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In every Muslim community, the guardians of moral courage are
its scholars, leaders, and jamaah.
When these guardians fall silent in the face of wrongdoing,
injustice becomes normalized — and that is the first sign of a
community in decline.
We Are a People of Justice — Let It Start Within Our Masajid
We live in America, a nation built on freedom, fairness, and
accountability. How then can we tolerate injustice in our own
houses of worship? How can we allow behavior that contradicts
every principle we claim to uphold?
A painful reality we must confront is that good, sincere
people are quietly distancing themselves from the masajid —
not because they lack faith, but because they want to protect
their hearts and families from the fitnah and the toxic
atmosphere. We have already seen multiple families stop coming
altogether. This is not just a sign of discomfort; it is a
warning that the spiritual health of our community is being
compromised.
A Community That Spoke — and Was Ignored
During last Sunday’s Community meeting (11/21) at JIAR
Parkwood, the pulse of the community was loud and clear:
Uphold justice. Restore fairness. Respect the Imam & extend
his contract.
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“Even if you bring 500 petitions, we will not hire the
Imam. It's final.”
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This is not leadership. It is not shura. It is not humility.
It is arrogance inebriated in power that contradicts the
very spirit of Islam.
In nonprofit governance, the Board carries a
fiduciary duty — a sacred and legal
obligation — to listen to, represent, and act in the best
interest of the community they serve. When leadership stops
listening to the jamaat and instead enforces decisions based
on personal ego, control, or internal alliances, they are not
exercising authority — they are
violating trust.
And this violation has consequences. We are witnessing it with
our own eyes:
people reaching out to the courts & other governing
authorities
because they are not heard. This gross violation is
unacceptable.
A Pattern of Wrongdoing
The injustice did not begin today. First, the two brothers
were removed from the board without being heard — a right even
Islam’s enemies were not denied. Now, the same injustice is
being inflicted upon our Imam.
When I once spoke out against the injustice in the
authoritarian regimes back home, a wise friend told me,
“Brother, the problem is not them — it is us.”
At the time, those words struck me deeply. Today, seeing what
is happening in our own community, I finally understand how
true and relevant that message really is.
Where Is Islam in All of This?
Is Islam only for khutbahs and short reminders? Or is Islam a
complete way of life — one that commands justice even when it
is difficult?
Our children grow up hearing stories of Umar ibn al-Khattab
(RA) standing firm against oppression. What will they make of
our silence when injustice unfolds before our eyes?
“O you who believe! Stand firmly for justice, as witnesses
for Allah, even if it is against yourselves, your parents,
or your close relatives.”
— Qur’an 4:135
“Help your brother whether he is oppressed or the
oppressor.”
They said, “How do we help the oppressor?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“By stopping him from oppression.”
— Hadith (Tirmidhi)
A Call to the Imams of the Triangle Area
Your voice matters. Your unity matters. Your courage
matters.
If an Imam can be treated unjustly at one masjid today,
another Imam can be treated the same tomorrow. Silence helps
no one — especially not the future of Islam in our
communities.
We ask you to stand together for the principles our faith
demands:
- Justice
- Respect
- Due process
- Dignity of the Imamate
- The rights and voice of the community
Let us be the generation that protected our masajid from
arrogance and restored justice to our institutions.
May Allah unite our hearts, guide our leadership, and make us
among the people who stand firmly for truth. Ameen.
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