MAJLIS SULTAN-UL-QALAM, USA ORIGINAL CHARTER

 Article I: Name & Objectives

 

Section 1: The name of this society shall be MAJLIS SULTAN AL QALAM, Ahmadiyya Muslim Literary Society of America. The name indicates a revival of the society of the same name founded at Qadian, India by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih II.

 

Section 2: The objectives of the Society shall be:

 

A. To advance the study and dissemination of the Holy Quran, Ahadith, and the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi who was named Sultan al-Qalam (Master of the Pen) by Allah al-Alim;

 

B. To assist the Talim Department of Jama’at Ahmadiyya with the design, promotion, and management of educational programs for the Jama’at and its auxiliary bodies;

 

C. To recognize achievement in the educational programs and in literary efforts in order to encourage academic excellence and to conduct competitions and scholarly debates among the Ahmadi Muslims of North America;

 

D. To encourage research and writing from the Islamic perspective in he social science fields including theology, philosophy, ethics, history, sociology, civics, economics, anthropology, criminal justice, and education;

 

E. To sponsor the translation of writings of the Promised Messiah from Arabic, Persian, and Urdu to English;

 

F. To enrich the body of Islamic literature in the English language with writings by the Ahmadi Muslims relative to the challenges of Western culture and society;

 

G. To promote American participation in the Fazl Umar Foundation international competition and other worthwhile programs of the Center at Rabwah and to assist candidates with their respective papers;

 

H. To arrange for individual advanced studies in the United States by providing academic advisors to qualified applicants and an advanced course of study leading to a Certificate in Ahmadiyya Exegesis;

 

I. To revive and publish a Journal of the Society to be titled “AL-FURQAN”, named for the original Society Journal at Qadian, and to offer assistance to the Muslim Sunrise and other Jama’at publications.

 

J. And to establish a Literary Fund to enable the Society to understand and realize its worthy objectives In the Name of Allah, The Gracious, The Merciful, without drawing upon the general financial resources of the Jama’at. May Allah enable us to do so, Amin.

 

Article II: Membership

 

Section 1: Active membership shall be afforded to members of Jama’at Ahmadiyya residing permanently in the United States, Canada, or Mexico, who submit an official application with the initiation fee to the Majlis Mutamid and are duly elected.

 

Section 2: Requirements for membership shall be fixed by the Board and include a standard of education and literary ability with evidence of such work on behalf of the Jama’at.

 

Section 3: Honorary members shall be those persons meeting the criteria but living outside of North America who are invited by the Majlis. !e Board shall seek to confer such memberships upon those Ahmadis who are striving vigorously with the Pen throughout the world.

 

Section 4: Associate membership may be awarded to persons outside the Jama’at in recognition of support and contributions to the cause of Islam.

 

Section 5: Active membership will b annually renewable and members will be expected to work diligently to meet the society’s objectives as a condition of renewal.

 

Article III: Governing Board

 

Section 1: The direction and management of Majlis Sultan al-Qalam shall be in the hands of a Governing Board, to be the executive and policy-making body.

 

Section 2: The officers comprising the Board shall be:

 

A. RAIS – presiding officer elected for two years at the annual meeting, eligible for re-election;

 

B. NAQIB – to be the manager of programs, activities, and local organization;

 

C. MUTAMID – administrator and general editor, manager of membership, finance, and correspondence

 

Section 3: The Naqib and Mutamid are appointed by the Rais. Other staff deemed sufficient and necessary to the operation of the Majlis may be appointed by the Rais, but they are not automatically members of the Board.

 

Section 4: Additional Board members may be elected from the Active members by majority vote of the Governing Board. Board members’ terms expire with that of the Rais, but they are eligible for re-election.

 

Section 5: The Rais may organize committees of the Society to carry out specific projects. A Chairman and members will be named when the committee and its tasks are announced.

 

Article IV: Administration

 

Section 1: The Mutamid shall establish an official address for the Majlis and receive all applications, contributions, inquiries, and correspondence.

 

Section 2: The Rais shall cause to be published, a Membership Directory and Annual Report of the Society’s work, a copy of which shall be submitted to the Sadr Jama’at Ahmadiyya of the United States and Canada and circulated among the membership.

 

Section 3: !e initiation fee for new members and an annual renewal dues shall be fixed by the Board and used only to defray organizational and publishing expenses. Annual dues shall be payable on or before the anniversary date of the individual member.

 

Section 4: The Mutamid will maintain the accounts of the Society and will submit an annual report. Every two years, the auditor of the Jama’at Ahmadiyya, USA, will be invited to inspect the accounts of the Society.

 

Section 5: The Literary Fund will be utilized for the publication of “AL-FURQAN” and the sponsorship of translations of the writings of the Promised Messiah, and will be maintained as a custodian account in the Majlis general account.

 

Section 6: The Mutamid will make a record of all proceedings of the Board, and prepare an ongoing Chronicle of the Majlis.

 

Section 7: Three or more Active members may petition the Board for the establishment of a Chapter. The Naqib should be satisfied that all criteria are met and then report on the petition to the Board. Chapters must strictly adhere to all Islamic precepts in their activities and must generally follow the auxiliary organizations of the Jama’at.

 

Section 8: Upon approval of the petition, a Chapter coordinator, designated the Raqib, shall be appointed to head the Chapter. There shall be no other standing officers. The Raqib will organize the work by committee and appoint chairmen for the projects.

 

Section 9: Chapters may frame By-Laws to specify such details as meeting schedules local dues, and projects. By-Laws must conform to these Governing Articles of the Majlis and be approved by the Naqib.

 

THESE GOVERNING ARTICLES OF THE MAJLIS SULTAN AL-QALAM WERE APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE FOUNDERS AND THE GOVERNING BOARD ON JUNE 7, 1980.

(Signatures follow the Resolutions of the Board)

 

RESOLUTIONS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD

 

Resolution No. I

 

RESOLVED that Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir, founding Mutamid of Majlis Sultan Al-Qalam, Qadian, and Editor of the Muslim Sunrise, former Mubaligh-in-Charge, Jama’at Ahmadiyya USA, and professor of international studies, distinguished in American academic circles, be designated – Honorary Rais and Member of the Governing Board.

 

Resolution No. II

 

RESOLVED that the Majlis Literary Fund shall be designated the Nafisur Rahman A.G. Soofi Memorial Literary Fund, in honor of the late Mubaligh-in-Charge, Jama’at Ahmadiyya USA, Associate Editor of Review of Religions, prominent writers and translator, and good friend of American Ahmadis.

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED:

 

________________________________

Rafi Yahya A. Sharif, RAIS

________________________________

Nuruddin A. Latif, MUTAMID

 

TEN RECOMMENDED LOCAL PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHAPTERS

 

1. At regular meetings, review the current issues of Ahmadi publications, assigning one to each member. Plan to distribute them on consignment to college bookstores, libraries, and reading rooms.

 

2. Discuss and evaluate the educational programs for the adults and youth of the nearby Jama’ats from which the members come, and their auxiliary branches. Offer to assist the Jama’ats in areas of need related to education.

 

3. Report on members’ progress with their own research and writings, and request assistance and materials, where needed, from other members.

 

4. Periodically hold formal business meetings in order to nominate new members, consult in the undertaking of major projects, and other such matters. Any notices or directives received from the Governing Board should be read at such meetings.

 

5. Invite college clubs, religious/spiritual, social science, and philosophical societies/organizations to participate, along with your chapter, in a prepared dialogue. These should be held at a public place and the public should be invited.

 

6. Sponsor a noteworthy speaker at a public hall and invite the public.

 

7. Conduct suitable fundraising events for the Nafisur Rahman A.G. Soofi Memorial Literary Fund. Also, set a specific goal: have your chapter totally underwrite the costs of one issue of ‘Al-Furqan.’

 

8. Sponsor an essay or oratorical contest on a broad subject, such as “Proofs of a Living God”, and open it to the youth of a region, or to the public. Award a medal (which will be provided by the Board), or a designated amount of money in the form of a scholarship.

 

9. Where a sufficient number of members are matriculated at an institution of learning, make your chapter of such high standing that it will be officially recognized as a bonified college society on your campus. Engage in service to the school, and in such activities as are normally undertaken on behalf of the institution.

 

10. Organize a graduation dinner in honor of those Ahmadi high school students with high averages and outstanding performance, or simply in honor of all high school and college graduates, depending on the character of your local community. Encourage the Ahmadi students to be the best in performance.

 

NOTES: Chapters are encouraged to be imaginative and to seek opportunities.

Chapters are expected to file a Quarterly Report with the Mutamid, especially to share their successes, which will be published in a Majlis bulletin. Address all reports to: MAJLIS SULTAN AL-QALAM, P.O. Box 2306, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 10550.

 

BOARD POLICIES

Policy 80-1 of the Governing Board

Every member is put on notice that they are expected to furnish annually no less than one article, regardless of length (quality supersedes quantity). A member who failed to comply will be considered on probationary status the following year and not entitled to vote or hold office. !is will automatically be lifted upon receipt of the article. After two years without any contribution, the members will not be permitted to re-register and the reason will be recorded in the official Chronicle of the Majlis. This condition applies to Active members only. All articles must be submitted to the Mutamid, and will become the property of the Majlis and utilized at the discretion of the Board.