Middle Eastern Family, Part II: Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Baha'i: Intrafaith Organizations

★2087 ★

American Muslim Council

1212 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20005

The American Muslim Council was founded in 1990 as a cooperative body serving the interests of the Muslim community in the United States. Its aims are to counter discrimination against Muslims, involve Muslims in the social and political life of the nation, develop consensus on issues of vital importance to the community, and serve as a resource center for Muslims of all ethnic backgrounds. The council has been active in preparing a demographic profile of the community, and preparing and distributing material on Muslin culture, especially about their holidays. It also holds an annual leadership conference. Information about the organization can be found at their website at www.amermuslim.org.

★2088 ★

As-Sunnah Foundation of America (ASFA)

Current address not obtained for this edition.

As-Sunnah Foundation of America (ASFA) was founded by a group of Muslims from various Islamic backgrounds who seek to promote the unity of Muslims. ASFA emphasizes a well-known Islamic principle that a believer may follow any School of Thought (fiqh), and as long as s/he accepts the Sunnah and the Shariah, s/he must be seen as living with in the boundaries of the community (ummah) of the Prophet Muhammad. Experience has taught that the various schools of Islam have not been divisive but in fact have provided the basis of stability for the ummah.

ASFA has developed centers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, the Subcontinent, Africa, and the Far East. These offices are centers for scholarship, Islamic leadership training, and the development of Islamic character. The foundation is also connected to a number of associate and affiliate organizations specializing in Islamic scholarship.

Membership: Among ASFA's affiliate organizations are Majlis Ugama Singapura (Islamic Council of Singapore); the Center for Islamic Thought & Research, University of Chicago; Human Rights Council, U.S.A.; School of Social and Islamic Sciences, Leesburg, Virginia; Muslim Forum International, London, UK; Idara Minhaj ul Quran, Lahore, Pakistan; Daar ul-Ehsaan, Faisalabad, Pakistan; and the Nur Institute of Islamic Studies, Baltimore, Maryland.

Sources:

Marcia K. Hermansen "Hybrid Identity Formations in Muslim America: The Case of American Sufism" Unpublished, undated paper in ISAR collection.

★2089 ★

Council of Islamic Organizations of America

5825 Kings Hwy.
Brooklyn, NY 10123

The Council of Islamic Organizations of America is a coordinating organization serving the many Muslim groups in the United States. It was founded in Saudi Arabia in 1973 by the representatives of different mosques who were in attendance at the Jeddah Unification meeting and was chartered in Washington, D.C., a short time later.

The council's main purpose is the propagation of Sunni Islam (as opposed to the Shi'a Islam which dominates in Iran and Iraq). It accepts the interpretation of Islam coming from Saudi Arabia. The council has a program of assistance for communities desiring to erect a mosque and financial assistance for activities that build and nurture the Muslim community as a whole (schools, summer camps, medical centers, etc.).

Membership: Members include a number of mosques across the United States and several cooperative associations such as the Muslim Students Association, the Federation of Islamic Associations, and the Islamic Society of North America.

★2090 ★

Council of Muslim Communities of Canada

PO Box 2605, Sta. D
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1P 5W7

The Council of Muslim Communities of Canada was founded in 1962 to serve as a coordinating body among the numerous mosques which had been founded through and since the 1950s. It also works to improve relations between Muslims and their non-Muslim neighbors and to develop programs to pass Islam on to the secondand third-generation children of the immigrants. The Council of Muslim Communities of Canada is affiliated with the Council of Islamic Organizations of America.

Periodicals: Canada-Islam.

★2091 ★

International Association of Sufism (IAS)

14 Commerical Blvd., Unit 101
Novato, CA 94949

The International Association of Sufism (IAS), founded in 1983, operates as a general advocacy organization for Sufism and seeks to provide a forum for a continuing dialogue between the different schools of Sufism. In furtherance of these goals, the association has developed an extensive publication program, which brings Sufi Masters together with writers, translators, editors, and other members of the English-speaking intellectual community. Association members have many articles, essays, and important Sufi works translated into English.

Among the more important IAS achievements is an annual Sufism Symposium. This international, multicultural festival brings prominent Sufi masters from around the world to the United States to share their wisdom with the largely English-speaking audience. Through the year, IAS also holds seminars, classes, gatherings, and conferences on such subjects as Sufism and psychology; Sufi poetry and literature; principles of Sufism; meditation; and Sufi music. IAS sponsors a Social Service and Awareness Program, the Sufism & Psychology Forum, the Sufi Women's Organization, and the Prison Social Service Project.

The associations's Internet site is http://www.ias.org.

Membership: Not reported.

Educational Facilities: Institute for Sufi Studies, 14 Commercial Blvd., Unit 101, Novato, CA 94949.

Periodicals: Sufism Journal. • Insight • Sufism and Psychology. • Sufi Women.

Sources:

Marcia K. Hermansen "Hybrid Identity Formations in Muslim America: The Case of American Sufism" Unpublished, undated paper in ISAR collection.

★2092 ★

Islamic Shura Council of North America

PO Box 38
Plainfield, IN 46168

Islamic Shura Council of North America was founded in 1993 as a cooperative body by four major America Islamic associations, the Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, al-Ummah the community of Imam Jamil al-Amin, Islamic Circle of North America, and the Islamic Society of North America.

In 1995, the Shura Council made a significant impact on the American Muslim community by its agreement to assume authority to make determinations of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic (Hijri) year consists of twelve (purely lunar) months: (1) MuHarram; (2) Safar; (3) Raby' al-awal; (4) Raby' al-THaany; (5) Jumaada al-awal; (6) Jumaada al-THaany; (7) Rajab; (8) SHa'baan; (9) RamaDHaan; (10) SHawwal; (11) Thw al-Qi'dah; and (12) Thw al-Hijjah. For religious reasons, the beginning of a Hijri month is marked not by the start of a new moon, but by a physical (i.e., an actual human) sighting of the crescent moon at a given locale. Among the more important crescent sightings is the one that determines the beginning and end of the fast in the month of RamDHaan. The traditional method of making such determination may be hindered by clouds or other obstructions, and prior to 1995, one of several methods had been used by American Muslims to determine the beginning of Ramadan.

Then, following considered review of the opinion of Muslim scholars, the Shura Council reached a decision to bring together the majority of American Muslims. "The beginning and end of Ramadan will be decided based on the evidence of actual crescent sighting in North America corroborated by the astronomical data. Therefore a confirmed crescent sighting report will be accepted as long as such a report in North America does not contradict indisputable astronomical information." The council also adopted a procedure for determining a crescent moon sighting. The decision was initially accepted by the four member organizations, but has subsequently been accepted by most Muslim groups in North America.

Membership: The council has four organizational members, which collectively include more than half of all American Muslims.

Sources:

Moonsighting. http://www.moonsighting.com. 23 April 2002.

Muhanna, W. A. "A Brief Introduction to the Islamic (Hijri) Calendar." http://fisher.osu.edu/~muhanna_1/hijri-intro.html. 23 April 2002.

★2093 ★

Muslim World League

134 W. 26th St.
Box 1674
New York, NY 10001

Alternate Address: International headquarters: Box 537, Makkah al Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia.

The Muslim World League was founded in 1962 as a relief organization working in Muslim countries which also had the aim of advancing Islamic unity and solidarity. The league is supported by the government of Saudi Arabia and has distributed grants for the erection of mosques around the world (including the United States). It includes with in its structure the World Council of Mosques and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth.