The Islamic Center of Little Rock (ICLR) says it evolved from the Little Rock chapter of the Muslim Association of Arkansas, which began holding meetings at the location in May 1985. The group started its own chapter of the Muslim Youth of North America after attending the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
The group became the Islamic Center of Little Rock in January 1992. In December of that year, the property was given to the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) “in case we defaulted to carry on the Islamic activities due to financial constraint or other reasons.” In 1993, two neighboring houses that were vacant were purchased by ICLR and also handed over to NAIT.
In May 1993, NAIT loaned ICLR $25,000 so it could finish constructing its parking lot. ISNA endorsed the fundraising campaign.[2]
The ICLR’s constitution states it was founded “in affiliation” with NAIT. Article 3 requires the mosque to maintain that affiliation.[3]
The ICLR imam is Sayed Osman, who graduated from Al-Azhar University in Egypt. His Facebook is filled with pro-Muslim Brotherhood photos and he is an enthusiastic supporter of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, the Brotherhood candidate. He posted photos from a group named, “Anti-Secularism.” He also voices criticism of the Egyptian opposition standing against the Brotherhood and Morsi.
In a sermon about Sharia law published in June 2011, Osman preached that Sharia allows for “retribution (an eye for an eye)” and criminal punishments for sex outside of marriage, false accusations, theft and greater theft (rebellion).
He states that “the punishment for stealing is to cut off the hand. But applying this punishment has a very strict set of conditions.” He also sa
ys that stoning and lashing is permissible under Sharia: “Dear brothers and sisters, we should not be unfair to Islam, or to Sharia law, and we should not believe that Sharia means only chopping off hands, or lashing people or stoning them.”
He preaches that Sharia law is better than American law: “Furthermore, punishment cannot be given to an ignorant person, one who does not know what is permissible and what is forbidden. In this regard, Sharia law is more merciful than the law of the United States, because the argument that one is ignorant of the law is not a valid argument in America.”
Osman preaches that the Sharia punishments can only be instituted by a legitimate Sharia authority and since one does not exist in the U.S., they cannot be enforced. He also emphasizes that these punishments are only applicable for Muslims.[4]
[1] As seen on the ICLR website, www.theICLR.org, February 13, 2013.
[2] Ghori, Hashim M. “History of the Islamic Center of Little Rock (I.C.L.R.),” ICLR website, https://www.theiclr.org/community-relations/history-of-iclr/.
[3] “Constitution,” ICLR website, December 5, 2003. https://www.theiclr.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/constitution.pdf
[4] “Islamic Shari’ah (sharia law),” Imam Sayed Osman blog, June 17, 2011. https://imamsayedosman.blogspot.com/2011/06/islamic-shariah-sharia-law.html
The Islamic Center of Little Rock (ICLR) says it evolved from the Little Rock chapter of the Muslim Association of Arkansas, which began holding meetings at the location in May 1985. The group started its own chapter of the Muslim Youth of North America after attending the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
The group became the Islamic Center of Little Rock in January 1992. In December of that year, the property was given to the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) “in case we defaulted to carry on the Islamic activities due to financial constraint or other reasons.” In 1993, two neighboring houses that were vacant were purchased by ICLR and also handed over to NAIT.
In May 1993, NAIT loaned ICLR $25,000 so it could finish constructing its parking lot. ISNA endorsed the fundraising campaign.[2]
The ICLR’s constitution states it was founded “in affiliation” with NAIT. Article 3 requires the mosque to maintain that affiliation.[3]
The ICLR imam is Sayed Osman, who graduated from Al-Azhar University in Egypt. His Facebook is filled with pro-Muslim Brotherhood photos and he is an enthusiastic supporter of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, the Brotherhood candidate. He posted photos from a group named, “Anti-Secularism.” He also voices criticism of the Egyptian opposition standing against the Brotherhood and Morsi.
In a sermon about Sharia law published in June 2011, Osman preached that Sharia allows for “retribution (an eye for an eye)” and criminal punishments for sex outside of marriage, false accusations, theft and greater theft (rebellion).
He states that “the punishment for stealing is to cut off the hand. But applying this punishment has a very strict set of conditions.” He also sa
ys that stoning and lashing is permissible under Sharia: “Dear brothers and sisters, we should not be unfair to Islam, or to Sharia law, and we should not believe that Sharia means only chopping off hands, or lashing people or stoning them.”
He preaches that Sharia law is better than American law: “Furthermore, punishment cannot be given to an ignorant person, one who does not know what is permissible and what is forbidden. In this regard, Sharia law is more merciful than the law of the United States, because the argument that one is ignorant of the law is not a valid argument in America.”
Osman preaches that the Sharia punishments can only be instituted by a legitimate Sharia authority and since one does not exist in the U.S., they cannot be enforced. He also emphasizes that these punishments are only applicable for Muslims.[4]