Who We Are
 The ‘Ulama Association of North America (UANA) has been formed to serve the socio-religious needs of the Muslims and their communities in North America. The organization is formed to bring together scholars who have studied in and graduated from traditional madrasas and universities around the world.

Allāh Most High says, “Are those who know equal to those who know not? It is only men of understanding who will remember” (Holy Qur’ān 39:9).

Allāh Most High says, “Ask the people of the Remembrance if you do know not” (Qur’an 16:43).

The Messenger of Allāh (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Verily the ‘ulamā (scholars/theologians) are the heirs of the prophets. The prophets do not leave behind gold nor silver; they only leave behind religious knowledge” (Abū Dawūd, Tirmidhī, Ibn Māja).
 

History & Formation
Since the Summer of 2005, ‘ulamā (Islamic scholars) from around the country have met together to discuss the many issues that Muslims in North America deal with on a daily basis. Though there are, by the grace of Allah, many organizations and individual scholars working independently and within their respective capacities, there are yet many areas requiring a great deal more work. Many important ingredients essential for building a healthy, strong, and educated Muslim society are needed, and more contributions must be made to revive and preserve the Muslim Umma (Muslim community). North America has been blessed with many scholars who have spent years of their lives seeking advanced knowledge of the Islamic sciences around the world, sitting at the feet of great scholars who had similarly acquired their knowledge from other scholars, an so on, forming a continual chain to the Messenger of Allah (upon him be peace). However, this group of scholars realized that although many scholars have been working in their own cities and states and providing different services to their communities as imāms in masjids, or as teachers in schools or madrasas, or as members of various organizations, it was necessary to form of a common national platform through which the ‘ulamā could combine their efforts and expertise together in order to assist and complement existing organizations working in North America, and also to attempt to fill the void that still existed in various areas. These gatherings, which took place in new Jersey and Salt Lake City, UT, finally culminated in the formation of this ‘Ulamā’ Association.
 

Mission Statement
In line with the prophetic statement “Most assuredly the ‘ulamā’ are the heirs of the Prophets,” the ‘Ulama Association of North America (UANA) views that the legacy of the Prophets encompasses all the diverse components essential for the establishment, well-being, and prosperity of an upright society, and therefore endeavors to serve as a beacon of light, nurturing the emotional, social, moral, mental and spiritual potentialities of the Muslim community; to remove from the Umma (Muslim community) the stifling barriers of ignorance and innovations, so that may be guided to the pure, unadulterated teachings of Islam; and to resuscitate lost souls and deliver them from the depth of darkness to the lantern of Divine Light.

UANA is committed to dedicating its human resources and potential toward unifying, coordinating, and directing the activities of the ‘ulamā, and vows to contribute meaningfully to the spiritual, social, and moral development of all the citizens of our state and country by propagating the beauty of the religion to them. UANA’s philosophy derives from the teachings of the Holy Qur’ān and the Sunna of Allah’s beloved Messenger, Muhammad (may Allah bless him and give him peace), as exemplified by our pious predecessors.

 

Objectives
The ideals of the ‘Ulama Association of North America (UANA) are mirrored in the following objectives:

• To propagate and promote the doctrines of Islam according to the traditional Islamic heritage.

• To protect, preserve, and promote the Sharīa.

• To ensure religious freedom.

• To fulfill the educational needs of the Umma.

• To provide authentic religious guidance and rulings (fatāwā).

• To foster unity and brotherhood.

• To co-ordinate Muslim activities.

• To render help to the poor and the indigent.

• To unite the ‘ulamā on a common platform.

• To provide marriage counseling and guidance to those otherwise distressed.

• To bring cohesiveness and guidance to the moon-sighting issue.

• To provide guidance in issues related to halāl foods.
 

Aims & Goals
The following are the projects we hope to pursue in the near future.

• Web Site: An informative web site for the Council to provide religious resources, answer legal questions, and provide a notice board for those seeking imāms and teachers to facilitate the imām and khutba placement process.

• Fatwa Board (Dār al-Iftā’): ): A panel of Islamic jurists responsible for answering queries on Islamic rulings. This panel will be in constant contact with leading local and overseas jurists when discussing juridical matters.

• Marriage Counseling: Marriage counseling will be handled by qualified marriage officers approved and certified by the Scholar Council. The counselors will tend to marital disputes, marriage breakdowns, abuse, and social and domestic problems.

• Intensive Courses and Religious Retreats: Intensive courses, retreats, and camps (on weekends and holidays) will be organized by the Council on various Islamic sciences. Competent scholars and experts in the relevant fields will be invited to benefit the communities in North America.

• Arbitration: The Arbitration Committee will attend to disputes, especially in the distribution of estates and business transactions. All parties involved will be brought together to commit themselves to the final binding decision of the arbitration committee.

• Education: The teaching of correct and pure Islamic beliefs and practices to our children, youth, and adults (men and women alike) will be a matter the Scholars Council will accord the utmost importance. To this end, the ‘ulamā council will attempt to establish after-school programs, provide a proficient and comprehensive madrasa syllabus, and organize comprehensive training workshops to better prepare teachers and volunteers. It is only through the nurturing of our children and youth that we can rightfully maintain hopes for a brighter future of Islam in this country.

• Publications: The Council will periodically prepare and distribute notices and newsletters to educate the Muslim community on important issues and current affairs.

• Halāl Department: The Halāl Department will take up the momentous task of trying to ensure that Muslims have easy access to halāl and wholesome food products, since much of their spiritual well-being rests upon this. This challenging task will entail the two-fold effort of supervising meat processing plants, slaughter houses, and food retail outlets, and provide proper halāl certification.

• National Moon Sighting Committee: The ‘Ulama Council will attempt to bring about greater understanding and guidance to the moon sighting issue which unfortunately is an issue of great confusion in North America. The ‘Ulama council working alongside other established hilal committees will bring attempt to bring together ‘Ulama and leading astronomers to determine the beginning of the months of the Islamic calendar.

• Scholarship Funds: The ‘Ulama Council will set up, in due course, a scholarship fund for those in the community who have the desire to study Islam but do not have the funds to do so.

• Coordinating the Placements for Imams and Teachers: The Council hopes to facilitate the appointment of Imāms and teachers for masjids, and for Friday sermons.