Islamic Community Milli Görü E.v.: Introductory Brochure

Islamic Community Milli Gr e.V.
Introductory Brochure
CONTENTS
What is the IGMG? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 What does Milli Gr mean? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Historical development of the IGMG Organisational structure
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Service areas Irshad (religious guidance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 General Secretariat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Organisational Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Womens Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Youth Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Standpoints of the IGMG Democracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Interreligious dialogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Parallel society and integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Education in the native language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 The relation between man and woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Dress code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Islamic religious education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
What is the IGMG?
What is the IGMG?
What is the IGMG?
What does Milli Gr mean?
Historical development of the IGMG
IGMG is an Islamic community which comprehensively organises the religious lives of Muslims. The IGMG not only aims at maintaining the Islamic teachings, proclaiming the Islamic creed and communicating religious duties resulting from that proclamation. Other than that the IGMG addresses all issues regarding Muslims while at the same time representing their interests. It is the goal of the IGMG to improve the living circumstances of Muslims as well as to provide for their fundamental rights. The IGMGs interpretation of Islam is based on the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah. It is these two sources which constitute the guiding principles for both the community and its members. Islam is a social and individual way of living, the influence of which certainly does not end at a mosques doorstep. Beyond that it entrusts Muslims with moral values and duties and therefore plays a significant role in their everyday lives as well. However, it is not the preservation of specific regional-cultural forms of religiosity which the IGMG aims at, but rather the exercise of a faith based on the Quran and the prophetic tradition. In doing so, the IGMG explicitly advocates the cultural diversity sustained by the Quran and the Sunnah. The IGMG is convinced
that the plurality of religious practises is a positive aspect of social life and that therefore Islam cannot be confined to the culture of a certain region. The vast majority of the members of the IGMG have come to accept that their stay in the Western-European countries will be permanent. Although they do not question the importance of an ongoing relationship with their countries of origin, they do not feel as guests any more, either. Rather they consider themselves to be Muslim citizens and therefore an integral part of the societies they live in. The IGMG is aware of its own responsibilities and it is committed to contribute to the wellbeing of the societies in which it operates. Moreover, the IGMG avows itself to its responsibilities regarding the world wide Muslim community (ummah) and it actively addresses the solution of the ummahs problems. Being a member of humankind, the IGMG also carries out its duties supporting the socially disadvantaged and oppressed people of the world. The IGMG encourages a life that is bound to values and principles such as helpfulness, unselfishness, and solidarity. Thus it participates in social dis-
What is the IGMG?
Organisational structure
Service Areas
Service Areas
Standpoints of the IGMG
What is the IGMG?
What is the IGMG?
courses that conduce to finding solutions to the societys economic, political, and social problems. Concerning these topics, the IGMG while orienting by the Islamic sources continuously seeks dialogue with political as well as other social groups. The IGMG and its activities are first of all guided by the following divine principles: strive together (as in a race) in all virtues and in the fear of Allah, make things easy for the people, do not make them difficult. In its relationship with other groups it is important for the IGMG to focus on common grounds, more so than on differences. Beside the Islamic commandments which are to be fulfilled individually, there are also many spheres in a Muslims life that only unfold their meaning when accomplished in a community, such as congregational prayers, Friday prayers, and pilgrimage. Furthermore, a joint effort and an organised structure are a necessity when protecting the poor and the needy, opposing injustice, disseminating what is good and rejecting what is bad, and establishing justice in social relations. This need for collective action induced many Muslims in Europe to come together into one whole, i.e. the IGMG.
Was bedeutet Milli Gr?
According to the Islamic doctrine we all descend from the first human being, the Prophet Adam, and his wife Hawwa (Eve). Time and again Allah sent prophets to mankind (Quran 43:7; 3:163-165), and one of those prophets was Abraham (peace be upon him). Abraham (pbuh) is regarded as the forefather of all monotheists (Jews, Christians, and Muslims). Thus, our communitys name is a clear reference to Abraham. For the word Milli in IGMG (Islamic Community of Milli Gr) traces back to the Quranic notion of Millet which often appears in association with the Prophet Abraham. The idea behind Milli Gr is expressed in several verses of the Quran: the community/way of Abraham (milletu Ibrahim) (Quran 16:123; 3:95; 4:125) As stated by the Quran the concept of Millet denotes a community that gathers around a prophet and the values he conveys. It does not refer to a nation or an ethnicity. What is essential are the values, ideals, and traditions that constitute a community. Thus the Quran speaks of milletu Ibrahim, of the community of Abraham, in conjunction with all other prophets who came after Abraham and their congregations as well.
What is the IGMG?
Service Areas
Service Areas
What is the IGMG?
The second element of our communitys name Gr means opinion, view or perception. By the name Milli Gr the IGMG attests its affiliation to the views and perceptions of the Abrahamitic community. The IGMG is a religious community that follows the Prophet Muhammads (pbuh) path. Thus, pivotal for its activities are values such as justice, mercy, awe of the creator, and the equality of human beings before Him. It is the tradition of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and especially of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that deliver the guidance for IGMGs work. For that reason no connection whatsoever should be made with the Turkish meaning of the word millet, i.e. people or nation.
As a result of the economic upturn (the economic miracle), workers from Turkey were recruited by the West German government in the 1960s. Willing to work in Germany and other European countries, millions of Muslims from Turkey and other Muslim countries migrated to Europe. Although some have returned back to their home countries, approximately 15 million Muslims live in Western Europe today. Even in the early 1970s, Turkish workers established prayer rooms in order to meet their religious demands. In the 1980s, these communities united first on the regional then on the national level. In order to fulfil certain religious duties and obligations a central administrative body had to be assembled. Consequently, the forerunners of the IGMG among others emerged. The Islamic Community Milli Gr was founded in 1995. Its programmatic approach reflected the social and economic requirements as well as the realities of the contemporary world. As a result, the activities of the IGMG have been based on these references.
What is the IGMG?
Service Areas
Service Areas
What is the IGMG?
According to their respective tasks, the religious, cultural, and social services of the IGMG are either offered by the central administration or by the regional or local communities. The smallest units of our religious community are the local mosques. It is them which provide the necessary infrastructure such as praying rooms and imams for the daily religious practises. Beyond that, the womens and youth departments also operate locally. They not only carry out activities for general purposes but primarily focus on the needs of each of their target groups. The IGMG maintains local mosque communities in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, England, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The local communities are structurally bound together under regional organisations, of which there are 30 altogether. 15 regional organisations are located in Germany. They are Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Hanover, Northern Ruhr Basin, Ruhr Basin A, Dsseldorf, Cologne, Hesse, RhineSaar, Stuttgart, Swabia, Freiburg, Northern and Southern Bavaria. The regional organisations in other European countries are the following: 4 in France (Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon,
Annecy), 2 in Austria (Austria-1 and Austria-2), the northern and southern parts of the Netherlands (2 each). In the remaining European countries (Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and England) the IGMG is represented by only one national organisation each. On the one hand, the regional organisations constitute a linkage between the IGMG centre and the associated local communities. On the other hand, they coordinate the work of the local communities. They are above all responsible for the coordination of religious and educational services and for the arrangement of cultural events. The cooperation between the associated local communities as well as their mutual exchange of experiences are among the tasks that our regional organisations undertake as well. Furthermore, they are in charge of coordinating the imams in the communities. The central administration in Germany is responsible for the coordination of all religious, educational, and social services within the community. It develops and provides the organisations general strategy regarding essential topics. Moreover the central administration organises in cooperation with the regional and
What is the IGMG?
Service Areas
Service Areas
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What is the IGMG?
What is the IGMG?
IGMG
Central administration

Regional organistion
Paris

National organistion
UK
National organistion
Belgium

Community Cologne Nippes Community Dren Community London Community Aachen Community Siegen
Service Areas
local communities religious and social services which can not be accomplished locally or regionally, such as the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), the Udhiyyah campaign (sacrifice), prayer calendars, or the solidarity fond of the burial services. The centre is also in charge of the assignment and further training of the imams.
On the local level the IGMG incorporates 514 mosque communities, 323 of which are in Germany. Besides there is the altering quantity of womens, youth, sports and educational facilities. The IGMG maintains a total number of 1833 local facilities and for the time being has got around 87,000 members. Friday prayers are regularly attended by approximately 300,000 persons.
Service Areas
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Service Areas
Service Areas
Irshad (religious guidance)

What is the IGMG?
Religious guidance is the main and central duty of the IGMG. In our community, this task is fulfilled by the Irshad Department, which is supposed to offer religious assistance to Muslims in every condition of their lives. It is the Irshad Departments endeavour to help people in their own way of experiencing nearness to God. At the same time, by sense-making and delivering explanations and interpretations, it supports them in keeping themselves grounded in their worldly lives. Providing assistance with the fulfilment of religious duties, for short: establishing a fiqh of daily life is the Irshad departments main goal. Another duty of the Irshad Department is to give comprehensive advice as to religious affairs, i.e. the five daily prayers, the congregational Friday prayers, the religious holiday prayers (Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Adha), the celebration of holy nights, the collective fast breaking in the month of Ramadan, and other religious rituals. Furthermore the Irshad Department organises the annual pilgrimage to the holy cities Mecca and Medina and helps with the performance of the Zakah, Fitrah and Sadaqah obligations.
Naturally this department focuses on the education, arrangement, further training and supervision of the imams of the community as well. A fiqh council that is in charge of interpreting the religious sources and of advising Muslims in terms of adapting the Islamic faith to their everyday lives is also integrated within the Irshad Department.
What is the IGMG?
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Education
What is the IGMG?
General Secretariat
The General Secretariat cultivates relations of the community with other social groups. At the same time it acts as reference between the IGMG and the overall society. Aside from the coordination of the central administration and a legal department, public relations are among the General Secretariats most important fields of activity. Furthermore, the website www.igmg.de and internet radio www.igmg.fm is supervised and the monthly community journal IGMG Perspektive and quarterly culture magazine Sabah lkesi is published. The legal department deals with cases of discrimination against Muslims. Its main objective thereby is the protection of the fundamental rights of Muslims. The General Secretariat also collects and documents those cases of discrimination in order to inform the public.
What is the IGMG?
The more the IGMGs members realise that they will not return to their native countries, the more important the educational work becomes in their new homeland. Our organisation is aware of the fact that good education is the key to good integration. Therefore, the IGMG sets a high value on the childrens education and further training, which paves their way to a successful professional career. By so doing the IGMG helps them to cultivate a selfcontained Islamic identity. Of a great importance within the educational sphere are religious education, learning the languages of the respective countries, school and professional education. In this context homework tutoring and intensifying the relations with both the pupils parents and school is essential. The Department of Education also tries new ways in developing Islamic teaching materials specified to the European context. This includes the renewal of the pedagogical methods for teaching religious knowledge.
Service Areas
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Organisational Development
What is the IGMG?
When the migrant Muslims first came to Germany they performed their daily prayers beneath stair-landings, in rented garages or similarly inappropriate accommodations even in storerooms of worker hostels. In the next step, halls, workshops, and abandoned industrial enterprises were rented. The so-called backyard mosques were born. As it was important that those mosques were within walking distance and had a low priced rent, many of them were located in redevelopment areas of Germanys big cities. The next step was to convert purchased estates into mosques. At times mosques were even built that were both aesthetic and along the traditional lines of Islamic architecture. By the act of purchasing, the former guest workers eventually manifested their intentions to stay in Europe permanently. The central tasks of the Department of Organisational Development are the formation and supervision of mosque communities. This includes supporting them in terms of association law as well as the organisation of the communal work.
The Department of Organisational Development not only supervises the communal work but also offers help whenever organisational problems occur. When new communities are founded the department takes care of the formulation of a charter and of aspects regarding fiscal law. Furthermore, the statistical acquisition of both the community work and the member development is among the duties fulfilled by the Department of Organisational Development. In this regard it is also the responsibility of this department to offer supervision and attendance to the community members. The yearly gatherings and rallies of our community are held under the intendance of the Department of Organisational Development.
What is the IGMG?
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Womens Department
What is the IGMG?
Youth Department
The establishment of a steadfast identity is the only way to a successful integration of Muslim youngsters into society. For one can only be integrated when one has an identity of which one is aware. The impartation of religious values to juveniles is something that the IGMG Youth Department particularly turns its attention on. It is above all the phase of adolescence during which they need open-minded and competent assistance concerning their questions about their religion and the practising of their faith. The Youth Departments main goal is to support young people in providing a basis for a conscious and knowledgebased godly life. Therefore, our Youth Department offers a comprehensive programme, which includes Quran, religion, and language classes, job application courses, sporting activities, youth journeys, computer classes, advice regarding either school problems or difficulties in the parental home. Above all, the juveniles are shown ways of spending their spare time suitably and ways of positive engagement within society. In doing so our youth work has to increasingly compensate the parents but also the schools failures.
What is the IGMG?
With numerous activities, the Womens Department of the IGMG encourages Muslim women to engage in social life, and especially to make use of academic and educational opportunities. Advancing language skills as well as encouraging women to assume office within the community also play an important role. Our Womens Department sets great store by a well-founded religious education, as only well-founded knowledge makes a conscious religious life possible. Thus, tutorials and trainings for girls and women are offered. Special conferences and programmes on marriage, parenting, and health are also part of the activities. The first generation of migrant women consisted mainly of housewives who had had barely access to school or professional education in Turkey. Even after migrating to Europe they hardly managed to compensate those deficits. Especially Muslim women with limited German language skills often experience restrictions in their everyday lives. This is still one of the fundamental challenges the IGMG Womens Department has to bear.
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Finances
What is the IGMG?
IGMG is financed solely by its members. It does not receive any state grants or allowances from domestic or foreign institutions. Membership fees are raised both locally and centrally. The organisational structure of the IGMG is strictly subsidiary. Communal and regional branches manage their funds autonomously. Merely an account of their financial activities is given to the central administration. Besides there are the central evaluation and distribution of donations, the zakat etc. The organisation of pilgrimages and a book shop are two single-purpose businesses operated by the IGMG. Commercial activities are not performed by the IGMG.
The IGMG is undoubtedly a competent institution in terms of protecting the fundamental rights of Muslims, finding solutions for their problems, and encouraging their successful integration in European societies. Thus, the IGMG is qualified for both the development and implementation of concepts and measures in that regard, and offers itself as a cooperation partner for politics and society. There is no discrepancy between the way IGMG members think and the way they act. However, existing allegations concerning the identity of the IGMG make it necessary to amplify its stance on some topics.
What is the IGMG?
Democracy
The IGMG avows itself to the free democratic basic order and considers it to be the basis for a pluralistic, peaceful, tolerant, and harmonic social life. At the same time, the IGMG points out that the majority of Muslims in Europe are excluded from direct democratic participation. However, the chance for political participation has to be given irrespectively of socially distinctive factors such as migration background or descent.
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Interreligious Dialogue
What is the IGMG?
Parallel Society and Integration

There is no doubt that IGMG was founded by migrants, yet it is not an organisation which as such immigrated from abroad. The IGMG considers itself to be at the centre of social life. For that reason, the IGMG does not only deal with affairs regarding migrants but with issues concerning the entire society. The IGMG purposes a life at the centre of society for both the organisational and the individual level. Its activities do not aim at constructing a parallel society but rather at enriching social life by active participation. The IGMG rejects isolation and exclusion. It actively takes part within the social discourse and encourages its members to do so as well. The IGMG is particularly concerned to arrange all its activities in a transparent manner. The facilities and activities of the IGMG do not stand for isolation from society, but for a natural way of keeping alive religion and traditions, which the believers themselves organise within the framework of civil society. The IGMG supports the integration of Muslims into society. For that purWhat is the IGMG?
For the IGMG it is very important that different religious groups come together and that their believers get to know each other. Acting differently would be contrary to our religion, its sense of mission, and its commitment to promulgate its message. Every Muslim is bound to inform, promulgate, and invite to his or her faith. Since man is in the centre of every action, dialogue with others, and especially among followers of the scripture religions, is an important aspect of social peace. In order to establish such a peace, the dialogue between believers needs to be intensified and its foundations have to be laid jointly. The IGMG believes that a sincere dialogue requires a sincere will for interlocution. Thus the IGMG sets a high value on a dialogue which is based upon mutual understanding and which neither judges nor excludes any of the interlocutors. Getting to know each other should therefore not be distorted by disinformation but be aligned with the others self-perception. The IGMG not only demonstrates its open-mindedness but expects its dialogue partners to do so as well.
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What is the IGMG?
pose, it offers language courses, advanced training and education. However, integration is a mutual process which requires endeavours on both sides, i.e. the minority as well as the majority. In other words: All social groups have to play a part in this process. At the same time, the IGMG dismisses the misusage of topics such as integration and parallel society fur populist purposes. Integration is one of the preconditions for a proper social climate. It is something for which long-term solutions in terms of societal benefits are to be developed.
Education in the native language

The act of learning and using ones mother tongue is one of the fundamental rights of every human being. In other words: this right is indispensable, given its meaning for the development of ones intellect and identity. The IGMG is committed to maintain the tie between language and culture. Being capable of speaking the majoritys language requires the acquaintance of ones mother tongue. Hence acquiring ones mother tongue is an indispensable pre-condition for a successful integration. The IGMG acknowledges the fact that learning both the mother tongue as well as the language of the majority constitutes an integrated whole which in turn sets up the basis for a conjoint culture.
What is the IGMG?
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The relation between man and woman

What is the IGMG?
Dress code
Islam provides a certain dress code which has to be followed by both men and women. Men are to cover their body at least between their navel and their knees. For women it is the entire body except hands, feet, and face. Women need to cover their hair also. The purpose of this precept is not to oppress women in any manner but rather to withdraw them from the dictates of physicalness. In other words: the Islamic dress code aims at disburdening women from the constraints of an attitude that far too easily judges them by their outer appearance. Wearing a veil (hijab) is part of the Islamic dress code and is therefore to be adhered to. Yet wearing or not wearing a veil is not significant in terms of ones affiliation to Islam. By any means, Muslim women should wear headscarves by choice and out of their own conviction of faith. Discrimination against women who do not weir a headscarf is as unacceptable as discrimination against women who have decided for themselves to weir a veil.
What is the IGMG?
According to the Quran men and women are equal before God and both are given the same religious responsibilities. They possess the same rights and liabilities. Both the Quran and the practice of the Prophet clearly point out that men and women complement and espouse each other in married life. Abiding this stance and passing it on to future generations is a task which the IGMG addresses itself to. The legacy of paternalistic structures that despite the Islamic doctrine have evolved in the Muslims home countries for centuries and have a lasting effect even in Europe is something that we dismiss. Contrariwise, we encourage and support Muslim women in actively taking part in European societies, benefiting from educational offers and developing professionally. From the Islamic point of view, a family is the nucleus of an intact society. It is above all based on a voluntarily established marriage. In the case of conflicts within family life the IGMG offers its support and assistance for married couples.
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Islamic religious education

What is the IGMG?
In accordance with the German constitution and the constitutions of the federal states, the IGMG approves the implementation of an Islamic religious education in state schools. The lessons should address Muslim pupils and be given in German language. In so doing it should support those juveniles in finding their place in society as self-confident citizens of Islamic faith.
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For more information...
www.igmg.de
Islamic Community Milli Gr Boschstr. 61-65 D-50171 Kerpen Telefon: 02237 / 656-0 Fax: 02237 / 656-555 www.igmg.de info@igmg.de

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Islamic Community Milli Gr e.V.

What is the IGMG?

What is the IGMG?

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

What is the IGMG?

Was bedeutet Milli Gr?

Historical development of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

Historical development of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

Historical development of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Irshad (religious guidance)

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

What is the IGMG?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

What does Milli Gr mean?

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG

Historical development of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

Standpoints of the IGMG

What does Milli Gr mean?

Historical development of the IGMG