As I struggle to find out what kind of career I want in this life, I find myself being drawn more and more towards becoming an imam. I enjoy teaching people, and I am very passionate about Islam, even though I've only been a Muslim for about a year now.
I work in the finance industry right now, and although it's OK and the money is pretty good, I just don't see myself lasting in this field for the long term. The thought of becoming an imam, however, is obviously not motivated by monetary purposes. As I continue to think about this as a possible position for me in the future, I'm curious about a few things:
1) I know that Imams must go through extensive schooling to become educated about all facets of Islam and learn arabic (for those whose native tongue is not arabic). Most Imams that I know have been educated overseas, but is that a necessity? Are there any good schools in the US or Canada that can prepare one with the kind of knowledge one needs to be an imam?
2) What is the average salary for an imam in the US? It feels like kind of the wrong question to ask, but after all we have to pay bills and feed our families. I realize that it will be a significant pay cut from any kind of corporate job I could get.
Also, in regards to the above question, how do Imams make enough to support their families? I have a well-paying job, but if my wife did not work we would literally be living paycheck to packcheck. Since I would probably make about half as much as an Imam, I'm not sure how I could adequately support a family.
I think all masjids in America ask for donations, even in the actual masjids. The donations go towards paying the imaam, the rent of the building, electricity, and whatever else the masjid needs...
"...You are my Walî in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous." [Surah Yusuf 101]
Asalam Alaykum Warakmatulah Wabarkatuh. But in our masjid they are always short of donation to pay the rent. Even though a lot of people donate such as my dad donates 100 dollars per month. I don't think the imam would get paid.
I think all masjids in America ask for donations, even in the actual masjids. The donations go towards paying the imaam, the rent of the building, electricity, and whatever else the masjid needs...
That's how some Protestant Church's work. Sometimes the pastor get's a house on the Church property.
Asalam A'lakum Warakmatulah Wabarkatuh. I don't know if that's true because our imam comes on Fridays only because he lives in another city that is a 1-2 hour drive sadly.
Asalam A'lakum Warakmatulah Wabarkatuh. I don't know if that's true because our imam comes on Fridays only because he lives in another city that is a 1-2 hour drive from us ,sadly.
Since you have experience in field of Finance then why not persue Islamic Finance & Banking...It's far better than being an Imam + because of the economic crisis, a lot of countries around the world looking for alternatives and Islamic Finance & Banking looks very promising
Since you have experience in field of Finance then why not persue Islamic Finance & Banking...It's far better than being an Imam + because of the economic crisis, a lot of countries around the world looking for alternatives and Islamic Finance & Banking looks very promising
Hope that helps
I didn't even realize this thread was resurrected; I happened to come across it while browsing earlier today.
In regards to Islamic Finance, I am mostly opposed to the industry as a whole because it is no more than a "work-around" for conventional interest-based financing. There is no such thing as an "Islamic Mortgage", and when it comes to investing in the stock market, every single public company uses interest-based means of financing.
Although there may be a few companies out there in the world operating under the guise of true Islamic financing, the majority out there do not.
The only way true Islamic finance is going to take root is if a true Islamic state were to be established somewhere in the world.
I didn't even realize this thread was resurrected; I happened to come across it while browsing earlier today.
In regards to Islamic Finance, I am mostly opposed to the industry as a whole because it is no more than a "work-around" for conventional interest-based financing. There is no such thing as an "Islamic Mortgage", and when it comes to investing in the stock market, every single public company uses interest-based means of financing.
Although there may be a few companies out there in the world operating under the guise of true Islamic financing, the majority out there do not.
The only way true Islamic finance is going to take root is if a true Islamic state were to be established somewhere in the world.
Agreed. Many banks here in Kuwait which are supposedly "Islamic" but still use interest and cover it up by using another name .
At least we got to admit it has potential when executed right
Global crisis a 'golden opportunity' for Islamic banking: Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12, 2009 (AFP) - The global economic crisis has handed the Islamic finance sector a "golden opportunity" to show it is a better alternative to capitalism, Malaysia said Monday.
Although capitalism has been pre-eminent for centuries, "it is becoming obvious that there is now more proof of its weaknesses," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a speech to an Islamic economic conference.
"We Muslims should see the current situation as a golden opportunity for us to prove the power, strength and effectiveness of the Islamic banking and finance system," he said in an opening address.
Islamic banking, a booming 1.0 trillion dollar global industry that prohibits speculation and high levels of debt, has been relatively unscathed by the credit crunch.
The rules of the sector -- which incorporate principles of sharia or Islamic law -- prohibit many of the risky activities that triggered the crisis that is felling economies around the world.
"An economic system that is not closely linked to real and productive activities is a threat to the entire system," said Najib, who is also finance minister.
He said the Islamic approach could provide "concrete and realistic" measures to tackle the crisis and that Malaysia, Southeast Asia's leader in the field, was committed to developing the sector with better training and marketing.
Islamic law prohibits the payment and collection of interest, which is seen as a form of gambling, so highly complex instruments such as derivatives and other creative accounting practices are banned.
Transactions must be backed by real assets -- not repackaged subprime, or high-risk, mortgages -- and because risk is shared between the bank and the depositor there is an incentive for the institutions to ensure the deal is sound.
Islamic finance also shuns investments in gambling, alcohol and pornography in favour of ethical investments.
Special Report
Islamic Finance
Edited by Elisabeth Eaves and Michael Noer
Islamic finance is booming.
At least $500 billion in assets around the world are managed in accordance with Sharia, or Islamic law, and the sector is growing at more than 10% per year. In spirit, Islamic finance seeks to promote social justice by banning exploitative practices. In reality, this boils down to a set of prohibitions--on paying interest, on gambling with derivatives and options, and on investing in firms that make pornography or pork. No one can say for sure how many of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims will demand Sharia-compliant financial products, but if even a fraction do, the world's largest banks will be happy to oblige.
To the original poster,
Have you thought about Zaytuna Institute in California????
I have looked into it, although they don't seem to have a wide variety of course offerings. They mostly focus on Arabic, which of course is essential for studying many Islamic texts, but there is also much more to Islamic studies than that. The school does have a seminary program that appears to be in its "pilot" phase, and I'm not sure if they plan on continuing that program and what exactly it entails.
The University of Texas at Austin has an excellent Islamic department. The goal is to train Imams for the USA. Nearly all of the Professors ar graduates from Excellent universities in Saudi and Egypt.
i believe there is a Deen college opening in Toronto soon Insha'Allah.
its courses are desgined to be identical to that of Islamic Unviersity of Madinah
Furthermore, you could search online and find out where Saeed Raghea graduated from. I bleive it was from somewhere in the US.
I have looked into it, although they don't seem to have a wide variety of course offerings. They mostly focus on Arabic, which of course is essential for studying many Islamic texts, but there is also much more to Islamic studies than that. The school does have a seminary program that appears to be in its "pilot" phase, and I'm not sure if they plan on continuing that program and what exactly it entails.
Ohhh okay. I was under the impression that they were trying to develop it further but I have to be honest that I haven't seriously looked into it. I hope you will find somewhere to go that will be of a benefit to you inshallah because I think your intentions are good.
The University of Texas at Austin has an excellent Islamic department. The goal is to train Imams for the USA. Nearly all of the Professors ar graduates from Excellent universities in Saudi and Egypt.
JazakAllah for that website. I had no idea that they offered an Islamic degree at UT. SuphanAllah! I wonder if they offer that at any other universities in Texas.
On a side note, that picture of that baby praying on the webpage is SO adorable mashallah. May Allah bless him.
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