Posts by NidalAlsayyed:

Fundraising on Friday! Is completely out of control!

December 12th, 2015

 

By Dr. Nidal Alsayyed.

 



 

In most mosques and Islamic centers/ associations; spread in hundreds in the United States; fundraising is usually conducted after Friday prayer and on weekly basis (1:30 pm CST to 3:00 pm CST- US Central Standard Time).

The Board of Director of the Islamic Center; may call the Muslim community members (directly or indirectly) at the end or during the obligatory Friday worship sermon; for Muslims to donate money (which ranges from 3000USD$ to 100$ per individual); or they may invite or receive a request from external entities/institutions to allow them to fundraise for some objective, or simply allow them to seek finance for some project via donations!!

The Islamic communities and mosques across the US “United States” authorizing these entities (could be religious – charity nonprofit corporations – or academic / private Islamic colleges) and on no basis but only because they carry some slogan/name of Islam.

Those parties seeking to fundraise/finance will not hesitate to use all influential means when needed in terms of arousal, stimulating, rhetoric talk towards the Muslim public to generate compassion for donation in the name of their Lord (Allah)! (As they claim!).

As I mentioned earlier; these amounts collected are related to the size of the Muslim community / event’s type conducted, and the number of businessmen /medical doctors in that community. These large amounts can reach 20 to 30 thousand dollars in less than 20 minutes and in one single Friday! The key word nowadays to attract donations is “Refugees”!

These donations are collected most of the time without receipts. They use carton boxes where Cash/checks are deposited by the public, or if cash not available; public are requested to fill Pledge Forms prepared for this purpose, or they use credit cards or auto debit (ACH) from their bank accounts.

Note: some of the relatively low income/naïve public will put themselves in debts and interest will builds up as a result; in order to fulfill these donations calls for the sake of their lord! While it is known to all educated Muslims worldwide that such act is not acceptable according to their Islamic law principles and involves most of the time prohibited elements in Islam; like usury (”Riba”) and excessive uncertainties!

Such very large sums collected really depends on the begging skills or the one acting on his behalf; or the party requesting the donations. These donations with no doubt lack proper financial controls and supervision.

These individuals and entities working on collecting these donations in the name of Islamic religion justify for themselves to earn portion of this donation money. They justify their legitimate share deducted from these donations to be (1/8 = 12.5%), but in a secretive and undisclosed manner! This is what happens in most of Islamic Societies, especially in the United States of America. These donations reaches millions of dollars per year in the US.

How to rationalize these operations, so as not to embezzle or misuse such money by these Islamic religious and Islamic – non accredited – private academic institutions and colleges, and so as to ensure the arrival of the money to those who deserve it or qualified for it?

I may propose in this regard the assignment of one or more officer in every Islamic community to monitor the movement of money: how much collected, and where did it really go? And he/she should resort to all means of accounting and auditing control that pertains to that part of the operation. I

Are the workers collecting the donations work for free (voluntarily) or paid? And how much if paid?

We must worry when we see those religious counterfeiters (forgers/imitators) who wear the religion dress seeking for donations, whether in a mosque assembly, or some private – non accredited – Islamic university, or some research/consulting center, or some training center; in order to attract domestic and foreign donations to embezzle public money under the name of religion and Islamic education!

Others support politicians; or businessmen seeking some sort of control over the shareholders and possibly intervene in the management and control of these institutions and directing them according to their whims; and/or some political interests or some unknown objectives. It is basically; to hijack the institution to their advantage! Here is a crucial safety signal

There is no doubt that many Muslims are smart and reluctant to donate, or at least are hesitant in spite of the pressure they are exposed to by those religious leaders. Some Muslims will not donate if not assured the process cleanliness and good management and control, even if it comes to donate to a very critical and human cause purposes, like the Syrians refugees and other causes. Only God knows how eager and determined those people seeking donations in both English and Arabic languages. The Islamic societies and mosques in the United States are being used intentionally and unintentionally.

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