The Islamic Supreme Council of America (ISCA) is a Muslim religious organization in the United States, founded in 1998 by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, who is also its current chairman. [1] [2] The council describes itself as "dedicated to educating Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and developing good citizenry through the teaching of moral excellence". [3]
ISCA is based in Fenton, Michigan. [4]
Aims
The ISCA sees its mission in part to "work closely and proactively with non-Muslim individuals and organizations to present Islam as a religion of moderation, tolerance, peace and justice". It stresses "the common heritage of Islam, Christianity and Judaism in an effort to foster mutual respect between all cultures and religions". It also seeks to "integrate traditional scholarship in resolving contemporary issues affecting the maintenance of Islamic beliefs in a modern, secular society". [3] The Council states that it promotes traditional Islamic legal rulings, and that it explicitly rejects puritanical forms of Islam, such as the Wahhabi Islam practiced by Saudi Arabia, the Taliban, and many terrorist organizations who espouse Islamist ideologies.
Shaykh Hisham Kabbani, founding member and current chairman of ISCA, is critical of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the American Muslim Council, saying, "There are many Muslim organizations that claim to speak on behalf of the Muslim community but that in reality are not moderate, but extremist." [1]
As of 23 September 2009, the ISCA website features photos of its officials meeting with George W. Bush, [5] the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, [6] and UK Crown Prince Charles. The ISCA has been praised by Daniel Pipes, who describes it as "relatively small". [7]
References
- ^ a b Jake Tapper, " Islam's flawed spokesmen Archived 2002-12-17 at the Wayback Machine", Salon.com, 26 September 2001 (accessed 27 January 2007).
- ^ Goodstein, Laurie (October 28, 2001). "A NATION CHALLENGED: THE CLERIC; Muslim Leader Who Was Once Labeled an Alarmist Is Suddenly a Sage". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Islamic Supreme Council, About Us, Our Mission
- ^ ISCA website
- ^ "ISCA Attends White House Ramadan Iftar Dinner - Chairman Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani Meets with President Bush". Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
- ^ "DEFENSE'S CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF DISCUSSES CONTEST OF IDEAS AT HUDSON INSTITUTE". Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
- ^ Pipes, Daniel (November 2001). "The Danger Within: Militant Islam in America - Commentary". Retrieved 27 January 2007.