In the name of Allah, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy

Alhamdulillah we are thankful to be affiliated with a global organization that promotes progress and commits itself to serving humanity without drawing any borders. May Allah SWT bless and give strength to all those dedicated servants of the community who continue the great tradition of our community to serve with simplicity and sincerity.

The collective opportunity that we have is one of awakening divine spirits everywhere that will pursue justice and fairness for all as each seeks closeness to Allah SWT. Our faith, our integrity, our thirst for knowledge, our devotion and commitment towards progress and excellence, our inclusive approach and our diverse composition are some of the many factors key to building our collective futures in this world and in the hereafter.

To help IMAN (an organizational that has its affiliation to the WF through NASIMCO) and other organizations like IMAN, decide for the upcoming election, we would love to hear from all candidates on major issues and challenges that Muslims face and the opportunities in front of us in awakening divine spirits that will pursue justice and fairness for all as each of us seeks closeness to Allah SWT.

What are your personal values and how do you think they will help you lead?

In the environment where there are expectations of higher expectations in regulatory compliance and operational excellence, we have had extensive interactions with the present World Federation Officers since 2006. From that engagement it is clear to some of us, and we hope also to those serving in leadership capacity on the WF, that more needs to be done to improve WF effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and accountability and also for WF to assume a more inclusive approach as the global settlement of our community members now requires. How do you see this and what do you think needs to be done?

Given below is not an exhaustive list but an idea on the kind of issues on which some of us love to hear from you and other candidates.

What will you do to enhance the connections of WF with the supreme religious leadership to maintain a regular connection? How will it be different than in the decades gone by?

We'd love to hear your assessment on the major issues that WF departments like IEB have understood vis-à-vis the misinformation and bigotry against Islam and Muslims.

We would like to hear what needs to be done to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and accountability in the running of the ZCSS and Relief Aid Programs.

It will be great to hear your thoughts on how to better justify, enhance accountability and increase transparency on the funds collected and expended through the 7% administrative fee that is levied by the WF.

What do you think makes WF different from other volunteer organizations that thrive on the volunteering spirit in the community and generosity of community members to carry out their operations and do not levy the fixed 7% charge?

Provided in the appendix below in bullet form is a list of issues and topics on which members of communities in North America in 2004 expressed progress needs to be made. Whilst progress has been on some of the items listed below, much still needs to be done. In addition to the questions we pose above, please let us know what and how you as a leader intend to address some of the topics still not addressed if elected to the next term as President.

Praying for your continued success in serving humanity,

Mohamed Jawad Khaki
President


APPENDIX: Key issues facing our communities raised by attendees at NASIMC0 2004 Edmonton Conference:

• Lack of awareness about Islam, Muslims resulting in bigotry and hatred against Muslims
• Lack of meaningful dialogue with Marja
• Stagnant Jamaats need reinvigoration
• No operational guidance to member Jamaats
• Need problem/arbitration for local jamaats
• Lack of mobilization of communities for issues important to us
• Culture of tolerating incompetent leadership
• No leadership development program. No mentoring.
• Change in community homogeneity
• No media outreach for Shia on current affairs
• Lack of volunteerism
• No network for Aalims/Zakirs. No standards. Content not always relevant to our needs.
• No voice for youth – no one really listens
• Madresah system we have is obsolete
• Women not included – unrealized potential
• Rehabilitation/Welcome/Settlement package
• Communication gap between parent/children
• Lack of tabligh efforts
• Aging community – need plan for seniors to have fulfilled lives
• Lack of communication between WF, NASIMCO & members of constituent jamaats
• No educational/career guidance for thoughtful career planning
• Lacking communication with other faith organization – Muslim, non-Muslim
• Lack of finance for further education
• Lack of social services
• Family problems, unemployment, dispute mediation, marriage contracts, IHV and other tests
• Lack of affordable group health insurance, esp. USA
• Need specific assistance for youth in developing countries for migration to NA
• Lack of credible community census data
• Need volunteers to help in 3rd world
• What assistance should NASIMCO offer to people starting businesses
• Khums distribution – NA should be a priority
• Lack of process to prioritize and fund capital projects
• Lack of directory of resources best practices
• No broad community outreach for adults & youth. No partnering.
• Lack of skills/awareness in tapping government community development funds/grants
• Lack of resources
• Suffer many other limitations in nurturing successful communities
• No Network for match making

1. A 7% levy charge constitute $ 70000.00 for every million dollars.
CAI, Comfort AID International last year received close to 4.5 million in charity, he would have becomes a rich man @ 7%
The only difference he does not charge a dime. His web site www.comfortaidinternation.org
Last year accounts is on line.
Ijaza of the Marja to receive Khums is on line too.
Who else displays transpanrency than him. Which Organization??
May be we should wrap all these bodies under him.
He advertises who so ever wants to join him he is open.
2. WEARE LOST. we are youth, old people, sports people, golf people, barbecue people , leaders are like pack of wolf leaders leading bands of wolves and tearing into imambargas doing what ever they want. And there are those few who keep the doors of imambargas open every day for Slatul Jamaa. Bless them for keeping the worship of ALLAH.
3. Look back into the lives of those who made this communty as one but not as youth, old , sportmans and golfman. How they held these communities as one. They build and established madressas for learing for Khojas as one, not as youths and middle aged or old. They build hospitals for young and old. They addressed communities as one and not only youth. Today in every Majlis a word youth has to be said, so what happens to those who are old and middle aged sitting and listening to clown who has limited knowlledge for youths only. This is a style of the west.
You can see for yourselves.
4. London, England community of old people got so frustrated that they organized their own SENIOR FORUM megazine to heard
5. Leaders have to cater for the community not just band groups.
Then that leader will be able to think in terms of community and list made above.
7. Right now as memebers of community I am disgusted.

Munawwarbhai,Salaamun Alaykum.
I have read the above message and your ideas are brilliant provided they are put into practices once you are elected as President of the World Federation. This will entirely depend upon the worldwide support of all our community Members.May Allah (S.W.T.) help you all the time with the wasila of 14 Ma'sumin (A.S.) (Amin )However if WF is working in partnership with Coej,I would like to know what are your plans regarding Hilal Committe? As you remember last year there were two divisions within the Muqallideen of Ayatullah Seestani. Can you please elaborate.

With Salaams & Duas
Sincerely Yours
Mulla Roshanali M. Versi

I am delighted that you have wellcomed the ideas of addressing problems associated to the elderly and the disabled. May allah give you the strength and the support which is needed to put this operation into effect. Wasalaam.

In the name of Allah, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
In the name of Allah, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
No voice for youth – no one really listens
No educational/career guidance for thoughtful career planning
Lack of resources
My brother in the WF.
I am a blogger extensively, speak on BBC “Have Your Say” and many more on the most current issues all around the world covering all.
I have pointed out few themes. I think we ought to look deeply.
I am not saying that these have weaknesses but we could improvise on the many and tighten the screws to make every one better.
As the one of the biggest populace of us, the KSI, I will go away from others and try my best to state that the community has done a lot for the brothers and sisters. One big jammat, without naming I state. Well done.
These include the welfare to the sick and orphaned. The chairperson puts out his hand to all for employments etc.
What I lament is the housing given to the privileged ones or the relatives albeit with the proviso that these are the same who have four to five houses in the city for renting.
Many have stated these openly alas, but to not avail.
Is this really us? I wonder.
Is there lack of resources ? No.
Lack of communication? No.
Lack of Education to the youth. I have no comments and as we have lost these in the African continent. We are so rich that we can afford to open the shops for our children if they fail. At least that will kill their time and keep them out of the homes. They have no interest nor can you create these now. Have you tried to teach the old monkey new tricks? Yes?
Am I caustic, sarcastic spewing venom?
No.
The youths are our assets. As the Chinese and India are growing fast because of the youths now, we have to control these now. This has to be done by parents. No one from outside, will and will want to do in the recession that faces us until I predict 2012.
I thank you and I wish you all the best in the WF and future. If there si anything I can do please let me know?
In the name of Allah, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
He Gives you ask not. You ask he gives
Your brother
Firozali A. Mulla Doctor of Business Administration (USA)

Salaam Aleikum
Dear Munawaer

May Allah give you the strength to achieve your goals. Best of luck and next time when you come be our guest. You are my brother Muhammed's friend.

with duas

Zehra and Ansar

salamun alaykum
insha.... if you are elected will you involve your contestants one way or another to help build a better federation or
if you are not elected than will you volunteer yourself to work to whosoever is ?

duas

I rad the above message, Inshallah you will be elected. There are many avenues we have to change in our WF at present WF is not paying any attention to the needy people, May Allah grant you more visdom and vision to execute the duty as our president of World Federation

Please do remeber our duas are always with you.
If your intentions are pure than nobody, Insha-allah will stop
you becoming our President.
We all know what you have done for the Elderly when you
were leading COEJ.
Insha-allah Allah S.W.T. will grace os with your leadership.
Aameen