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Scouting in the Islamic Community
Boy Scouts of AmericaInnovation & Research1325 W. Walnut Hill LaneIrving, TX [email protected] Page 1 of 4
Background• Islamisoneofthefastestgrowingreligionsintheworld.BasedonPewForum’sU.S.ReligiousLandscapeSurvey,0.7percentoftheU.S.populationpracticesIslam,representingmorethan1.8millionpeople.Ofthose: o 65percentareimmigrantsrepresentingmostlyArabandSouthAsiancountries. o 35percentarenative-bornMuslimsand21percentareconvertstoIslam. o 93percentareSunniMuslimsand7percentareShiaMuslims.• 2010ScoutingmembershipintheIslamiccommunitywas: o1,140CubScoutsin41packs o787BoyScoutsin32troops o89Venturersinsixcrews
Religious Principles and Key Terms• ThereareseveralIslamictermswithwhichScoutofficialsshouldbefamiliar: o Islam:VoluntaryacceptanceofthewillofAllahandobediencetoHiscommands. o Muslim:ApersonwhofreelyandconsciouslyacceptstheIslamicwayoflife,andpracticesit. o Qur’an: ThesacredbookofIslam.ManyMuslimScoutsstudywithreligiousteachersatobligatorytrainingsessionsatthemosqueuntilaboutage12.
o Basic Beliefs: ThefivefundamentalIslamicbeliefsareTawhid(OnenessofAllah),Risalah(Prophethood),Yaum al-Akhira wa Ma’ad(DayofJudgmentandLifeAfterDeath),Ghaib (AngelsandtheUnseen),andKutub(AlltheBooksFromAllah).
o Iman:OneofthethreedimensionsoftheIslamicreligionwhichreferstothestrengthofconviction,orfaith,ofaMuslim.
• TherearefivepillarsofIslam(orfoundationsoffaith): o AMuslimboyofBoyScout-agemustofferprayersfivetimesaday(whenincamp,timeforthisactivityshouldbeallowed).
o Beforehecanbegin,theyouthwillneedtowashhimselfintheprescribedway. o Withothermenandboys,hewillattendthemosque(orothersuitableareawhenincamp)tosayprayers.
o TheMuslimBoyScoutwillneedtofastthewholemonthofRamadanfromdawntosunset(nofoodordrink).
o Additionalpillarsofthefaitharegivingtotheneedy,openlydeclaringfaithinAllahandMuhammadasHislastmessenger,andmakingapilgrimageatleastonceduringone’slifetimetothefirstHouseofGodinMecca.
Islamic Dietary Customs• Muslimsarepermittedonlyhalalfoods(i.e.,foodsthathavebeenpreparedaccordingtoMuslimlaw).SomeMuslimyouthwilleatbeef,lamb,andchickenonlyiftheyhavebeenslaughteredintheIslamicmanner(Zabiha).• PorkisforbiddentoMuslims,butfishisacceptable.
Scouting in the Islamic Community
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Role of Scouting in Islam• In1982,theNationalIslamicCommitteeonScouting(NICS)wasformedbyagroupofconcernedMuslimswhorepresentedmanynationalMuslimorganizations. o Thecommitteeiscomprisedof: nAchairappointedannuallybythepresidentoftheBoyScoutsofAmericaandtheChief
ScoutExecutive. nOfficersappointedbythechairincludingexecutivevicechair,committeechairs,nationalchaplain,
secretary,andregionalvicechairs.• MissionofNICS:PromoteScoutingamongMuslimyouth;helpMusliminstitutionsandlocalcouncilIslamiccommitteesprovideScoutingopportunitiesforMuslimyouth;andpromoteIslamicvaluesinScoutingthroughprogramhelpsandthereligiousemblemsprogram.• ResponsibilitiesofNICSinclude: o FormulatingpoliciesthatgoverntheformationofScoutinginIslamicorganizations. o EstablishingpoliciesaffectingtheparticipationofMuslimmenandwomeninScoutingthroughIslamiccentersandmosques.
o AdvisingtheBSANationalCouncilinallmattersrelatingtoScoutingamongMuslims.• In1982,theIslamicCouncilonScoutingofNorthAmericawasincorporatedinNewYorkandchosenbytheBSAtoworkwiththeMuslimcommunityatlarge.Inthatyear,theyacceptedthereligiousemblemsaspartoftheBSADutytoGodprogram.
Scouting Youth and Adult RecognitionsTheNICSalsopromotestheBSAreligiousemblemsprogram,providingguidancetoMuslimyouthinachievingthespiritualpledgesmadeintheScoutOathandScoutLaw.
Youth Emblems
Bismillah Emblem
Purpose• EncouragesboystoadvanceintheknowledgeandpracticeofIslamicliving.
Eligibility• IslamicCubScoutswhohavebeeninvolvedinCubScoutingatleastsixmonthsandattendareligiousschool
• CubScoutsmusthaveachievedBearrankorearnedatleastfiveWebelosactivitybadgesbythetimetheyreceivetheaward.
Requirements• YouthmustsuccessfullycompleteallactivitiesrelatedtotheHolyBooks,GreatProphets,prayers,religiousholidays,MosqueorIslamiccenters,Muslimheroes,andAmericanMuslimheritage.
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In the Name of “Allah” God Emblem
Purpose• HelpsyouthfulfillthefirstpartoftheScoutPromise:“Onmyhonor,IwilldomybesttodomydutytoGod.”
Eligibility• MuslimBoyScoutswhohaveachievedatleastSecondclassrankorVenturers
Requirements• MuslimBoyScoutswhohaveachievedatleastSecondclassrankorVenturers
Peace Emblem
Purpose• EncouragesyoungadultstoexploreadultIslamicrolesinthecontextoffamily,community,andIslamicpeople
Eligibility• Anynon-MuslimBoyScouts,Venturers,oradultleaders
Adult EmblemAdultunitleadersarechosenbytheMuslimorganizationthatorganizestheunit.ThelocalcouncilassiststheMuslimorganizationinrecruitingandtrainingtheleadership.
Allaho Akber (God Is Great) Emblem
Purpose•RecognizesoutstandingservicebyadultsinthepromotionofScoutingamongMuslimyouth.
Eligibility•RecommendationsaremadetotheNationalIslamicCouncilonScoutingbyImansoftheMosques,directorsofMuslimCenters,presidentsofMuslimorganizations,orBoyScoutcouncils.ApprovednamesaresubmittedforratificationtotheIslamicCouncilonScoutingofNorthAmerica.
Requirements•MadeannuallyattheBSANationalAnnualMeeting.
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Organization Information• Formoreinformation,contact: o TheIslamicCouncilonScoutingofNorthAmerica/TheNationalIslamicCommitteeonScouting,P.O.Box857,Edison,NJ08818;phone:1-732-801-1283
o E-mail:[email protected]@islamicscouting.org o Website:www.islamicscouting.orgorwww.islamiccouncilonscouting.org
UpdatedMarch2011
