Constitution of The British Board of Scholars and Imams
Part 1: General
Article 1.1: Name of the Organisation
1.1.1 The name of the Organisation is The British Board of Scholars and Imams (“the BBSI”).
Article 1.2: Description
1.2.1 The BBSI is a national, cross-denominational assembly of imams, traditional scholars and Islamically-literate academics formed to facilitate scholarly intra-Muslim research and dialogue and to provide authoritative ethico-theological guidance and leadership on matters relevant to Muslims, whilst promoting wider community welfare. The BBSI is an educational and research-focused body, registered in the UK as a not-for-profit limited company not having a share capital.
Article 1.3: Definition of Terms
1.3 In this Constitution, unless the context requires otherwise:
1.3.1 “Organisation” means The British Board of Scholars and Imams.
1.3.2 “General Membership Meeting” means a General Meeting open to all members of The British Board of Scholars and Imams.
1.3.3 “Council” means the National Shura Council of The British Board of Scholars and Imams.
1.3.4 “Executive Board” means the Executive Board of The British Board of Scholars and Imams.
1.3.5 “Chair” means the Chair of The British Board of Scholars and Imams and the Chair of the Executive Board.
1.3.6 “Trustees” means the permanent Trustees of the British Board of Scholars and Imams.
1.3.7 “Cross-denominational” means that the members of the consultative National Shura Council include representatives from the full spectrum of Sunni faith and practice traditions.
1.3.8 “British”, in the context of the Organisation’s name, means residing in the British Isles, or otherwise significantly involved with the British Muslim community in a pastoral context.
1.3.9 “Scholar”, in the context of the Organisation’s name, means (1) a graduate from a recognised Muslim seminary that teaches traditional Sunni Islam; (2) someone with equivalent training, competence and experience; or (3) a university-trained, Islamically-literate academic.
1.3.10 “Academic” means a university-trained graduate (masters or higher) in the humanities who can demonstrate both training in the traditional Islamic sciences and close ongoing links to the scholarly tradition of Islam.
1.3.11 “Imam”, in the context of the Organisation’s name, means anyone leading prayers in a mosque, part time or full time, who has received traditional training, as understood normatively in the Islamic tradition.
1.3.12 “Traditional” means the scholarly tradition of Islam and its sciences, as normatively transmitted and passed down by means of the ijaza system.
Article 1.4: Language
1.4.1 The English language is the official means of communication of The British Board of Scholars and Imams.
Article 1.5: Aims
1.5 The Aims of The British Board of Scholars and Imams are:
1.5.1 to facilitate an inclusive and unifying platform for dialogue between diverse groups of scholars within the Sunni Muslim tradition;
1.5.2 to provide relevant, well-researched guidance from an authoritative and representative body of religiously qualified scholars on issues affecting British Muslims and British society;
1.5.3 to develop and provide ethical, theological leadership to authentically represent the rich scholarly inheritance of Sunni Islam, whilst responding flexibly to issues which arise within the context of modern time;
1.5.4 to establish normative and traditional Islamic positions which are relevant to the current context;
1.5.5 to consult and engage with groups outside of the BBSI, in order to represent and present the Islamic ethical and doctrinal position in terms of the scholarly tradition of Islam;
1.5.6 to serve the Muslim community in an inclusive, professional, and scholar-led way.
Article 1.6: Means
1.6.1 The Organisation may utilise all available permissible and legal means to achieve its aims.
Part Two: Membership
Article 2.1: Conditions of Membership of the Organisation
The Organisation includes in its membership individuals who fulfil the following conditions:
2.1.1 Honour the teachings of the Noble Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and adhere to the code of conduct of the Organisation.
2.1.2 Adhere to the Constitution, Standing Orders and Policies of the Organisation;
2.1.3 Apply for membership and receive the approval of the Executive Board;
2.1.4 Pay the appropriate subscription unless waived by the Executive Board;
2.1.5 Are a scholar, Imam or academic (as defined in the BBSI Standing Orders);
2.1.6 Are 18 years of age or above.
Article 2.2: Conditions for Affiliate Membership of the Organisation
2.2.1 A person who does not fulfil the criteria of membership (specifically 2.1.4), but who has expertise or interest in an area that may be of benefit to the Organisation, may be offered affiliate membership by the majority decision of the Executive Board.
2.2.2 An affiliate member does not have voting rights.
2.2.3 An affiliate member must agree to adhere to the code of conduct of the Organisation.
2.2.4 Any international Islamic scholar may be an affiliate member of the BBSI.
Article 2.3: Conditions for Membership of the National Shura Council
To be accepted as a member of the National Shura Council a person must:
2.3.1 meet all the conditions of Membership of the BBSI;
2.3.2 be 40 years of age or above (unless the required quota is not met or any exceptions are agreed by the majority decision of the Executive Board);
2.3.3 be ordinarily resident in the British Isles or a British citizen;
2.3.4 not have been in breach of the code of conduct of the Organisation in the last three years.
Article 2.4: Conditions for Membership of the Executive Board
To be accepted as a member of the Executive Board a person must:
2.4.1 be a member of the National Shura Council;
2.4.2 declare any potential conflict of interest upon application.
2.4.3 There should be no prejudicial conflict of interest (see Standing Orders).
2.4.4 Acceptance as a member of the Executive Board is subject to fulfilling the conditions as determined by the outgoing Executive Board.
Article 2.5: Conditions for Membership of the Trustees
To be accepted as a Trustee a person must:
2.5.1 be a member of the National Shura Council;
2.5.2 be appointed by current Trustees.
2.5.3 In the event of there being no current Trustees, the Executive Board will appoint Trustees.
2.5.4 There shall be a minimum of 5 trustees at any given time, with no upper limit.
Article 2.6: Trustees’ functions and powers
2.6.1 The trustees are responsible for ensuring the continuity of the vision, direction and aims of the BBSI.
2.6.2 The trustees may intervene in the event of there being any diversion by the Organisation’s members away from the founding principles and vision of the BBSI.
2.6.3 Any duly appointed trustee may have access to any Executive Board meetings at any time as a guest.
2.6. 4 The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the Organisation’s bank accounts are administered effectively and that annual accounts are prepared and filed with Companies House.
2.6.5 The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that only authorised persons are permitted to make official BBSI statements and issue and publicise BBSI Policies on behalf of the Organisation.
Part Three: Management Structure
The management structure of the Organisation shall consist of the following levels: the General Meeting, the National Shura Council, the Executive Board, and the Trustees.
Section 3.1: The General Meetings
Article 3.1.1: Definition
3.1.1 The General Meeting is a meeting involving all the members of the Organisation.
Article 3.1.2: Constituents
3.1.2.1 The General Meeting includes all members who have fulfilled the Organisation’s conditions for membership (see Articles 2.1 and 2.2).
3.1.2.2 The Executive Board may, in accordance with the National Shura Council, invite observers to attend.
Article 3.1.3: Quorum
3.1.3 The quorum of the General Meeting is a simple majority of invited members. If that quorum is absent, then 90 minutes later, a quorum is one-third of the invited members.
Article 3.1.4: Frequency
3.1.4 The General Meeting is held once every year and once every three years to elect and appoint the members of the National Shura Council, who in turn select and appoint the members of the Executive Board.
Article 3.1.5: Functions and Powers
3.1.5 The General Meeting:
(1) elects National Shura Council members.
(2) discusses the reports presented by the National Shura Council and holds the National Shura Council to account.
Article 3.1.6: Extraordinary General Meetings
3.1.6 The Executive Board shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting no less than one month after an application is made, and no later than three months from receiving the application, while stating the reason, in the following three cases:
(1) By written application presented to the Executive Board of the Organisation by at least one-third of the members of the Organisation, who have fulfilled the conditions for attending the previous General Meeting.
(2) By written application presented to the Executive Board of the Organisation by at least two-thirds of the members of the National Shura Council.
(3) By written application presented to the Executive Board of the Organisation by at least two-thirds of the Trustees.
Section 3.2: The National Shura Council
Article 3.2.1: Definition
3.2.1 The National Shura Council is one of the main consultative bodies within the BBSI.
Article 3.2.2: Constituents
3.2.2 The National Shura Council consists of sixty members who are representative of the Sunni Muslim scholarly community (as defined in the BBSI Standing Orders) and who are elected or appointed as follows:
(1) The General Meeting elects thirty of these members by direct ballot.
(2) The remaining thirty of these members are appointed and co-opted by the outgoing Executive Board.
(3) The responsibility for ensuring representativeness (as explained in the Standing Orders) is with the outgoing Executive Board.
(4) Anyone elected or appointed as a National Shura Council member may serve a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms, after which he or she may be re-elected following a minimum of one three-year term break (unless the required quota is not met or there is an exceptional need to retain an existing National Shura Council member, as determined by the Executive Board).
Article 3.2.3: Functions and Powers
3.2.3 The National Shura Council:
(1) selects and appoints the members of the Executive Board of the Organisation from among the National Shura Council members;
(2) monitors the business of the Executive Board and holds its members to account;
(3) actively participates in the Organisation’s working groups in order to fulfil the aims and vision of the BBSI;
(4) amends the BBSI Constitution and Standing Orders in accordance with the General Provisions in this Constitution;
(5) Considers and ratifies the Organisation’s annual plan and budget.
(6) It is not the role of anyone—whether a general member, National Shura Council member, Executive Board member, or Trustee—to speak on behalf of the BBSI unless authorised by the Executive Board. No statement by any member will be considered the official position of the BBSI unless it is provided in the form of written guidance or a statement by an official spokesperson authorised by the trustees.
Section 3.3: The Executive Board
Article 3.3.1: Definition
3.3.1 The Executive Board is the executive arm of the BBSI, consisting of five members appointed by the National Shura Council who are the office holders of the Organisation: the Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary General, Treasurer, and Director General.
Article 3.3.2: Conditions of Membership
3.3.2 A member of the Executive Board must:
(1) meet all the conditions of Membership of the BBSI;
(2) be 40 years of age or above (unless any exceptions are agreed by the National Shura Council);
2.4.3 be ordinarily resident in the British Isles or a British citizen;
2.4.4 not have been in breach of the code of conduct of the Organisation in the last three years.
Article 3.3.3: Functions and Powers
3.3.3 The Executive Board is responsible for:
(1) preparing the Organisation’s annual plan and presenting it to the National Shura Council to be ratified;
(2) making preparations for and inviting members to the General Meeting.
(3) monitoring and following up the business of the various activities of the Organisation;
(4) presenting regular reports to the National Shura Council;
(5) formulating and if necessary, revising the rules governing membership applications and members’ affairs;
(6) implementing the policies and decisions of the National Shura Council, and the General Meeting;
(7) continuing to manage the affairs of the Organisation when its three-year term has come to an end until the members of the next Executive Board have been selected and appointed by the National Shura Council, but not for more than two months following the date of the General Meeting at which the elections took place;
(8) handing over the unfinished business of the former Executive Board to the next Executive Board in a timely and efficient manner.
Section (4): The Trustees
See Articles 2.5 and 2.6.
Part Four: Finance
Article 4.1: Resources
The resources of the Organisation consist of:
4.1.1 Fixed assets and their returns.
4.1.2 Membership subscriptions.
4.1..3 Donations given without conditions attached, or donations given with conditions that do not contradict the Aims and Policies of the Organisation.
Article 4.2: Accounts
4.2.1 The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the Organisation’s bank accounts are administered effectively and that annual accounts are prepared and filed with Companies House.
Part Five: Dissolution of the Organisation
Article 5.1: Dissolution Procedure
5.1.1 The Organisation may only be dissolved by a consensus of the Trustees after the matter has been considered by the National Shura Council.
5.1.2 In the case of the Organisation being dissolved, all the assets of the Organisation shall be donated to a registered charity or charities with similar aims.
5.1.3 The dissolution process will follow the procedures outlined in the BBSI Standing Orders.
Part Six: Amendments to the BBSI Constitution and Policies
Article 6.1: Amendment Process
6.1.1 The BBSI Constitution and Policies may be amended by a two-thirds majority of a quorate meeting of the National Shura Council provided that the amendments do not contravene or contradict the established core vision, founding principles and aims of the Organisation, in which case the Trustees have the right to veto any proposed amendment and to suggest an acceptable alternative amendment.
6.1.2 In the event of the Trustees recommending any amendment to this Constitution, this must (1) be ratified by a two-thirds majority of a quorate meeting of the Shura Council and (2) formally adopted by the Executive Board before it takes effect.
6.1.3 In any event, any amendment to this Constitution made by the National Shura Council must be formally adopted by the Executive Board before it takes effect.