Fiqh Council of North America

The Fiqh Council of North America (originally known as ISNA Fiqh Committee) is an association of Muslims who interpret Islamic law on the North American continent. The FCNA was founded in 1986 with the goal of developing legal methodologies for adopting Islamic law to life in the West.^[1]^[2]

According to its website, the Fiqh Council traces its origins back to the Religious Affairs Committee of the then Muslim Student Association of the United States and Canada established in the 1960s.^[3] In 1980, after the founding of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), the Religious Affairs Committee evolved into the Fiqh Committee of the Islamic Society of North America, and was eventually transformed into the Fiqh Council of North America in 1986.^[3]

Its 20 members issue religious rulings, resolve disputes, and answer questions relating to the Islamic faith. As outlined in its by-laws, the Council's primary objectives include: "To consider, from a Shari'ah perspective, and offer advice on specific undertakings, transactions, contracts, projects, or proposals, guaranteeing thereby that the dealings of North American Muslims fall within the parameters of what is permitted by the Shari'ah." The Council's opinions are not binding.^[4]

Fatwas

Terrorism: In July 2005, the Council issued a fatwa stating that all forms of terrorism against civilians are haram (forbidden under Islamic law), that it is forbidden for Muslims to cooperate with anyone involved in terrorism, and that it is a duty of all Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement to protect civilian lives.^[5]
Divorce: No Muslim marriage can be terminated except through the court system of the state in which the Muslim is resident.^[6]
Capital Punishment: The Council has issued a fatwa calling for a moratorium on capital punishment in the United States, based on the fact that several of the presupposed requirements for the carrying out of the law, according to Sharia, are not being met in most cases.^[7]
Apostasy: The Council issued a fatwa which declared that apostasy could not, on its own, be the grounds for any fixed punishment, especially capital punishment. The fatwa states: "The preponderance of evidence from both the Qur’an and Sunnah indicates that there is no firm ground for the claim that apostasy is in itself a mandatory fixed punishment Hadd, namely capital punishment"^[8]

Executive Committee and members

Executive Members:^[9]

Dr. Yasir Qadhi, Chairman
Dr. Zainab Alwani, Vice Chairman
Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Executive Director
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi
Dr. Mohammad Qatanani
Shaykh Umer Khan

Council Members:

Dr. Abdulbari Mashal
Shaykh Abdur Rahman Khan
Dr. Ali Sulaiman Ali
Dr. Deina Abdelkader
Dr. Ihsan Bagby
Dr. Jamal Badawi
Dr. Jasser Auda
Dr. Muddassir Siddiqui
Shaykh Muhammad Nur Abdullah
Shaykh Mustafa Umar
Dr. Ossama Bahloul
Shaykh Suhaib Webb
Dr. Tamara Gray
Imam Yahya Hendi

External links

Official Web Site
Educational Addendum: Understanding Your Rights, "Muslim Americans And Shari'ah", by Robert D. Crane, Yusuf Talal and Robert D. Crane, IslamiCity
U.S. Muslim Scholars Issue Edict Against Terrorism, report by Jason DeRose, NPR, July 28, 2005

References

^ Hendrickson, Jocelyn (2009). "Law. Minority Jurisprudence". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016.
^ Dallal, Ahmad S.; Hendrickson, Jocelyn (2009). "Fatwā. Modern usage". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "History of the Fiqh Council | Fiqh Council Of North America". www.fiqhcouncil.org. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
^ Glaberson, William (October 21, 2001). "Interpreting Islamic Law for American Muslims". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
^ Heard on All Things Considered (July 28, 2005). "U.S. Muslim Scholars Issue Edict Against Terrorism". NPR. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
^ Muslims on the Americanization Path? Oxford University Press, 2000. p. 76
^ "General Fiqh Issues Articles". Fiqhcouncil.org. June 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
^ "Is Apostasy a Capital Crime in Islam?". Fiqhcouncil.org. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
^ "About". Fiqh Council of North America. Retrieved 2023-08-11.

[1] Hendrickson, Jocelyn (2009). "Law. Minority Jurisprudence". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016.

[2] Dallal, Ahmad S.; Hendrickson, Jocelyn (2009). "Fatwā. Modern usage". In John L. Esposito (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015.

[:0-3] "History of the Fiqh Council | Fiqh Council Of North America". www.fiqhcouncil.org. Retrieved 2016-02-10.

[nytimes2001-4] Glaberson, William (October 21, 2001). "Interpreting Islamic Law for American Muslims". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2010.

[5] Heard on All Things Considered (July 28, 2005). "U.S. Muslim Scholars Issue Edict Against Terrorism". NPR. Retrieved April 14, 2010.

[6] Muslims on the Americanization Path? Oxford University Press, 2000. p. 76

[7] "General Fiqh Issues Articles". Fiqhcouncil.org. June 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2010.

[8] "Is Apostasy a Capital Crime in Islam?". Fiqhcouncil.org. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.

[9] "About". Fiqh Council of North America. Retrieved 2023-08-11.

[1]