MCC Operating Principles


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MCC Operating Principles

Our Operating Principles:

We believe in leadership that is accountable to the community and is there to serve the community. The leaders of MCC are servants not owners or rulers.

We will be welcoming to Muslims and non-Muslims. Our center will be one that draws people to it. We want to attract people to come and know about Islam and Muslims.

Schools of thought and particular practices are matters of personal preference, not MCC policy. We believe Islam is broad and inclusive and there are several dimensions of its expression.

No particular political orientation. MCC is not a political organization and its political activities shall be limited, as provided in Article V of this corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. Political action may be a part of Islamic activity, however, our actions should be geared toward interest of Islam and Muslims in America. Pre-occupation with the politics of other countries leads to division, conflict, and chaos among our community. We will support just and humanitarian causes all over the world, and we will take stands on issues that affect our lives in
America in a way that is consistent with the sources of our guidance.

English is the official language of MCC. All activities will be conducted in English. We will teach Arabic as the language of the Quran and we will encourage people to learn it. In situations where a guest speaker is invited who
does not speak English, it will be the responsibility of MCC to provide simultaneous translation capability for the audience.

Unlimited participation for all people. We will neither demand nor inhibit participation of people as long as they uphold the by-laws and abide by them. We believe everyone has something valuable to contribute and we want people to feel comfortable to participate to the full extent of their capacity.

Equal participation and shared responsibility of men and women. Both men and women are eligible for membership and to hold any office at MCC. “The believers, both men and women, are close to one another. They enjoin doing what is right and forbid doing what is wrong. They are constant in prayer, and they render the purifying dues, and they pay heed to God and His Messenger. It is they upon whom God will bestow His mercy, verily God is almighty and wise.” (9:71)

We do not believe that segregation of the sexes is the guarantee of righteousness, rather it is guaranteed by modesty, decency, purity of heart, clarity of intention, and observance of the guidance of the Quran and teachings of the Prophet (puh). While we will advocate the codes and ethics of Islamic behavior, MCC believes there is no compulsion in religion and that consideration for the feelings of all human beings is important.

MCC’s role is to remind and not coerce or dictate to people. The MCC does not judge, classify, or discriminate against people. MCC will not, under any circumstances, question the faith or sincerity of any Muslim.

Timeliness. We will respect people’s time. We will start our activities and end them on time.

Strict adherence to due process. We must give the by-laws of MCC a living presence by practicing its tenets. If we take shortcuts or do not show respect for the principles, guidelines, and processes of MCC then it will not endure. There must be regular reports to the GM, open communication about MCC decisions and financial condition, there must be an audit trail of all BOD meetings and decisions that is available to the GM for inspection.

Action-oriented. We want the BOD and supporting committees to have effective power to act. We want to have clear objectives and plans and then give autonomy to the directors and committees to achieve results. There also needs to be an effective feedback loop to the BOD and GM in order to ensure that the activities
of MCC are consistent with its By-laws.

Organized teamwork. The leaders of MCC should encourage participation, and know how to build synergy on their committees. They should be active listeners, and they should acknowledge and encourage people for their positive contributions to the center.

Positive engagement. We want to be recognized leaders in acts of charity and in support of just causes in American society. We also want to be active participants in inter-faith activities so that Islam will be visible in a positive light in America. We want to be considered as an integral part of America, not as foreign entity or a
peculiar cult. Foreign entities will either be rejected or absorbed and will eventually vanish while cults are doomed to error and insignificance.

Mutual support. We will stand for unity and cooperation with other Islamic centers and other institutions that support MCC. We do not believe that unity means sameness or consolidation of physical centers. Nor does unity mean total agreement on ideology or policy. There are many different needs in the community and each viable center will serve a particular set of needs and each center will stand for a particular ideology and set of principles. Unity is best expressed through cooperation and trust and the willingness to find common grounds among the different organizations serving the community. We will not waste our time and energy at MCC in arguments over controversial issues that cause divisiveness.

Mutual respect. To attain respect we must have self-respect and we must be respectful of others.

Trust and Faith in God. We believe that God supports us in accordance with our intention and actions. God will provide for us and guide us to the right path if we are sincere and if we uphold the essential teachings of Islam and follow the guidance of Muhammad (puh).