allah,

All praise is due to Allah, the King of mankind.

Recently, someone claimed that the community should be run by a "Majlis-e-Shura" (Advisory board). I would like to refute this claim with the help of Quran and Sunnah.

It is the core of the problem today, so I have to respond to it publicly. First, I will present my response, followed by the original email.

Wasalam,

     What you said so far is almost correct, but look further. Cardinal principle does not mean final authority. What it means is that Imam should follow these four principle. Please understand the difference.

      Shura is an Arabic term for advisors. Advisors are the ones who advice, and not the ones who make day to day decision. In almost every instance you quoted, it was the Imam who tasked the Shura with providing an advice.

     It is an obligation on Imam to take advice, but it is not an obligation on Imam to heed Shura on all matters.

    For example, Abu Bakar had a shura which unanimously agreed that Muslims that have stopped paying Zakat should not be attacked. Abu Bakr overruled the shura and got on the horse and said I am going to fight them, who is with me, and he was alone. Can Imam  do that in our community? This alone shatters your whole case.

   Let us look at each example you gave, and see if Shura has authority to make final decision, or is it Imam with whom rests the final authority?

   You referred to the following verse of the Quran.

    “And those who answer the Call of their Lord, and perform the Salah, and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them” (Quran 4:38)

  

 Ibn Kathir says that “means, they do not make a decision without consulting one another on the matter so that they can help one another by sharing their ideas concerning issues such as wars and other matters. The Prophet used to consult with them concerning wars and other matters, so that they would feel confidant.”

   It is clear from the tafsir that there is only one mode of political system. An Imam should not make decision until he has consulted with all, so they feel that they have been heard, but he is the one makes the final decision. Please do not misuse words of Quran, and understand the context and background.

  Then, you mentioned Ali appointing a governor, and advising him to be just and listen to people before making the decision, so this case supports what I already mentioned. A governor had full authority of an Imam over the area, unless you think these governor were weak and could be over ruled by people. You are mixing Justice with Shura having final authority.

  Then, you mentioned the incidence of Abu Bakar being selected khalifah, and it happened due to mutual consultation of people. This is an exception to the rule, because if there is no Imam, one has to be selected, and the shura have to come together to unanimously agree on one person to be an Imam. I agree with this, and Imam should be selected by the vote of people. However, once Imam is selected, shura has no authority to overrule the Imam, as Abu Bakar showed in the event of war for Zakat.

   Then, you mentioned the incidence of Umar forming a committee to select the next Khalifah. First, it was his decision to let them decide, so it is he who ultimately decided. This is the correct way, as it is the Sunnah. Khalifa should not be appointed, but selected by believers. Once again, selection of Imam is one thing that need to be done by the community. So, this comes under the exception of the rule but not the rule.

   If you like to run the community leader less like a country without a President, then go right ahead, but it is un Islamic as I have proven to you. Copying and pasting from a blog written on internet does not mean it contains the truth. Only the evidence it provides can make it true.

   Once again, Shura has no authority in making decisions for the community, after they have selected the Imam. Otherwise, it is absurd to have a puppet Imam who only lead in Salah, and does not have a final say in every decision Shura suggests. Even USA does not follow that. Can you imagine US Congress running the administration? Not a single bridge will be constructed. It is exactly what is happening here.

   In your form of government, lay person get together and make a decision, but 100 lay men can not equal one scholar. You need a scholar to make decisions. It is like running a home where children get together and tell the father the decision they made. No! No! No! Father is the Imam of the house and he should makes the final decision. 

   Would you like to fly in an airplane, where Pilot asks the passengers for every button he presses? Well, it will crash for sure. Even in the animals and insects, we know that, there is a leader. Every aspect of our life has a leader. I am sure, your business is run by a single person, who either is the president or Chairman of the board of directors. It is un natural to run a community with Shura alone. Imam has to take charge, or we are doomed.

   All your evidences are weak so far and have been refuted. Do you have any other?

  I will not rest until this deviant form of government is abolished and replaced by Islamic political system of a single leader.

And Allah Knows best.

JazakAllah Khairin

AbuArman

Following is the email I received.

From: ***** ********
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 7:34 AM
To: Adnan Jumani
Cc:
Subject: Re: *************

Brothers:

AOA

We are missing here...

Shura  constitutes one of the four cardinal principles in the Islamic perspective on socio-political organization. The other three are justice, equality, and human dignity.

Present Shura or any other Shura are the volunteers who are working on our behalf when we are enjoying in our worldly affairs. They are all sincere people. Don't blame anyone unless you have a solid proof or three wintnesses. We, muslims, are losing only for the reason we overbelieve ourselves and tend to find faults in our effort to prove we are supreme! We are not true believers!!

Please let this Shura work and when election time come offer your services - Let us admit their efforts, their time and sacrifice!

In the Quran, two modes of political consultation are mentioned. In the one, the Prophet Muhammad is asked to consult with his companions, but, ultimately, to decide on his own. In the other, the community of the faithful is described as the one that (among its other attributes) administers its affairs by mutual consultation. In the one, consultation is mandated but is not binding; in the other, it is depicted as constituting the very process by which binding decisions on public matters are reached. In the one, the Prophet is personally involved, in the other, it is the community deliberating on public matters collectively.

This all-inclusive notion of the ummah comes through clearly in the directive that the fourth Khalifa, Ali Ibn Abi Taleb gave to Malik Ibn Al Ashtar Al Nakha'i, upon dispatching him as governor to Egypt at a time when Egypt was more Christian than Muslim. Ali wrote:

Know, O Malik, that I am sending you to a country which has been subjected before you to both just and unjust rulers, and so the people will judge you in the same way that you now stand in judgment of your predecessors. Therefore, let good works be your true assets. Discipline yourself, and
covet not that which is not rightfully yours. Train your heart to feel compassion for the people, to love them and be kind to them. Do not behave like a ferocious beast toward them, snatching away their sustenance, for the people are of two categories: they are your brothers in religion and/or your fellow human beings".
This right was expressly affirmed by the first Khalifa, Abu Bakr Al Siddique, upon being confirmed by consensus as successor to the Prophet. Said he addressing the community present in the Medina Mosque: "I have been given authority over you, but I am not the best among you. Obey me so long as I obey God in the administration of your affairs. Where I disobey God, you owe me no obedience."
Upholding this very principle, the second Khalifa Omar said: Where I do right, assist me; where I do wrong correct me.
There is agreement that Shura in Islam has to do with a group of Muslims called the people of Shura (people of power and decision). Scholars said those people should have some qualities, such as justice, knowledge, opinion and wisdom. So, it can be said that they are “the scholars, leaders and dignitaries who can meet easily. When Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was stabbed and was about to die, the companions asked him to name his successor, but he refused. However, he named six of the Prophet’s companions who the nation was unanimous over their goodness. Thus, Umar wanted to awaken the principle of Shura among Muslims. He said:“Choose from among those people who the Prophet said the people of Paradise; Sa’id ibn Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl is one of them, but I will not include him. The six men are: Uthman and Ali the children of Abd Manaf, Abd-al-Rahman and Sa’d the Prophet’s maternal uncles, Al-Zubayr ibn Al-Awwam the Prophet’s cousin, and Talhah ibn Ubaydullah. So, choose a man from among them. If they choose one, support.