In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We the Muslims, irrespective of our nationalities, settled in Hitchin and Letchworth, Herts. In humble submission to the almighty Allah as followers of the religion of Islam are conscious of our duties and responsibilities as Muslims have formed and established this ISLAMIC CENTRE to discharge these duties and responsibilities and give it the constitution which follows:

CONSTITUTION

of

HUJJAT-UL-ISLAM

HITCHIN (HERTS).

Clause 1: NAME

The organisation shall be known as HUJJAT-UL-ISLAM, Hitchin, (Herts hereinafter called the Centre). And shall be non-party in politics.

Clause 2: PURPOSE & OBJECTS

The Centre shall be established for the advancement of the religion of Islam and Islamic education.

In particular, the Centre is established:

Primarily to provide Islamic education to Muslim children.

To provide, erect, maintain and conduct Madressas (Religious Classes), Mosque, Libraries, Cemetery.

To cultivate and encourage among Muslims the knowledge and love for religious ideals, Traditions and principles of Islam and generally to promote education in Islamic Culture.

And shall have powers in furtherance of the objects.

To establish and organise the finance for the achievement of the purposes of the Centre.

To obtain, collect and receive money and funds by way of contributions, legacies, grants and by any other lawful method and accept and receive gift of property of any description (whether subject to any special trust or not).

Clause 3: MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all Muslims residing in and around Hitchin and Letchworth (Herts) of age of majority irrespective of their nationalities.

ASSOCIATED MEMBERSHIP

Notwithstanding the provision of Clause 3 (1), the Board hereinafter mentioned may admit to associate membership of the Centre any person or well-wisher interested in the affairs or objects of the Centre, but such associate members shall not have the right to vote.

Clause 4: RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS

Subject to clause 3 (3), 5B and 15B (4), every member has the right to attend the general meeting and shall be eligible for election to the Board to pass his opinion and to vote on the matter brought before the meeting.

Any member who is not an elected or co-opted member of the Board may attend the meeting of the Board provided he or she notifies the General Secretary in writing before seven days from the date of the meeting concerned.

Every member shall be entitled to check the account of the Centre provided he or she gives seven days' notice in writing with reason and details concerned to the General Secretary.

Every member of the Centre shall pay such annual contribution as the Board may from time to time determine and may be called upon to contribute to meet any necessary financial demand.

Every member undertakes to abide by the rules and regulations passed by the board under the constitutional criteria.

No person, member or official shall collect funds on behalf of the Centre unless so authorised by the Board or General Secretary.

Clause 5: TERMINATION of MEMBERSHIP

A

The Board shall have power (for the good and sufficient reason) to terminate the membership of any member found working against the interest of the Centre, with or without giving reason; provided the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Board before a decision is made and such decision shall be final.

Any member desiring to resign from the Board or the Centre may do so on giving notice in writing to the General Secretary, but such members shall remain liable for any subscription due prior to the date of such resignation.

Defaulters: any member whose subscription shall be in arrears for a period of six months and who shall not thereafter pay such subscription within 21 days of the posting to him of written request for payment, may be removed from the list of members by the Board.

DISQUALIFICATION of MEMBER

(B) A member of the Board may be liable to disqualification at the discretion of the Board if:

He has been convicted by a Criminal Court of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine.

He has been adjudged to be of unsound mind by a competent court.

He fails to attend three consecutive meetings without affording any valid reason acceptable to the Board.

He is a paid servant of the Centre.

Clause 6: MANAGING BOARD

Subject to Clause 5B, 18 members shall be elected in accordance with the provisions in Clause 15A (2) and B (2) (3), at least two-thirds of the 18 elected members must be permanent residents of Hitchin and/or Letchworth (Herts) will constitute the Managing Board hereinafter called the Board.

Subject to Clause 15B (4), the Board shall elect from amongst its 18 elected members, officials to administer the Centre comprising the following: A President, Vice-President, Hon. Gen. Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.

The tenure of the Board shall be of two years, but the retiring officials or members of the Board shall be eligible for re-election.

The outgoing Board, at least a month before the expiry of its term of office, shall make arrangements for elections and undertake measures to ensure free and fair election of the members and officials of the Board.

Outgoing officials shall furnish the incoming officials with an inventory verified by the Hon. Gen. Secretary, of all the movable and immovable properties of the Centre together with a list of Title deeds, Records and all documents of the Centre.

Clause 7A: POWER AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD

Subject to Clause 17 (1) and (2) the policy and general management of the affairs of the Centre shall be directed and governed by the Board which shall carry out the objects and shall perform all the functions and discharge its duties.

The Board shall appoint or may determine the appointment of a custodian trustee or trustees or a trust corporation - not less than three persons to act as trustees for the purpose of holding any immovable property belonging to the Centre.

The Board shall appoint or authorise to appoint such sub-committees as it may from time to time decide and may determine their powers, terms of reference and may also dissolve such committees at its own discretion.

The Board may co-opt at its discretion one or more members provided the members so co-opted must not exceed one-third of the total members of the Board.

Whenever any dispute arises as to the interpretation of any clauses or words in the constitution, the decision thereon of the majority of the members of the Centre shall be final and binding provided such interpretation shall not go against the tenets of Islam.

7B: And the Board shall have powers:

To accept gifts, Zakaat, bequests, or legacies left by institutions or individuals whether subject to any specific trust or not, for any one or more objectives of the Centre.

To acquire by purchase, lease, donation, exchange, or otherwise land, buildings, or other properties of any tenure or description situated in Hitchin or any estate interest therein or any right thereover or in connection therewith and turn same to account on particulars by erecting, reconstruction, altering, improving, decorating furnishing and maintaining Madressas (school), Mosque, or houses.

To acquire by way of purchasing or otherwise all kinds of movable properties.

To borrow or raise money and to secure the payment thereof in such manner as the Board shall deem fit.

To make, accept, endorse, execute and issue promissory notes, bills of exchange, debentures, or other negotiable or transferable instruments.

To engage, appoint or dismiss employees or teachers of the Centre, and to make and pay allowances, wages or effect other payments.

To acquire any rights or privileges which the Board may regard as necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Centre.

To accept and administer Waqfs and trusts.

To invest and manage monies of the Centre upon such security as from time to time to be determined.

To appeal for the funds and aid from members or other well-wishers to further the objects of the Centre.

To enter into any agreement with any department of the Government or Country in the United Kingdom, local authority or other like authority and to obtain rights, concession and privileges that may be for the benefit of and conducive to the Centre.

To do all above and such things incidental to or which the Board may deem conducive to the attainment of the aforesaid objects.

Any condition, event or decision not provided for in the constitution shall be delt with by means of the Board accordance with the provision in Clause 16(1).

Clause 8: DUTIES AND POWERS OF PRESIDENT

The President shall preside over all meetings of the Board and conduct them with propriety and order.

In the meeting each member shall have the equal right to express his/her opinion but for any reason if the president considers any matter to raise or not to raise in the meeting, his judgement shall be final, he may stop any member from doing so or for any misbehaviour he may with the approval of two-thirds majority of the attending members, ask any member to leave the meeting, if decided so it shall be final.

In accordance with the provision in Clause 15B (1), in the event of a tie, he shall have the right of casting vote.

He shall sign on all the proceedings and resolution of the meeting in the minute book.

He shall see that the general conduct of the affairs of the Centre is in accordance with and within the limit of this constitution.

For all the withdrawals of money and for all other monetary transactions, he shall be one of the three signatories as laid down in Clause 13 (2).

Clause 9: DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

He shall work with co-operation and on directions of the president.

In the absence of the president, he shall take the chair and subject to clause 8 (6), shall exercise the president’s powers.

Clause 10: DUTIES AND POWERS OF HON.GEN. SECRETARY

The General Secretary shall conduct the business of the Centre and remain responsible to the Board.

He shall enter in, maintain be responsible for all the correspondence on behalf of the Centre.

In pursuance of Clause 14 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5), he shall convene all meetings and keep the minutes thereof.

He shall prepare an annual report, including the annual income and expenditure, and submit it before each annual meeting of the Board and shall circulate it to all the members of the Board.

He shall have power to incur expenditures of or to keep in hand not more than £50 during the interval between two meetings of the Board provided he submits the account in the following meeting of the board for its review and approval.

He shall carry out all the functions he deems fit and all those usually and generally falling within the scope of the Secretary and those suggested and adviced by the Board.

He shall be one of the three signatories as laid down in Clause 13 (2).

Clause 11: DUTIES AND POWERS OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY

The Assistant Secretary shall act with the co-operation and direction of the General Secretary and remain responsible to him for his duties and actions.

In the absence of the General Secretary, he shall perform all of his duties subject to Clause 13 (2).

Clause 12: DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE TREASURER

The Treasurer shall be responsible to maintain all cash received on behalf of the Centre and shall deposit it in the account of the Centre with the bank approved by the board, within one week of such receipt.

He shall keep proper books of account reflecting the financial transactions of the Centre and in accordance to the provision and Clause 13 (1), he shall present audited statements of the account each year at the annual meeting of the Centre and as soon as the audited balance sheet is ready he shall post it to all the members of the Board.

He shall submit the latest financial statements to every meeting of the Board.

He shall be responsible for the collection of the subscriptions of all the registered members of the Centre.

He shall be one of the three signatories as laid down in Clause 13 (2).

Clause 13: FINANCE AND FINANCIAL YEAR OF THE CENTRE

The Centre’s Financial Year shall run from April to April. Once at least in every year, the accounts of the Centre shall be audited by one or more qualified auditors approved by the Board and the audited statement of account for the last financial year shall be submitted to the annual meeting of the Centre.

The collection of all money from all the sources shall be banked in the account of the Centre as laid down in Clause 13 (1), and the account shall be operated under the joint signatures of any two of the following three:

PRESIDENT

HON. GEN. SECRETARY

TREASURER

Subject to Clause 10 (5), no member or official shall keep any money of Centre in hand without prior consent of the General Secretary or the Board.

The annual audited accounts with its details shall be circulated to all the registered members of the Centre.

Clause 14: MEETINGS OF THE CENTRE

The meetings of the Board shall take place whenever necessary or once every three months at such time and at such place as may be determined by the Board or the Gen. Secretary at seven days’ notice.

In pursuance with the Clause 10 (A) the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Centre shall be held at the financial year of the Centre at fifteen days’ notice.

At the second annual general meeting at the end of the second year, and at every two years thereafter, agenda for the election of the members of the new Board, as referred to in Clause 6 (1) and (2) shall be included in the notice which must reach all the registered members of the Centre at least 15 days before the proposed date of the meeting.

An Emergency meeting of the Board or the Centre shall be called at 24 hours’ notice by the President or General Secretary at their discretion or on receiving a written request signed by at least one-third of the members of the board.

The President or Gen. Secretary at any time at their discretion shall within 21 days of receiving a requisition to do so, signed by not less than 10 percent of the member of the Centre and giving reasons for the request, call a special meeting of the Centre.

Having Failed to secure any response in accordance with the provision in Clause 14 (5), the respective requisition is to have the right to convene the meeting provided:

A Notice to effect is served to all the members of the Centre at least 21 days before the proposed meeting and

The notice must specifically bear the agenda, time and venue of the meeting concerned.

Unfortunately, if the Centre is to be dissolved, the Gen. Secretary shall convene a special general meeting of all the registered members of the Centre entitled to vote in persuance to the provision laid down in Clause 17 (1) and (2) and the notice shall clearly state that the question of dissolution of the Centre and disposal of its assets will be considered.

In the absence of the President, Vice President shall preside and in the absence of both, the meeting may be presided over by a member elected by majority of members present and entitled to vote at the meeting.

Clause 15: A RULE AND PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS

A notice of the second general annual meeting of the Centre shall be posted to each member of the Centre, in writing 21 days prior to the meeting.

At the second general annual meeting, the business shall include the consideration of annual report of the work done by or under the auspices of the Centre and of the audited accounts, the election of the members of the managing Board and any other business authorised by the constitution.

The members and officials of the Board shall vacate their posts immediately on their successors being appointment or in the event of expulsion by the Board or upon disqualification.

Outgoing member of the Board shall sign all the necessary documents to enable incoming members to discharge their duties satisfactorily.

VOTING B

Subject to the provisions of Clauses 16 and 17 (1) (2), all the questions arising at the meeting shall be decided by simple majority of those present and entitled to vote thereat. No member shall exercise more than one vote at a time on one issue but in a case of equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman, a resolution put to the vote of the meeting, shall be decided on a show of hands and in every case a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or lost and any entry to that effect in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number of proportion of the votes recorded in favour or against such resolution.

In the second general annual meeting, nominations to the election of the members of the Board shall be moved and seconded at the meeting. In the event of the nominee being absent, a written confirmation of his consent must be provided by the nominator.

In case of voting for the election of the officials, voting shall be by show of hands or by means of ballot if demand to that effect is made by at least one-third of the members of the Board present.

No member shall be elected as office bearer who is not a permanent resident of Hitchin and/or Letchworth, (Herts).

ORDINARY QUORUM C

Subject to Clause 15 C (2), 10 elected members must be present at a meeting for motions to be voted on and passed.

In persuance of Clauses 14 (7), 16 and 17, the quorum at such meetings shall be two-third of the members of the Centre.

At any meeting, if no quorum be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to at least seven days later. Notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to all the members concerned. At such adjourned meeting, the quorum shall be the members present.

Clause 16: IN RESPECT OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AND CONSTITUTION

(1) (a) In case of sale, purchase, erection, alteration or mortgage of any immovable property of the Centre or dissolution of the Board or any proposed amendment of this constitution, a notice must be delivered in writing to all the registered members of the Centre, not less than twenty-one days before the date of the meeting at which it is first to be considered.

Such resolution shall require the approval of two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at such meeting of the Centre and the Charity Commissioner shall be informed in advance of any such sale of immovable property.

(b) No amendment shall be made to the objects, dissolution or amendments Clauses and no amendment shall be made, which would have the effect of rendering the Centre no longer charitable.

(2) If trustees have been appointed in accordance with Clause 7A (2) hereof, a decision shall not be made without the knowledge and consent of the trustees, but such consent shall not be unnecessarily or unreasonably withheld by them.

Clause 17:

The Centre may be dissolved if at least two-thirds of its registered members and voting at a special general meeting of the members of the Centre convened for the purpose of considering such matters are in favour of dissolution.

Not less than 21 days’ notice shall be given of such meeting to all the registered members of the Centre and notice convening the meeting shall clearly state that the question of dissolution of the Centre and disposal of its assets will be considered.

Upon the dissolution of the Centre, if there remains any assets whatsoever after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, such assets shall not be paid to or distributed among its members but shall be given to such other Muslim charitable organisation or organisations having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Centre as may be decided by the members at the meeting at which it was decided to dissolve the Centre.

Clause 18:

The Centre may sue or be sued in its own name in any court of competent jurisdiction.

I certify that this is a true copy of our constitution as accepted on the 1st January 1984.