Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA): Helping Muslims Live by Sharia

Unfortunately we continue to see that Muslims in America are in support of Islamic Law (Sharia Law). Today the target is the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA), which is located at 4801 El Camino Ave., Suite # C, Carmichael, CA. They also have another location in Cairo Egypt. Lets take a closer look at them.

AMJA Goals
Issuing fatawa (religious formal opinions or rulings) pertaining to the cases and queries submitted to the Assembly according to the rulings of Shari’ah.

Holding training courses for the Imams and directors of Islamic centers in all juristic fields such as issues of family, finance, and legitimate judging, etc.

Establishing the AMJA fund for Zakah (poor-due) and social joint liability, within the limits allowed by the rules and regulations in addition to getting the approval of the authorities responsible for that.

What they do not tell you is that Zakat is divided into eight categories. The seventh is those fighting for Allah.

From the Reliance of the Traveller. Zakat Chapter.

THOSE FIGHTING FOR ALLAH
h8.17  The seventh category is those fighting for Allah, meaning people engaged in Islamic military operations for whom no salary has been allotted in the army roster.

Sharia Law should be outlawed in America. Then Muslims who call for Sharia shall be arrested, and deported if possible. Sharia loving Muslims are to be looked upon as enemies of the state. Just like Nazis were.

AMJA Distinctive Features
Specialization: All AMJA members are holders of Ph.D. in Islamic Shari’ah.

Lets take a look of some of their rulings.

Women:
Women should not travel alone, this sounds real modern…

Woman’s Travel with no Mahram. Question
Asslamu alaikum,

I thank you for this wonderful website. I ask Allah to grant you success, and help you. Please, I need your advice about this issue.

I am a graduate of architectural engineering college, and I am 23 years old. I want to travel abroad, e.g. UK, or USA, for four years in order to continue my education, that is, obtain a doctorate degree, and I will travel with no mahram (a person whom a woman can never marry e.g. her farther, and her own husband). Is it permissible to do so? Note that I will travel by plane, which means that the travel will definitely be safe. In addition, my dream is to continue my education.

Fatwa
In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem.

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, his household, his companions, and his followers.

The basic principle is that a woman is not allowed to travel without a maharam. One of the proofs of this ruling is the following hadith: Ibn Abbas may Allah be pleased with him narrated the prophet sala Allah alayhi wa sallam said, “It is not permissible for a woman to travel except with a mahhrm.” Then a man got up and said, “O messenger of Allah! I have enlisted in the army for such-and-such Ghazwa, and my wife is proceeding for Hajj.” The messenger of Allah said, “Go, and perform the Hajj with your wife.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari. The prophet sala Allah alayhi wa sallam commanded this man to leave Jihad, and proceed for Hajj with his wife though he was enlisted in Ghazwa, and his wife’s travel was for offering an act of obedience and piety to Allah, that is, Hajj, and was not for a tour, or suspicious travel.

O my daughter, your issue is more complex because your travel will be to a non-Muslim country, and for many years. Thus, a sane person will not say that such travel is permissible. O my daughter, the happy person is the one who learns from other people’s experience. In fact, we know a woman who disobeyed the command of the messenger sala Allah alayhi wa sallam, and traveled to the West with no a mahram, thus, Allah did not bless her travel. In addition, she is still suffering from its evil consequences. Therefore, be patient until Allah grants you an opportunity for lawful travel, i.e. travel with a husband or a mahram. Finally, O my daughter, you should know that what Allah chooses for His slave is better than what the slave chooses for himself. May Allah increase your knowledge and help you apply it. And Allah knows best.

Women should not shake the hands of men. Which is backed up by a poll, that can be seen HERE.

Shaking men’s hands. Question:
Is it prohibited or permissible for women to shake hands with men? I meet a lot of men during the day and I find it embarrassing to leave their hands forwarded as I may make them dislike the religion for that.

Fatwa
In the name of Allaah, the Benevolent, the Merciful. All praise is due to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah, his family, companions, and those loyal to him. Shaking hands of foreign men is unlawful because of what al-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi reported from the way of Ma’qal bin Yasaar  who reported that the Prophet  said: “If one of you were to be struck in the head with an iron needle, it would be better for him than if he were to touch a woman he is not allowed to” and because of the hadeeth of Aisha who said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would test the believing women who emigrated to him with the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “O Prophet! When believing women come to you to give you the bay’ah (pledge), that they will not associate anything in worship with Allaah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit illegal sexual intercourse, that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood (i.e., by making illegal children belong to their husbands), and that they will not disobey you in any ma’ruf (Islamic monotheism and all that which Islam ordains), then accept their bay’ah and ask Allaah to forgive them. Verily Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [al-Mumtahinah 60:12] ‘Aa’ishah said: “So whoever of the believing women agreed to these conditions, the Messenger of Allaah  would say to her: ‘I have accepted your bay’ah by words.’ By Allaah, his hand never touched the hand of any woman when accepting their bay’ah; he accepted their bay’ah by saying ‘I have accepted your bay’ah on this basis.” [Sahih Bukhari: 11/354 and Sahih Muslim: 10/13]. This is the principle and foundation that no one must leave. In addition, we live in a society that understands the concept of multiculturalism and religious diversity and respect toward those with different cultures and religions in most cases. So, whoever becomes weak in his heart in one situation needs to ask for the forgiveness of Allaah, most High, because whoever commits a sin or is unjust toward himself then seeks Allaah’s forgiveness he shall find Allaah Oft-forgiving and Most merciful. We ask Allaah to grant everyone success. And Allaah, most High, knows best.

Where is the respect for non-Muslims? As usual Islam is a one-way street.

Issues of Muslim Minorities

AMJA tells a Muslim truck driver to find another job, because he had to transport empty bottles that once contained alcohol. He should have been fired for refusing to do what was required of him.

A truck driver hauling empty alcohol bottles. Question:
I am a young Muslim man working as a truck driver in a Western country. One time, they filled my truck with empty glass bottles, but these are used for being filled with alcoholic beverages, so I refused to transport them because that is against my religion, but some of the brothers told me that it is permissible for me to transport them as long as they are empty. What is the opinion of Shari`ah?

Fatwa
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah.

To proceed: May Allah increase you in eagerness to obey, in seeking the truth and in being successful.

There is no doubt that carrying empty bottles to be thrown away is a lighter [offense] than carrying bottles full of alcohol to be delivered to drinkers or to places where alcohol is prepared for people to drink and the difference between the two situations is obvious.

So, if this carrying of empty bottles is an incidental occurrence, of a passing, temporary nature, then there would be no blame on you, so keep doing your job. If, on the other hand, your work predominately consists of carrying empty alcohol bottles to be discarded, we advise you to look for another job that would keep you away from doubtful matters.

We ask Allah to grant success and accuracy to us and to you.

Here we have a Muslim man who was told to cut his daughter from his inheritance, because she left Islam. What a nice showing of freedom and support.

A daughter disobeying her father and living the life of the disbelievers. Question:
Peace be upon you. There is a Muslim father who lives in America and he has a daughter from a foreign woman. They separated and the girl has gone to live with her mother. She has left Islam and followed a life of trivial diversions. To shock her father, she has gone to live with a foreign man in one house. He has tried in many ways to bring her back, and to call the young man to Islam so that he can marry her on the Sunnah of Allah and His Messenger, but he has refused. The father later found out that his daughter is pregnant. He now asks: What is the proper Islamic way to handle the situation with his daughter, in terms of his name which she still bears and in regards to inheritance.

We hope, or rather, we implore you to provide a comprehensive response to the question. Thank you.

Fatwa
All praise is for Allah, and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah.

He must be patient in calling them to Islam, however, as long as she remains an apostate, she has no share in his inheritance. The issue of inheritance is simple in the West because every individual is able to control it as he pleases. As for his name, there is nothing against him because of it, so he should be patient—may Allah make him patient—and let him make plenty of istighfar (pray for forgiveness) and pray to Allah for her.

And Allah Almighty knows best and from Him is all success.

A Muslim should not eat at a restaurant that serves wine, or “forbidden food”. Nor should they sit at the table of people who drink wine. Is this the assimilating part?

Eating in restaurants which serve wine. Question:
In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful

Peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you.

What is the ruling about going to restaurants that serve wine with avoiding eating the Haram or forbidden foods and sitting on the same table with people who would drink wine? Jazakumu Allahu Khairan.

Fatwa
In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful

Peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you.

Praise be to Allah, prayers and peace be upon His kind prophet, family members, companions, and true followers till the Day of Judgment.

It is worthy for a Muslim to avoid going to places that doubts and suspicions spin around, as the prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, said: “And whoever avoids suspicions (doubts), then he has freed himself for his religion and honor, and whoever has fallen in suspicions (doubts), then he has fallen in the prohibited”.

However, if it is rare to find a restaurant in some country that does not serve wine, then it is possible to go to such restaurants, but one must be very cautious in behavior and manners, to sit on a table with people who would drink wine there, because the prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has strongly warned against that, and warning necessitates prohibition, as it is stipulated by the fundamentals of Fiqh. However, a Muslim should not make this as a habit; for he is required not to go to such places as much as he could. Allah is the Objective of our goal to the right and straight path. Allah knows best.

Ditch the music.

can a newly convert sell items banned in Islam? Question: is it permissible for a newly convert to sell forbidden items, like music tapes, that he owned before embracing Islam?

Fatwa
It is better for him to be pious, and to get rid of these cassettes, and to sacrifice his loss in anticipation of Allah`s reward; for if Allah prohibits something, he prohibits its price or value, and whoever sacrifices anything for Allah`s sake, surely Allah will better compensate him!

Hopefully you guys get the point. This organization is not about assimilating, they are about advancing Sharia, and to make matters worse, they recently held their 7th annual Imam training workshop in Texas.

The Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA) is pleased to invite the esteemed and respected Imams to attend their training workshop that will be held mid-October, 2010 in Houston, Texas.

Theme:

“If you differ in a matter, then refer it back to Allaah and the Messenger if you believe in Allaah and the Last Day.” [Qur’an]

Title:

Arbitration: Its Guidelines and Procedures in Sharee’ah

Date:

October 15th through 18th, 2010

In order to attend the entire workshop, we request from the esteemed Imams to arrive Friday evening, and that their departure is Monday after 3pm insha Allaah.

Number of Invitees:

Invitation is limited to 200 imams.

Place:

Sheraton North Houston Hotel
15700 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77032
United States
Phone: (281) 442-5100 (281) 442-5100
Airport: Houston International Airport (Code IAH)

Workshop Topics

Topic 1: The issue of arbitration through the lens of sharee’ah

Lecture One: The concept of arbitration in sharee’ah (definition and general principles)

Lecturer: Dr. Main Al-Qudah

Follow Up: Dr. Salah Al-Sawy

Points of Discussion:

Defining Arbitration, its role in preserving the identity, & the arbitration of sharee’ah
The legislation of arbitration, its types, & fields of applications
The difference between it and other judicial mechanisms
Lecture Two: The concept of arbitration in sharee’ah (the arbitrary system, its guidelines, and procedures in sharee’ah)

Lecturer: Dr. Waleed Al-Maneesy

Follow Up: Dr. Hatem Al-Haj

Points of Discussion:

Agreeing on arbitration
Appointing/Removing arbiters, arbitration period, & burdens of arbitration
Arbitrary decisions, their legitimacy, and the lawfulness of dissent
Lecture Three: The judicial values for arbitration and arbiters

Lecturer: Dr. Muhammad Na’eem Yaaseen

Follow Up: Dr. Salah Al-Sawy

Points of Discussion:

A reading of Umar’s letter to Abu Musa Al-Ash’ary on judiciaries
Lecture Four: A reading of the assembly’s treatise on social issues [Part 1]

Lecturer: Dr. Muwaffak Al-Ghaylany

Follow Up: Dr. Salah Al-Sawy

Lecture Five: A reading of the assembly’s treatise on social issues [Part 2]

Lecturer: Dr. Waleed Basyouni

Follow Up: Dr. Salah Al-Sawy

Forum: A comparison between the assembly’s treatise on social issues and family laws in American society.

Participants: Dr. Salah Al-Sawy, Dr. Muhammad Adam Ash-Shaykh, Dr. Sayyid Ibrahim (Michigan), Shaykh Mujahid Bikhash.

What is intended by this forum? This forum seeks to acquaint the esteemed Imams with the most important points of difference between certain fiqhi matters and the prevalent laws in these lands pertaining to the family issues that the treatise discussed.

Topic 2: The issue of arbitration through the lens of legality

What is intended by this topic? The lectures in this topic revolve around drawing out the arbitrary procedures that will allow its decisions to be legally legitimized, and so that resorting to it isn’t a waste of time and money. This section works towards taking the arbitrary system and transcending with it beyond chaos and disorganization into serious planning and legal backing, leaving with detailed practical steps on route to that.

Lecture Six: The legal structure of arbitrary systems and their decisions

Lecture Seven: The authority of the arbitrary committee’s decision, renouncing its decisions, and legal oversight over it.

Lecturers: Dr. Muhammad Adam Ash-Shaykh, Muhammad Bakhash, Dr. Sayyid Ibraheem

Topic 3: The issue of arbitration between theory and practice

What is intended by this topic? Discussion on this topic has two objectives:

Practically training them on the steps of successful arbitration by presenting to them a realistic example that may be replicated in different states. It includes detailed suggestions of practical legal steps towards arbitration of sharee’ah.
Pointing out the importance of family counseling as a necessary first step towards solving marital conflict and seeking arbitration in it.
Lecture 8: Marriage Counseling & The Doorway to Arbitration

Lecturer: Dr. Muhammad Sadiq [Psychiatrist]

Lecture 9: How to run an arbitrary council [Part 1]

Lecturer: TBA [To Be Determined]

Lecture 10: How to run an arbitrary council [Part 2 – via video conference]

Lecturer: Dr. Nuh Al-Qudah

Points of Discussion:

Council management, the plaintiff and defendant, proofs and circumstances, oath and witnesses, debating the accusation before the judge, the insight of the judge, preparing the document of decision, and other experiences in the field
Due to the assembly’s limited budget, we humbly ask of the esteemed invitees to purchase their own round tickets (either personally or through their Islamic centers), whereas all remaining accommodations of room and local transportation will be made available.

Don’t be surprised when you see a push for Sharia courts across America. There is already one in Texas.

6.Each party will cause the above cause numbers to be abated pending the decision by the arbitrators, and submit the decision of the arbitrators for adoption by the respective courts. The parties will ask the courts to refer the cases for arbitration to Texas Islamic court within “Seven Days” from the establishment of the Texas Islamic Court panel of Arbitrators. The assignment must include ALL cases, including those filed against or on behalf of other family members related to the parties. Each party will notify the other party, Texas Islamic Court, and their respective attorneys, in writing of the assignment of all the above Cause Numbers from the above appropriate District Court to Texas Islamic Court.

They will look to start with civil matters, and then move forward from there. Allowing these courts, is to open Pandora’s Box. We should learn a lesson from the mistakes of the UK. When it comes to Sharia, just say no!