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Western Imams


I got the request below as a part of an email from ISNA announcing the Western Region conference that is coming up. What do you think that Imams in Western contexts should do that they may not have to do in Muslim countries? What does your local Imam do that you have not seen from others and wish would be a more widespread practice?

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What is the role of an American Imam?

Share your thoughts. Your feedback will be utilized in the development of new programs.

The ISNA Leadership Development Center (ILDC) is currently working on creating an educational curriculum for Imams in America to enable them to better understand the American culture and the application of Islam therein. As such, we need your response to the following question:

What are the three most important things that Imams in the West need to be educated on to better understand the role they play in the Muslim American context?

Please send your responses to [email protected]. Your valuable feedback is crucial in helping us establish programs that will benefit our American society at large. Thank you!
 

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Login to find out (November 12, 2006 at 11:22am)
All Muslims are required to give to the needy (zakat), so that may be why a more centralized system has not taken hold in all communities. I would agree that public relations is a function that could be handled by the imam, but I think they might be better suited to religion-related issues. Muslim organizations like ISNA could handle those issues better because they have "members"; mosques don't usually operate with memberships like churches, so the imam would not have as good of an opportunity to "rally the troops". Maybe an organization for the imams could determine appropriate messages to disseminate to those who come to their mosques, but even then guest speakers tend dominate the khutbahs.
 
Login to find out (November 11, 2006 at 6:12pm)
P.S....on a side note. I also think Western Imams these days need to become trained in Marriage Counseling!!!
 
Login to find out (November 11, 2006 at 6:12pm)
American Imams these days should be participating in more Interfaith activities to acquaint the majority of the US to Islam and our peaceful practices.

I also thing American Imans should be: working to elicit Muslim participation in Food Shelters, Food Pantry's, Boys and Girls Club of America, democratic party events etc. ...any and all Major Community efforts. Wouldnt it be great if all Muslim Imams in the US collaborated to relieve Christians working at the Food Pantries or Soup Kitchens or Shelters on Christmas Day.

I think if we are in the forefront...participating openly in the community we can get known as productive citizens, being led by men who are "not" Terr...or working in Cells etc. We can help spread the name of Islam in a positive light.

Imams have the potential to lead the Umma in a positive direction.
 
Login to find out (November 11, 2006 at 10:12am)
I think that programs for integrating converts into the Ummah are the most important issue, even more important than bringing more people to Islam as that seems to be happening pretty well on its own. Beyond that, supporting cultural integration of Muslims and Muslim communities should be explored to prevent fragmentation similar to the Christian plethora of denominations. Interfaith dialogue, educating non-Muslims about Islam, and general community building (Muslim schools, banks, etc.) are a few other issues for what would be a very busy Imam.