role of the naqeeb
History, Expectations and Usra Details
OUR GOAL
“Developing MAS members, empowering them with the necessary skills to carry out their work and give them the tools and knowledge that reflects the comprehensive and balanced understanding of Islam to help those around them to develop and grow.”
DOCUMENT OUTLINE
Main characteristics of his model:
The first Usra System:
Changes to the usage of the term Usra:
History of Usra in the US:
MAS Usra Program (MUP):
What a Usra is not?
2) What's your expected commitment?
3) What should you expect from the Usra?
1. Familiarity:
2. Mutual understanding:
3. Solidarity
Role of the Naqeeb:
Special Note: While the successful candidate(s) will be responsible for the fulfillment of the following duties, it is understood that in certain instances these duties will be delegated to volunteers, consultants, and subject matter experts as appropriate. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to be particularly comfortable and supportive of MAS’ mission, vision, core values, and methodology.
1. An Usra is facilitated by a Naqeeb or Naqeeba. Naqeeb is a role, not an identity.
2. A naqeeb is not necessarily better, more experienced or more knowledgeable than the Usra members.
3. It’s a duty and a responsibility.
4. A critical role that often combines mentoring, communicating, leadership, and management.
5. The personality of the naqeeb is an essential part of the success of the Usra.
6. Being an effective naqeeb is an art requiring thought, creativity and insight. It is not an exact science. The successful naqeeb will adapt to the needs of the Usra members.
7. Connecting Tarbiya principles and Wasati Understanding to members of the Usra.
8. The Naqeeb is in fact a model, leads by example:
○ Islamic Character: Integrity, ethics, adherence to Islamic guidance. Adhere to the Sunnah of the Messenger (SAAWS) as much as possible.
○ Brotherhood: Ask about members with love and caring, keep up with their interests and lives.
○ Development: Promote creativity, free expression, initiative, learning.
○ Reliability: Be prompt, prepared, seek shura, comply with shura.
○ Activism: Be active, dynamic.
○ Compliance: Be the first to comply to MAS bylaws and decisions, and shura decisions.
9. Be prepared. You may not know it all, but you should prepare enough to satisfy the needs of the Usra members.
10. Must have a vision for the development of the Usra as a whole, and for the members as individuals.
11. Study the personality of Usra members and define what qualities need to be promoted and what problems need to be addressed.
12. Train deputies who can replace you.
13. An essential part of the naqeeb's role is promoting personal responsibility: Each member is ultimately responsible for himself.
14. Development of MAS members through enforcing curriculum and programs that fulfill the mission of MAS.
15. Ensure members are clear on the identity of MAS as an organization, its structure, vision, mission, and goals.
16. Enforcement of the membership criteria, as defined by the MAS Membership Policy, that abide by the overall guidelines of MAS.
Usra Introduction
The Usra is a fortified armor for each of its members, and it represents the family and tribe of the person (in the sense that the members attain familiarity, mutual understanding, and solidarity, explained below). The Usra is the smallest unit, in MAS, of Islamic work, tarbiya (self-development), and preparing the way for implementing Islam in society in full.
1) What is an Usra exactly?
The word Usra has several meanings in Arabic:
the fortified armor
the family and tribe of a person
a group of people having something in common
The Usra is a fortified armor for each of its members, and it represents the family and tribe of the person (in the sense that the members attain familiarity, mutual understanding, and solidarity, explained below). The Usra is the smallest unit, in MAS, of Islamic work, tarbiya (self-development), and preparing the way for implementing Islam in society in full.
“Islam is very much concerned about the development of the family. It guides them to attain high ideals and high standards, strengthens their ties, and raises their concept of brotherhood from the theoretical to the practical. So, be careful my Brother to be a virtuous brick in that foundation.” --Imam Hassan Al-Banna (HB)
1. The system of the Usra is and Islamic system that guides individuals to high ideals.
2. It strengthens ties between individuals, especially through the pillars of the system, which are familiarity, mutual understanding and solidarity.
3. It raises the level of brotherhood from that of words and theories to practical application.
4. It is a way to facilitate communication with those who are committed to Islamic activism.
5. This system represents the basic foundation of organized Islamic work in MAS, individually and socially.
The Usra models after Dar al Arqam ibn Abu al Arqam, where the Rasool s.a.w. and his companions met regularly in Makkah.
HISTORY:
During the early 20th century Imam HB started his Dawa in Isma'ileya. He spent 40 days after moving to the new city exploring and collecting information. He realized that the masjid crowd was busy with differences in madhaheb (schools of thought) and that their knowledge of Islam didn't spark their interest in doing anything about the horrible situation of the Ummah. He realized that people who have knowledge, but distorted order of priorities were not the best audience for his message. The non-religious audience would be more receptive. He started with public work. He preached in cafes. He developed short speeches that were informative, engaging, attractive and easy to understand. That was novel at the time. He moved from one café to another talking to as many people as he could, keeping each group curious at the end and looking forward to his second visit. Eventually, people started to approach him with questions which were sparked in their minds after his talks. This showed him who was more serious and the few who were the most serious got most of his attention. He met with them weekly and taught them. Few months through, they realized that they need to do something about the situation of the Ummah. He sensed their zeal and enthusiasm and that's when he hit them hard. They were still not knowledgeable about Islam but he couldn't wait any longer. That was the inception of the Muslim Brotherhood as a movement. It started off as a movement from the first day. Those six people with their leader HB started an organization that was all -inclusive. They publicized it everywhere and they invited everybody to it. Some skeptics thought that it was just a fling but the concurrent tarbiya for the core leaders guaranteed the perpetuation of the model.
Main characteristics of his model:
1- He started with a public message.
2- He was open for all active people.
3- Religiosity and knowledge were not criteria of selection.
4- Tarbiya takes place in the core of the movement as it is growing peripherally.
The first Usra System:
As more people joined his movement he realized the need to give focused attention to the most active members. He developed the term Usra for peer to peer support. The naqeeb was one member of the group. He didn't really have much more experience or knowledge than the others. The ingredients of a successful usra was serious members and consistency. It served its purpose of perpetuating brotherhood and maintaining the comprehensive, balanced understanding of Islam. At that point the Usra was not a tool for character development. It was assumed that immersing yourself in movement work long enough will gradually instill changes in your character and will provide a healthy environment for internalizing Islamic concepts and behavior.
Changes to the usage of the term Usra:
Upon the crackdown on the MB, they changed from a movement to a secret organization. They were very limited into what they could do. The objective was to perpetuate the correct understanding of Islam from one generation to another until time was ripe for reinstating a movement. The Usra became a cell or the smallest unit of the secret organization. Invitation for the Usra was only for the elites. Usra was for members only and ability to keep secrecy was one of the selection criteria. It was almost their only activity. The naqeeb's role extended to character building and usra attendance became a sign of keeping your pledge to the organization. The second change that happened to the term Usra was in the 70s when the secret organization became a movement again. The Usra continued to be secretive because it was perceived by the government as a signature of secret activities. Open Usra or closed halaqa were new terms introduced to replace the old term Usra and to address the need for a peer to peer support system. However, due to continuous crackdown on the movement the focus on Usra was disproportionate to the other activities and it became more sophisticated than what Imam HB established it to be.
History of Usra in the US:
Upon the immigration of MB veterans to the US in the sixties and seventies they imported the term Usra, open Usra, halaqa and the culture associated with it. They were not sure about establishing a movement in the US and they were not sure about the role they should be playing. Nevertheless, they realized that they have to perpetuate their understanding of Islam. They instated the Usra system as it was implemented in the east (ie.sophisticated and elitist). That succeeded in perpetuating the prophetic model of reform but it didn't play the role HB created it for since they were not establishing a movement.
MAS Usra Program (MUP):
In 1992 MAS was established. It was clear in the minds of the founders that the objective was an authentic American Muslim movement. The move from the previous mode of operation to the new one was painful. MAS became a well-structured organization but couldn't be described as a movement.
However, the vision had crystallized to have this organization develop into and lead a movement in the US. Another revision of the usra system had to take place. We realized that the closest model to what we want to do is the usra model established by Imam HB. That is, a peer to peer support for brotherhood, self-development and sharing a common understanding of Islam and MAS.
What a Usra is not?
1- It is not an administrative unit of MAS.
2- It is not a place to mold members.
3- It is not where members receive instructions about the different projects they work on.
4- It is not secretive.
2) What's your expected commitment?
● Before each meeting, renew your intention; prepare yourself spiritually, physically and mentally. Clear your mind of irrelevant thoughts, be enthusiastic, prepared and punctual. Be communicative and willing to receive.
● Make the meeting a priority in your life. Designate a special and considerable part of your time, not just your spare time, for preparation and participation.
● Carry out the duties assigned to you with accuracy and punctuality.
● Have discipline in attending the meetings: regard them as learning sessions, discipline your words and comments.
● Listen attentively, take notes.
● Participate and have a new idea each meeting
● Evaluate the meeting each week and give constructive criticism.
3) What should you expect from the Usra?
The Usra serves as one of the most important and unique methods of MAS in developing all aspects of the Muslim character and preparing the Muslim individual for the various dawah responsibilities. It follows a strict and thoroughly reviewed educational program and timetable, and serves as nurturing ground for educational, spiritual and intellectual development.
The Usra mechanism helps joining the hearts of its members by developing true brotherhood and sisterhood, trust and mutual understanding, loyalty and a sense of belonging, and commitment to the service of Islam and Muslims. The three aspects of familiarity, mutual understanding and solidarity are the pillars of the Usra:
1. Familiarity:
● To get to know each other, love each other for the sake of Allah, to get the feeling of sisterhood among us, and try hard that nothing spoils the purity of our relations.
● To visualize the meanings of the Quran and hadith of the Rasool s.a.w., and put them in front of our eyes.
2. Mutual understanding:
● Firstly, keeping on the right path yourself by doing what Allah commands, and leaving what he has forbidden.
● Judging ourselves accurately for obedience and sins.
● Then giving sincere advice to your sister if you observe she has done something wrong.
● Expecting and accepting advice willingly and happily and thanking each other for it.
● Rejecting separation and disagreement.
3. Solidarity
● Support each other in time of hardship.
● Cooperation in all that needs putting efforts together (Islamic work).
4) The role of the Naqeeba/Leader
The Rasool s.a.w. used the word “naqeeb” when he designated the 12 heads of Medina, during the 2 nd pledge of Aqabah.
The naqeeb is the leader of your Usra. He facilitates the meetings, and provides mentorship and spiritual guidance inside and outside the meeting. He is responsible for implementing all of the pillars of the Usra, with the cooperation of the members.