(Translation from Chapter III, Verse 83 of The Holy Qur’an)

(Translation from Chapter XLIX, Verse 13 of The Holy Qur’an)

(Translation from Chapter III, Verse 103 of The Holy Qur’an)

We the members of the Al-Mahdi Benevolent Foundation of Arizona, acknowledging our diversity of culture and national origin, and our unity in Islam, believing in Islam as a total way of life, and endeavoring to practice as such, do hereby adopt this constitution and these by-laws, thus committing ourselves to abide by these provisions, Ensha’allah.

This organization is called "Al-Mahdi Benevolent Foundation of Arizona, Inc.", hereinafter referred to as The Foundation. It has been incorporated under such name pursuant to the Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 10-230, et seq., of the State of Arizona and has been designated a non-profit organization. The Al-Mahdi Benevolent Foundation of Arizona at P.O. Box 7744, Chandler, AZ 85246-7744 and any of the properties owned by it, shall be the properties of The Foundation. The address of The Foundation shall be (P.O. Box 7744, Chandler, AZ 85246-7744), or as designated by The Board of Directors (Majlis Ash-Shura), hereinafter referred to as The Board of Directors.

The aims and objectives of The Foundation shall be as follows:

1. To promote Islamic unity within our immediate community of Muslims of diverse ethnic, cultural, and language backgrounds.
2. To promote Islam in Arizona and beyond.
3. To provide facilities (within the capabilities of The Foundation), means, and materials for the Muslims in the area to practice Islam as a complete way of life, in an English-speaking environment.
4. To establish educational institutions whose curriculum shall include Islamic studies.
5. In the spirit of Islam, to cultivate friendly working relationships with other Muslim organizations and foster unity amongst all Muslims.
6. To promote friendly relations and understanding between Muslims and followers of other religions.
7. To promote and invite non-Muslims and Muslims to Islam in Arizona and beyond.
8. To establish an Islamic community that encompasses Muslims from all nations and provides a means of uniting Muslims of diverse national origin by providing services in the common language of English.
9. To facilitate the observation of religious occasions and other special services.
10. To raise funds for the purpose of acquiring or establishing immovable properties, such as land or buildings, for the sole purpose and the need of the local community. Such funds shall be raised through gifts, contributions, grants, donations or loans in the name of The Foundation.
11. The properties of The Foundation are irrevocably dedicated to charitable purpose and no part of the net income or assets of this Foundation shall ever be used to benefit any office holder, members, or an organization. All profits and accretions of The Foundation shall be used in promoting the objectives of The Foundation. Upon dissolution or downsizing of The Foundation, its assets remaining after payment or provision for payments of all debts and liabilities of The Foundation, shall be distributed to a non-profit fund, association or corporation holding similar aims and objectives, as directed by the The Board of Trustees.
12. The operations of The Foundation are to be chiefly carried on within the Arizona area.

The Foundation shall be governed by laws consistent with Islamic Law (Shariah) derived from the Qur’an, the Teachings (Sunnah) of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuhahf), and the The Twelve Imams’ School of Thought (Jafari) jurisprudence.

The activities of the Foundation shall be overseen by its administrative bodies: The Board of Directors (Majlis Ash-Shura), which shall act as the administrator of the Islamic Centers, Mosques, other facilities and properties owned by it; and, The Board of Trustees, which shall be the custodian of the Islamic Centers, Mosques, other facilities and properties owned by the Foundation.

1. English, because it is the language that is shared by our members and within the larger community, shall be the language of business.
2. In any decision-making, members of The Board of Directors shall consult amongst themselves and with those who have knowledge about the matter being decided (called the principle of shura in Arabic).
3. Members of The Foundation have the obligation to advise the members of The Board of Directors in a constructive manner.
4. Members of The Foundation shall hold members of The Board of Directors accountable for their actions and policies. The Board of Directors shall keep the other members of the Foundation informed of all matters of The Foundation.
5. The Board of Directors must remain humble, show compassion to fellow human beings, have abundant patience, and not display pride or arrogance.

Any person may participate in the activities and events of the Foundation if they accept these by-laws of The Foundation; and agree that this Foundation shall be run according to The Twelve Imams’ (Jafari) School of Thought. Such participants shall be designated as either non-voting or voting members.

A person shall be deemed eligible for recommendation to membership if they: are Muslim; are aged 16 years or more; are living in Arizona or nearby areas; accept this constitution and the by-laws of The Foundation; and agree that this Foundation shall be run according to The Twelve Imams’ (Jafari) School of Thought. The members of The Foundation shall automatically become members of all the Islamic Centers, Mosques and other facilities under the ownership of The Foundation.

1. After participating for at least six months, an eligible person who wishes to become a voting member must complete a membership application form, which requires the signature of two active member sponsors, and submit that form to the Membership Committee (see Article XI Section 8).
2. The Membership Committee shall evaluate the application based on the following criteria:

1. A member must conduct themselves according to these by-laws and in a manner that supports and encourages the mission of The Foundation, and
2. A member must regularly

1. Participate in a substantive manner in Foundation activities and programs, and/or
2. Provide financial support to the Foundation (see Article V, Section 5).

3. The Membership Committee shall then forward their recommendation to the Board of Directors and the Board must ratify the membership application by a simple majority.
4. The membership in The Foundation shall be non-transferable and non-assignable.

1. An applicant will submit his/her intention of membership in writing on an official form available from The Foundation.
2. The application form shall be drawn up by the Membership Committee and ratified by a simple majority of the Board of Directors.
3. The application form shall include the signatures of two members in good standing, who agree to sponsor the applicant.
4. The application form must also include a statement of the requirements for membership in The Foundation, to which the applicant must sign his/her name indicating understanding and consent.

Violation and/or failure to comply with the by-laws of The Foundation, and/or conduct in a manner detrimental to the well being of The Foundation, and/or failure to participate for six consecutive months, will constitute grounds for suspension or termination of voting membership.

1. A written statement of such a charge/condition brought against any member by The Foundation shall be sent by registered mail to the member’s address as it appears in the records, at least 30 days before the meeting of The Board of Directors. A notice of the time and place of the meeting that will hear such charges shall accompany this statement.
2. The meeting of The Board of Directors duly convened for such a purpose shall give the opportunity to the member against whom allegations were made to appear in person and present any defense to such charges.
3. After an appropriate hearing, The Board of Directors by a minimum of two-third majority vote of the full Board may suspend a member or terminate the membership for up to two years, if it finds the charges to be true.
4. After a two-year suspension, membership will not be automatically reinstated. The individual will be required to begin the membership application process from the beginning (Article V, Section I).
5. At any time, owing to changing circumstances (e.g., moving out of the area), a member may submit his/her resignation from membership in the form of a letter to the Membership Committee.

A non-voting member may participate under the conditions described below and can apply for voting membership by the process described above.

Though the rights and privileges are for members only, any Muslim regardless of his or her background is eligible to use the Mosque for the worship of Allah (SWT). Non-Muslims may also attend as observers in any of the religious activities of The Foundation.

1. All members (voting and non-voting) shall have the privilege:

1. To participate in all of the religious, social, cultural and social activities sponsored by The Foundation.
2. To use the facilities of The Foundation for religious, social, cultural or educational purposes, provided such activities are in conformance with Article IV, Section 1. Procedures for such use shall be determined by The Board of Directors and shall be posted in The Foundation facilities.

1. The Newsletter and other general communications from The Foundation shall be available to anyone who requests them.
2. The Library shall be available to everyone.
3. Only voting members shall have the privilege to vote. Each member shall have one vote.
4. Marriage services will be provided to or facilitated for all Muslims.
5. Rental of the facilities of The Foundation shall be available to both voting and non-voting members only for activities in accordance with Article IV, Section 1, under the review and approval of the Building Committee.
6. All Muslims shall be able to purchase burial plots from The Foundation, when this option becomes available.

The Membership Committee will arrange to send yearly membership renewal notices to members in good standing by mail to his/her address as it appears on the records of The Foundation.

The annual meeting of The Foundation shall be held on the second Saturday in the month of September in each year, for the purpose of:

1. General review of the work and status of The Foundation, presentation of the budget, and the committee reviews.
2. Announcement of the results of any election. However, election results will be announced as valid in the meeting.
3. Transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the day of the meeting falls in the month of Ramadan, then the meeting may be held on a different day either before or soon after Ramadan.

Special meeting of the members may be called for a specific purpose:

The annual and other special meetings of the General Membership shall be held at the principal office of The Foundation. If circumstance warrants, The Board of Directors may designate any other place for the aforesaid meetings unless otherwise stated in these by-laws.

Written notice stating the purpose, the place, day and hour shall be delivered by mail, to each member entitled to vote at such meetings, not less than fifteen (15) days before the date of such meeting.

The presence of thirty-five percent (35%) of the voting members at any meeting shall constitute a quorum at such meeting. If a quorum is not present at the commencement of any meeting, the Chairperson of The Board of Directors shall adjourn the meeting. In such event, the Chairperson shall call another meeting and voting members shall be contacted as described in Section 4 of this Article.

At any meeting of the membership, only voting members may vote in person or by absentee ballot. Any voting member who fails to vote in two consecutive elections shall be subject to suspension. There shall be no voting in proxy.

The Board of Directors shall conduct the business of The Foundation and the facilities under its ownership. In a timely and orderly fashion, The Board of Directors shall formulate strategies and policies, and oversee implementation of these policies through its various agencies (i.e., Officers, committees, employees, auxiliary, and volunteer services, etc.). The Board of Directors shall endeavor to establish prudent financial policies (by raising funds and authorizing expenditures) so that the financial obligations of The Foundation do not exceed the income; The Foundation shall operate within a balanced budget.

The qualifications for Board of Director membership are as follows.

1. The Board of Directors shall consist of two parts — the Officers of the Board of Directors and the General Board of Directors members. There shall be five (5) Officers: 1) a Chairperson, 2) a Vice-Chairperson, 3) a Treasurer, 4) a General Secretary, and 5) a Joint Secretary. In addition, there shall be a General Board of Directors, which shall be in number 5% of the voting membership, with a maximum of sixteen (16) general members. Thus, the total Board of Directors shall not exceed a maximum of twenty-one (21) total members.
2. To protect the unity of our diverse community, the Board of Directors should be reflective of the cultural and national origin diversity of the community.
3. In an effort to stagger positions on the Board, members can serve a term of one or two fiscal years (January 1 to December 31) or until removed by a majority vote of the voting members, whichever comes first. After one year of service, any member has the option to resign or continue for the second year. If they choose a one-year term, their replacement will require a new election by the standard procedure. Nothing herein shall be construed as preventing the re-election of any Board of Directors member.

1. To moderate the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the voting membership.
2. To set the agenda for such meetings.
3. To ensure adequate communication between the Board Committees.
4. To present all approved and signed documents to the Board of Trustees.

As duly elected representatives of the Foundation voting membership, the Board of Directors shall have the general responsibility for setting the direction and goals of the Foundation, and managing the operations of the Foundation, to include its Islamic Center(s), Mosque(s), other facilities and properties.

The Board of Directors shall meet once every month. All committees of The Board of Directors shall meet at least once a month or as decided by the Committee Chairperson. At the first meeting of The Board of Directors, after a regular election, a particular time on a specific day of the month will be chosen for the regular monthly meeting and that shall be adhered to until the end of the fiscal year.

1. Once the regular meeting day and time have been fixed, no further notice needs to be given to the members of The Board of Directors for regular meetings.
2. Notice of Special Meetings

1. Members of The Board of Directors are expected to attend at least three-fourths of the regular scheduled meetings of The Board of Directors. The Chairperson of The Board of Directors may excuse a member from attending a meeting upon a prior request from that member.
2. Name(s) of the excused member(s) shall be documented in the minutes of The Board of Directors. Failure to meet the attendance requirement of no more than three unexcused absences a year will be considered a resignation from The Board of Directors.
3. At the discretion of the Chairperson of the Board, regular meetings of The Board of Directors may be open to The Foundation voting members to attend; however, they are not allowed to participate in the discussion or vote. Any comments or suggestions may be submitted to the Chairperson.

At all meetings of The Board of Directors, a number equal to two-thirds of the total Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

No member of The Board of Directors shall receive any compensation for his or her services to The Foundation or to any of its facilities.

1. The act of a simple majority of The Board of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the decision of The Board of Directors, except where otherwise provided by these by-laws.
2. Decisions thus made shall be documented appropriately and contain the signature of all voting Board members, indicating yea and nay votes.

The Election Committee shall seek nominations for The Board of Directors from voting members at least thirty (30) days before the election. These nominations must be made using appropriate and confidential nomination forms, which shall display the name of the potential nominee and the name of the person who proposed the nominee for either an Officer or a general member of the Board of Directors.

1. After receiving the nomination papers, the Election Committee shall decide the eligibility of the nominees (according to the qualifications noted in Article VII, Section 2) and obtain written consent of the nominees to become candidates for membership on The Board of Directors.
2. No salaried employees of The Foundation or any of its facilities shall be eligible for membership of The Board of Directors.
3. If the Election Committee declares a nominee ineligible for the candidacy for the membership of The Board of Directors, then such a nominee may appeal the decision of the Election Committee to The Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, by at least a two-thirds majority, may over-turn the decision of the Election Committee. If a nominee is rejected by both the Election Committee and The Board of Directors, the nominee may at the written request of at least 10% of the voting members, call for an emergency general meeting for consideration of such a decision. The voting members, when a quorum is present, by simple majority, may over-turn the decision of The Board of Directors and Election Committee.

Once the list of the candidates is finalized, the Election Committee shall familiarize the voting members about the nominees for the Board of Directors, their qualifications and credentials through newsletters and bulletin boards. Candidates shall not campaign; however, they can present a mission statement either in writing or orally to the voting membership.

After completion of the election, the ballot papers shall remain in the custody of the Chairperson of the Election Committee. If, within five (5) days of the election, the Chairperson of the Election Committee receives no written complaints about any aspects of the election, then the election results shall become official.

1. The eligible Board Officer candidate receiving the most yea votes shall be the official Board of Directors Officer. Similarly, those candidates for the General Board of Directors positions receiving the most yea votes shall fill the positions that are in number as described in Article VII Section 3.
2. The Chairperson of the Election Committee shall announce the results of any election to the general membership. The Chairperson of the Election Committee shall submit in writing the names of the elected Officers and General members of The Board of Directors to the incumbent Chairperson of The Board of Directors and to the general membership on the same day. Results of the election shall be announced before the end of the fiscal year (Article VII, Section 2).
3. Assumption of office by the newly elected member after a regularly scheduled election process shall take place on the first day of the fiscal year.

1. Mid-Term Resignation

In the event of a vacancy mid-term in an elected position, the Board of Directors, by a simple majority shall select a replacement within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of the vacancy. This replacement shall complete the minimal term of the person whom they are replacing and is then subject to reelection by the standard procedure.

2. Removal of a Member of the Board of Directors

Any member of The Board of Directors can be removed from office by the passage of a no-confidence motion of a two-third majority of the voting membership, at a meeting specifically called for this purpose, where a quorum (35%) is present. The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson may release a statement regarding the termination.

3. In the event of the resignation/removal of any two elected Officers of the Board, the Board of Directors shall call for a new election to be held within thirty (30) days.

The Board of Directors, through its Officers, shall establish guidelines for the proper functioning of the salaried positions of The Foundation. The Board of Directors shall approve appropriate positions of employment for such purpose.

The Board of Directors shall conduct some of the business of The Foundation through a number of Committees. The Board of Directors may create new Committees.

The Officers of The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chairperson for each of the Committees unless otherwise stated in these by-laws. Such a chairperson should usually be a member of The Board of Directors, but The Board of Directors Officers can make exception in this regard. The Chairperson of each Committee will select additional members to his/her Committee. Members of these Committees may be any voting members.

1. All Committees shall be responsible to the Officers of The Board of Directors and shall fulfill their responsibilities as defined for each committee or as delegated by The Board of Directors.
2. Each Committee shall have the right to form sub-committees of its own members to which it may delegate specific functions. These sub-committees shall be directly responsible to their own Committee.
3. Each Committee shall meet at least once a month, or as determined by its Chairperson, maintain the minutes of the meeting and send a copy of the minutes to the Chairperson of The Board of Directors at least ten (10) days before the scheduled meeting of The Board of Directors.

All Committees shall prepare budgets projecting their expenses for the fiscal year and providing budgeting justification. These budgets shall be submitted to the Finance Committee at least eight weeks before the annual membership meeting.

A simple majority of all committee members shall constitute a quorum. Decisions shall be made by simple majority of the members present (when there is a quorum).

The Board of Directors may establish separate committees for the running of different Islamic Centers (i.e., different Maintenance Committees, e.g.) of The Foundation.

Committees will be formed as needed by The Board of Directors and may include the following committees.

1. The Committee Members shall make every effort to:

1. Establish five (5) daily prayers and regular congregational (Juma) Prayers at the Mosque(s),
2. Propagate Islam among non-Muslims (e.g., Open House, Lectures, and Seminars in Schools, Colleges, Churches, and Public Libraries), and
3. Promote Islamic understanding among Muslims and non-Muslims.

1. The Religious Affairs Committee shall have the responsibility of carrying out all religious obligations at the Islamic Centers and Mosques and, if needed, it shall provide religious services in other places as well. This committee shall be responsible for:

1. Directing Du’a activities.
2. Directing the celebration of all religious events and informing the Public Affairs Committee of special religious events.
3. Performing marriages and other religious ceremonies in the community, and keeping records of marriages performed according to the laws of Islam and the State of Arizona.
4. Administering the last rites to deceased Muslims in the community, in accordance with the Qur’an, Islamic Sharia, the Teachings (Sunnah) of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuhahf), and the The Twelve Imams’ School of Thought (Jafari) jurisprudence.
5. Burial arrangements for Muslims at a/the Muslim Cemetery or making other proper funeral arrangements as necessary and keeping their death records.
6. Advising the Education Committee in matters of curriculum and activities.
7. The operation of a library.
8. Securing a supply of quality books, journals and periodicals for religious study and research.
9. All religious publications that originate in the name of The Foundation or any of its facilities.

1. The Imam of The Foundation shall be the Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee. In the absence of a resident Imam, the Officers of The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chairperson.

1. Weekend Islamic School(s) – for teaching the foundations of Islam.
2. Full-time Islamic School(s) – for general education on par with similar institutions in the country, with particular emphasis on Islamic values and traditions.
3. School of Islamic Studies for the community – for basic, as well as advanced, Islamic studies.

1. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for:

1. Managing funds for and overseeing the operations of the financial accounts of The Foundation.
2. Preparing the annual budget, under the direction of the Treasurer of The Board of Directors, for approval by The Board of Directors, prior to its presentation to the membership.
3. Issuing year-end membership donation statements in January of each year, for tax purposes.

1. The Finance Committee shall review all Foundation investments to make appropriate recommendations to The Board of Directors.
2. The Board of Directors shall issue guidelines for the operations of all accounts.
3. The Finance Committee shall coordinate with the Membership Committee in obtaining yearly pledges from the membership.
4. Chairpersons of all Board committees shall be ex-officio members of the Finance Committee, for the sole purpose of presenting facts regarding funds needed for their committee operations.
5. The Treasurer of The Board of Directors shall be the Chairperson of the Finance Committee.

This Committee shall be responsible for making necessary arrangements for all special events. Any committee desiring to host any dinner meeting in The Foundation or any of its facilities shall arrange such meetings with help of this committee. In this capacity, the Chairperson of this committee shall work in close cooperation with the Chairperson of the Religious Affairs Committee.

This committee shall establish a system to reach the needy both within and outside the community, including non-Muslims. This Committee will make arrangements to provide moral, material, and spiritual support as needed. This Committee will have in place an emergency support system to activate in certain crisis situations confronting individual and families; in this regard the Chairperson of this committee shall work in close cooperation with the Chairperson of the Religious Affairs Committee.

1. The Constitution Committee shall clarify any ambiguity in the constitution or by-laws. A resolution to have an issue assessed by the Constitution Committee can be put forth by The Board of Directors or by 50% of the voting members. They shall review any challenges to this Constitution, except to those premises defined in Articles I, II, III and IV. Their review shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.
2. This Committee shall consist of not more than five (5) voting members of the community who are not members of The Board of Directors. These members should have displayed knowledge of constitutional affairs. The Board of Directors shall elect all five members for a period of three years. The Board of Directors shall appoint a chairperson. Members of this Committee may be re-elected. The Board of Directors shall fill any vacancy in this Committee.
3. These by-laws may only be altered, amended or repealed by new by-laws adopted by the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of a quorum of voting members of The Foundation present at the annual or special meeting called for that purpose. Any proposed amendment to these by-laws, after review by the Board of Directors, shall be submitted to the voting membership thirty (30) days before such meeting.
4. A minimum of ten (10) voting members may propose any amendment (s) to these by-laws to the Constitution Committee. If approved by the Constitution Committee, The Board of Directors by at least a two-thirds majority vote shall place these amendments for vote before the members either at its regular meeting (if one is due within sixty (60) days) or at a special meeting.

1. This Committee shall be responsible for maintaining the properties and the buildings of The Foundation in clean, accessible and safe condition. These responsibilities include janitorial, custodial, parking, building repair and maintenance, and/or security services.
2. The Committee shall arrange for additional parking and transportation services during special events.
3. This committee shall control the use of furniture, equipment, and other Foundation property.

1. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for seeking new members for The Foundation.
2. They shall assemble a package containing information about The Foundation for the new members.
3. This Committee shall design appropriate membership application forms.
4. They shall arrange special functions for non-members to impress upon non-members the value of becoming members of The Foundation to enhance the strength of the Muslim community.
5. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for mailing membership pledge forms to members and all interested parties in the month of December of each year.
6. This committee shall compile a list of the membership and prepare a membership directory.
7. The Finance Committee shall assist the Membership Committee with regard to pledge drives.
8. The General Secretary of the Board of Directors shall chair this committee.

This Committee shall

1. Have the responsibility of educating the members of the community about Islam and the state of affairs of Muslims around the world.
2. Promote the image of Islam.
3. Monitor the mass media (newspapers, periodicals, radio, television, and Internet), including the US Congressional sessions.
4. Establish an effective, efficient system to generate intelligent response from the members of the community in the form of letters, telephone calls, email, and meetings with officials of the local, state and federal government.
5. Organize and/or participate in seminars for interested Muslims and non-Muslims on subjects of universal and mutual interest (e.g., human rights, poverty, and various social problems), in conjunction with the Religious Affairs Committee.
6. Facilitate any other activities that will increase the social contact of the members of the community with the people of the neighborhood.
7. Develop and publish a monthly newsletter for the Foundation that will include religious articles and general announcements. Seek financial subsidy of such through advertisement for local Muslim merchants.
8. Establish and maintain an effective webpage for the Foundation that will include the newsletter items, general information about the Foundation programs (Islamic School, Holiday programs, etc.), links to other Islamic sites, which are approved by the Religious Affairs Committee), and contact information for anyone seeking Muslim community involvement.
9. Be responsible for advertising of Foundation events like Fundraisers (to be in cooperation with the appropriate other Committees), Eid celebrations, etc. This advertising could include local newspapers, radio, TV, and flyers in local businesses.
10. The Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall chair this committee.

1. This committee shall submit for approval to the Board of Directors proposals for construction of new facilities, remodeling of existing facilities, or purchase of facilities by The Foundation. These proposals shall contain a realistic budget and sufficient detail to allow the Board of Directors to fully consider the proposal.
2. The Development Committee shall undertake the supervision of any project during the construction phase.
3. This Committee will work in cooperation with the Finance Committee in the development and raising of funds for a Construction Fund.

The current Board of Directors shall form an Election Committee consisting of five voting members of the community for the purpose of conducting the election of members to The Board of Directors each year. One member shall be chosen from among these as Chairperson of the Election Committee. If a member of the Election Committee accepts nomination for the Board of Directors, then he/she cannot serve on the Election Committee. In such an event, the Board of Directors shall choose a replacement.

The Board of Directors shall have the authority to form an ad-hoc committee for other specific purposes. The Board of Directors shall appoint a chairperson and members of an ad-hoc committee with specific instructions. Once that objective has been achieved in the judgment of The Board of Directors, the ad-hoc committee shall be dissolved.

1. In the event of a disagreement between any two of the three working units of the Foundation (i.e., the voting membership, the Board of Directors and/or the Imam), then the Board of Trustees shall be called upon to act as fair arbitrators in the issue.
2. In the event of the dissolution of the Foundation, the Board of Trustees, with the aid of an impartial, statutory legal agent shall dissolve all assets of the Foundation and distribute the assets or their cash value, less any remaining debts of the Foundation or costs incurred in the dissolution of assets itself, in a manner they see fit.
3. Do all lawful acts in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah as given in Article IV, Section 1.

The members of the Board of Trustees shall be selected, based on the following criteria:

1. A Trustee shall be a highly respected, unprejudiced individual and a scholar of the Teachings (Sunnah) of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuhahf), and The Twelve Imams’ School of Thought (Jafari) jurisprudence.
2. A Trustee must reside within the North American continent, in order to enable any necessary communications and transactions.
3. A Trustee must agree to these described responsibilities.
4. Every five (5) years the members of the Board of Trustees shall be reviewed. In the event of a change of circumstance of one of the Trustees (e.g., death or permanent residence abroad), the Board of Directors by a two-thirds majority shall select a replacement member for the Board of Trustees.

1. The Religious Affairs Committee, by two-thirds majority, shall recommend to The Board of Directors the name of the proposed Imam.
2. The Board of Directors shall employ a religious scholar and a practicing Muslim as an Imam. Upon approval of the Imam, The Board of Directors can hire additional Imam(s) for the various Mosques and Islamic centers of The Foundation.

1. Possess competent knowledge (Ilm) of Qur’an, Islam, and Islamic laws.
2. Be known for his piety (Taqwa), his good deeds (Amal Saleh), and his good foresight (Basira).
3. Proficient in communication in English in order to teach Islam in our community.
4. Proficient in reading, writing, and recitation of the Qur’an in Arabic.

1. The term of any Imam shall be three (3) years. The Imam’s term of service may be renewed for an unspecified number of terms.
2. Annually, a meeting of the Board of Directors and the Imam shall be called to review the direction and duties/service of the Imam.
3. Resignation or Termination

1. If the Imam’s behavior and/or actions are judged by The Board of Directors to be in violation of Islamic code of conduct, then the Board of Directors will demand his immediate resignation.
2. If the Imam’s behavior and/or actions are judged by The Board of Directors to be in violation of the stated objectives of The Al-Mahdi Benevolent Foundation of Arizona, or his services do not meet the needs of the Foundation, then The Board of Directors may request the resignation of the Imam.
3. The Imam may seek a veto of any such decision by a two-thirds majority of a quorum of voting members. The Imam is excluded from voting, in matters regarding his term of service.
4. If a majority of the voting membership does not agree with the Board of Directors, then the Board of Trustees shall be asked to mediate. The Imam shall be suspended with pay until the issue is resolved in reinstatement or termination.

4. There shall be a notice of three (3) months for resignation or termination of an Imam, in which he shall receive his salary.

1. Lead, direct and formulate the religious policy of The Foundation. The Imam may appoint at his discretion, voting members to assist him in his duties.
2. Administer and/or coordinate all religious affairs, programs, and activities for religious and educational services in cooperation with the Board of Directors.
3. Represent, or appoint a representative of The Foundation to various external functions and be responsible for maintaining communication with other Islamic organizations.
4. Provide direction and help resolve issues in the governing of the organization and be responsible in making sure that all policies and activities are consistent with Islamic principles and laws.
5. In consultation with the Religious Affairs Committee, the selection and/or removal of any Associate Imam shall be the joint responsibility of the Imam and the Board of Directors.
6. Decide the direction of religious issues that are not covered in the by-laws in accordance with The Twelve Imams’ School of Thought (Jafari) jurisprudence.
7. Facilitate the growth of this Islamic community through fundraising.
8. The Imam shall administer Khums.

1. The Imam shall be a member of the Board of Directors in an advisory role, with no voting rights.
2. The Imam shall be the Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee.
3. The Imam shall be entitled to compensation to be determined by The Board of Directors based in part on the cost-of-living in Arizona and his position and qualifications. This relationship shall be supported with a written contract.

1. Smoking shall not be allowed in any of the indoor premises of The Foundation.
2. Alcohol or intoxicants will not be allowed on the premises of The Foundation.
3. Only Halal food shall be prepared or served on the premises and on the property.
4. Gambling, betting or playing of cards will not be allowed anywhere on the properties of The Foundation.
5. The showing of commercial movies shall not be allowed, except by approval by the Religious Affairs Committee.
6. Muslims, both men and women, on the Foundation premises shall wear attire according to Islamic principals (elucidated by the Imam and/or Religious Affairs Committee). There should be no shorts, no short skirts, and no tight-fitting clothes. Non-Muslims shall be asked to dress modestly.

The Religious Affairs Committee shall enforce these rules.

Unless otherwise specified by these by-laws, any business meeting of The Board of Directors, committees and the membership shall be conducted in accordance with the established norms of Islamic conduct.

Any Islamic Center, Mosque, or Ecumenical Center in any area may request affiliation with The Foundation. Purpose of affiliation and the terms and conditions under which such affiliation may be granted, shall be negotiated between The Board of Directors and the Religious Affairs Committee, and the appropriate bodies of the applicant organization, and ratified by the voting membership. Members of the affiliated Islamic Center, Mosque, or Ecumenical Center shall not have any voting rights on any matter involving The Foundation.