PREAMBLE

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1

INTENT

1. An independent body.
2. Non Sectarian in its outlook.
3. Representing the diversity of Islam.
4. Broad based with an accountable system of representation.

ARTICLE 2

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES

1. Assist in building the capacity of Mosques to function as community hubs.
2. Assist Mosques in matters of governance.
3. Advise on improved access and involvement of women and youth to Mosques.
4. Spread best practice through the development of standards.
5. Advise relevant bodies on training requirements/needs of Imams.
6. Advice on the skills and competencies for appointment of Imams.
7. Advise members on legal compliance.
8. Provide information to members on access to resources and/ or make better use of resources for achievement of standards.
9. Facilitate harmonisation of standards in relation to religious education in Mosques and Madrasahs.
10. Encourage Mosques to become centres of community cohesion, citizenship and dialogue.
11. Advise on the suitability of Imams and scholars coming to the UK from abroad.
12. Co-operate and engage with other regulatory and non-regulatory bodies in the UK and abroad, in order to enable the MINAB to achieve its aims and  objectives.

ARTICLE 3

MEMBERSHIP

1. A Mosque or Islamic Centre, which functions as a place of worship for persons who believe in no God but Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) as His last Prophet and to whom the Qur’an, the true Word of Allah, was revealed, is eligible for membership of the MINAB, provided that it is located in the United Kingdom, and that it subscribes to the Aims & Objectives, and that it adheres to the provisions set out in the Constitution, or
2. An institution or establishment, which is engaged or involved in the training - vocational or academic - of persons aspiring to become Imam or Islamic Teacher, shall also be eligible for membership of the MINAB, provided it is located in the United Kingdom, and it subscribes to the Aims & Objectives, and adheres to the principles set out in the Constitution, and
3. Pays such fees as is set by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 4

STRUCTURE

1. The General Council
2. The Executive Board

ARTICLE 5

THE GENERAL COUNCIL – MEMBERSHIP

1. The General Council shall consist of delegates from all members and also those appointed by the Executive Board, to reflect a balance of schools of thought in Islam, gender and ethnicity.
2. Each member in the category of a Mosque or Islamic Centre, which provides basic services, shall appoint one delegate to the General Council. A Mosque or Islamic Centre in this category shall be such as is defined in the Standing Orders made in pursuance of Article 9.
3. Each member in the category of a Mosque or Islamic Centre with extended services shall appoint two delegates to the General Council. A Mosque or Islamic Centre with extended services shall be such as is defined in the Standing Orders made in pursuance of Article 9.
4. Each institution or establishment admitted as a member shall appoint one delegate to the General Council.
5. The Executive Board may appoint, by nomination, no more than five delegates to the General Council. The delegates so appointed may not be from amongst the membership of the MINAB.

ARTICLE 6

THE GENERAL COUNCIL – DUTIES

1. The General Council shall meet at least once a year.
2. It shall give the strategic direction to the MINAB.
3. It shall promote the aims and objectives of the MINAB.
4. It shall consider recommendations made by the Executive Board.
5. It shall elect members of the Executive Board.
6. It shall receive and approve the annual estimated budget, the annual report and audited statement of accounts from Office Bearers.

ARTICLE 7

THE GENERAL COUNCIL – MEETINGS

1. All meetings of the General Council shall be chaired by a person appointed by the Executive Board.
2. The Chair of a meeting of the General Council shall have no executive function.
3. All delegates to the General Council meetings shall conduct themselves in Islamic manner and shall, in their actions, be solely motivated to serve the Muslim community in the United Kingdom in matters within the domain of the MINAB.

ARTICLE 8

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD – MEMBERSHIP

1. The Executive Board shall consist of no more than 58 members, of whom 26 shall be appointed by election by the General Council at its duly convened meeting for the purpose.
2. The term of Executive Board shall be two years and it shall meet at least once every quarter.
3. The quorum for meetings of the Executive Board shall be one-third of its membership, provided that to the end of 2050, 8 of those present are elected members.
4. Decisions made at meetings of the Executive Board shall be reached by consensus, but where necessary, unless an issue is ruled to be of special significance by the Chair, binding decision will require the positive approval of the majority of those in attendance. An issue ruled to be of “special significance” shall require positive approval of two thirds of members present.
5. Every member on the Executive Board shall retire at the end of the two year term, but may seek re-appointment.
6. No person shall be eligible for election to the Executive Board unless he/she is a duly appointed delegate of a member of the MINAB.
7. Each founding member may, to the end of 2050, appoint by nomination no more than six persons to serve as members of the Executive Board, and thereafter the Executive Board shall comprise of 50 elected, and up to 8 coopted members.
8. The Executive Board may appoint by co-option no more than eight persons to the Executive Board to reflect balance on schools of thought in Islam, gender and ethnicity.
9. In exercising its power to co-opt, the Executive Board shall co-opt at least four persons who are from the Shia Muslim community, if the representation of the Shia Muslim community on the Executive Board is less than 20 percent of its total membership.

ARTICLE 9

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD – DUTIES

The Executive Board Shall

1. consider and approve annual budgets;
2. consider and approve work plans;
3. give guidance and provide support for the work of the MINAB;
4. appoint office bearers and receive regular reports from them;
5. appoint Consultative Councils, as and when required;
6. seek, receive, consider and implement recommendations from the Consultative Councils on general or specific issues;
7. appoint specialist committees to facilitate its work and to further the aims and objectives of the organisation;
8. nominate persons for appointment to the General Council for purposes set out in Article 6;
9. consider and approve documents which set out guidance on governance and/or syllabi;
10. pass Standing Orders; make rules of procedure and good practice to assist in the smooth running of the MINAB;
11. set and review membership fees of the MINAB as appropriate;
12. appoint Chair/s for General Council meetings.

ARTICLE 10

THE OFFICE BEARERS

1. The MINAB shall have the following office bearers
1. Chair
2. Vice Chairs
3. Treasurer
4. Secretary
2. The appointment of Office Bearers shall be made by the Executive Board.
3. No office bearer may hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

ARTICLE 11

DUTIES OF THE OFFICE BEARERS

1. The Chair shall be the head of the organisation and shall speak on its behalf.
2. The Chair shall be responsible for convening meetings of the General Council and the Executive Board.
3. The Chair shall be one of the three authorised signatories for the accounts of the MINAB.
4. The Chair shall present his report to the Annual General Meeting of the General Council, as required under Article 8.
5. The Chair shall, in consultation with other office bearers, draft such proposals as are appropriate from time to time to further the aims and objectives of the MINAB, for consideration and approval of the Executive Board.

1. There shall be four Vice-Chairs – each founding member appointing one.
2. The Vice Chairs shall carry out such functions as assigned by the Chair.
3. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair, nominated by the Chair, shall act as the Chair and shall have the full powers and responsibilities of the Chair.

1. The Treasurer shall have responsibility for the finances of the MINAB.
2. The Treasurer shall draft and secure approval of the annual budget by the Executive Board.
3. The Treasurer shall keep the Executive Board informed at all times of the financial position of the MINAB by presenting written financial reports at each meeting of the Executive Board.
4. The Treasurer shall devise and plan fundraising strategies and activities.

1. The Secretary shall have responsibility for the day to day management of the administrative staff of the MINAB and its website.
2. The Secretary shall be responsible for all minutes and record keeping.

ARTICLE 12

LEGAL STATUS

1. The MINAB shall be a registered charity under the laws of England & Wales.
2. The MINAB shall be an incorporated company limited by guarantee, and the provisions of this Constitution will be part of the Memorandum of Articles and Articles of Association.

ARTICLE 13

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

1. The Constitution can be amended at a duly convened meeting of the General Council.
2. A proposal to amend the Constitution in respect of Articles 5, 8 and 10 shall be an issue of “special significance”, and shall require positive approval of two thirds of members present.
3. A proposal to amend the Constitution in any other respect shall be in writing, and shall require a proposer and a seconder before it can become part of the agenda of a meeting of the General Council.
4. A proposal to amend the Constitution shall not be considered unless notice of the same has been given to all the eligible members of the General Council, at least 21 days in advance of the meeting.
5. Subject to (b), a proposal to amend the Constitution shall require affirmative vote of no less than two thirds of members present and voting.
6. No amendment, which requires approval of the Charity Commission or any other relevant authority, shall come into effect unless such approval has been obtained.

ARTICLE 14

DISSOLUTION

1. The General Council may dissolve the MINAB if it passes a duly moved resolution to dissolve, and a written notice whereof has been given to all eligible members three weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
2. A resolution to dissolve shall require the support of two thirds of the members of the General Council, including, until the end of 2050, the agreement of all the founding members.
3. If the resolution to dissolve is passed, the Office Bearers shall be responsible to realise all the assets, to discharge all the debts and donate, with the agreement of the four founding members, any surplus funds to a registered charity, which has similar aims and which the General Council directs.