In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful 

PETITION IN SUPPORT OF CENTRALIZING THE ISLAMIC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH TEXAS (IANT) UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE OFFICE OF THE IMAM

Whereas the proposed bylaws by the IANT Bylaws Committee creates leadership of IANT under an expanded 31-member board, the following signatures represent a request for:

1. A public forum to discuss leadership of IANT's community as guided by Islam through and by an Imam
2. Drafting an alternative to the currently proposed bylaws whereby IANT is led by an Imam
3. Surveying IANT's community to determine support of leading the organization either by an Imam or an expanded board

BACKGROUND:

• IANT's Bylaws Committee has been working for more than a year towards building a more sound structure for the institution to abide by and be protected under.
• The community at large is appreciative of these efforts; however the current draft, for which IANT funds are being used to have an outside attorney review and vet, does NOTHING to establish the Imam as the central leader of our Islamic community in running the mosque. Rather, the Imam/Resident Scholar is listed as an employee submissive to an expanded 31-member board. The proposed bylaws significantly weakens the Office of the Imam.
• This petition is not about the current Imam. This petition is about supporting IANT to trailblaze a structure founded in guidance by Islam. This initiative is meant to take advantage of the current restructuring effort to support the most Islamic structure outlined in our religion. The simplest structure outlined in Islam is that the Imam is the religious, political, social and administrative leader of the Islamic community and he should be the center of the organization.
• In the proposed alternative, the Imam would help identify, select and vet relevant leaders with expertise on a board benefiting mosque affairs (e.g. construction, legal, operations, maintenance, communications, and outreach).
  Now is the time to address these urgent matters without further delays in time and cost.

The undersigned demand and pray the above requests be addressed, answered and adhered to without delay, on behalf of the best interests of our Islamic community and IANT: