Law Enforcement

Official’s Guide

To The

Muslim Community

“... Stand out firmly for justice,

as witnesses to God,

even as against yourselves,

or your parents,

or your kin,

and whether it be [against] rich or poor ...”

Qur'an, 4:135

Al-lsra wal-Miraj

Allah

Ashura

Eid

Eid Mubarak

Halal

Hijab

Iftar

Imam

Night Journey andAscension, a religiousoccasion.

Arabic word for God.

Name of a religiousobservance, whichoccurs on the tenth dayof Muharram, the firstmonth of the Muslimlunar calendar.

A day of festivity, majorreligious holiday.

Greeting: BlessedFestival.

Permissible by Islamiclaw.

Clothing Muslim womenwear in public. It isgenerally loose-fittingand includes a headcovering.

Fast-breaking meal,eaten after sunset.

Prayer leader.

GLOSSARY OF MUSLIM TERMS

Jum'ah

Khutbah

Kufi

Lailat a/-Qadr

Niqab

Qiblah

Qur'an

Ramadan

Suhoor

Wudu

Friday congregationalprayer, the Muslimweekly worship service.

A sermon during Jum'ah.

A cap sometimes wornby Muslim men.

Night of Power, areligious occasion.

A face veil worn by someMuslim women

The direction of Mecca,which Muslims faceduring prayer.

Islam's scripture,sometimes spelledKoran.

The month of fasting.

Pre-dawn meal, eatenbefore the day's fastbegins.

Ablution, a ritual washingbefore prayer.

The information contained in thispublication is designed to assist lawenforcement and other security

personnel and administrators in formulatingand implementing policies that will helpcreate a culturally- sensitive environmentand a cooperative relationship betweenAmerican Muslims and law enforcementagencies. Because of the lack of experiencemany police officers and federal agentshave about Islam, they may wonder whatIslam and Muslims are. This publicationdoes not aspire to provide a detaileddescription of Muslim life, rather it doesattempt to highlight aspects that are mostrelevant to the law enforcementenvironment.

The booklet will also serve as a guide tothe religiously mandated practices ofMuslims who work for or have contact withsecurity, and law enforcement entities.This guide is also designed as a quickreference tool to all emergency responseprofessionals and volunteers, includingfirefighters and emergency medicaltechnicians.

MUSLIMS AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENTCOMMUNITY

American Muslims emphasize respectfor the law of the land, as the Islamictradition maintains law and order as a toppriority for a functioning society. The Qur'anregards the unjust taking of someone's lifeor property as a criminal behavior and greatsin. The Islamic scripture also regards justice

as a supreme value. Informed by theseteachings, Muslims generally look favorablyat law enforcement. On variouscircumstances American Muslim communityorganizations have met with lawenforcement officials to discuss issues ofcooperation. Meetings across the countrytook place in Islamic centers, which offeredcomfortable venue for interaction betweenlaw enforcement and Muslim communities.However, mistrust of the police and securityagencies may be found among recentimmigrants because of negativeexperiences they may have had in theircountries of origin (where officers of the lawhave been implicated in corruption andabuse of the citizenry). Thus some mayexhibit fear or reluctance when dealing withlaw enforcement authorities.

THE ISLAMIC CREED

The Muslim creed is simply a belief in sixcore elements: (1) The One God; (2) theangels; (3) the divine scriptures, whichinclude the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel,and the Qur'an; (4) the Messengers of God,including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses,David, Jesus, and Muhammad, who was thelast prophet; (5) the Day of Judgment, whenpeople will receive the reward (Heaven) orpunishment (Hell) for their deeds on earth;(6) and supremacy of God's will.

Islam stresses that all believers arebrothers and sisters who should worktogether to promote good and forbid evil.Thus, the Muslim concept of group

solidarity assumes not only a positivecollective will, but also an individualcommitment to good deeds. Islamcommands morality in personal life as wellas justice and equity in relations betweenpeople.

To help the believers sustain thedisciplined life Islam prescribes, the Qur'anmakes obligatory on Muslims a number ofpractices including prayer, fasting,almsgiving and pilgrimage. Islamic devotionsare meant to increase Godconsciousnessand to offer the believer an opportunity toperiodically reflect upon his or her life withthe intention to turn away from wrongdoingin favor of the straight path.

DAILY PRAYER

Islam urges "God-consciousness" in theindividual's life. To that end, Islam prescribesprayers, which are considered reminders forMuslims to be good. Muslims are requiredto offer mandatory prayers at the followingtimes each day:

1. Morning Prayer (Fajr) may be offeredfrom break-of-dawn until just beforesurise.

2. Noon Prayer (Zuhr) may be offered fromjust after midday until mid-afternoon.

3. Afternoon Prayer ('Asr) may be offered-from late afternoon until just before sun-set.

4. Sunset Prayer (Maghrib) may be offeredfrom sunset until darkness.

5. Night Prayer (Isha) may be offeredthroughout the night hours. Muslimsusually keep prayer timetables, sched-ules calculated for specific geographiclocations. While Islam encourages

Muslims to pray at the mosque as manydo every day, any dry space free ofimpurities is suitable for prayer. Thus it isnot unusual to see Muslims fulfilling suchacts of devotion in highway rest areas orother public places (e.g. at airports,shopping malls or on duty).

During the prayer time, the Muslim isfully engaged. He or she may not respond toa ringing telephone or conversation.Officers should not take offense if theworshiper does not answer their call duringthe prayer. However, in the case of anemergency, an announcement as to thenature of the emergency will suffice tointerrupt and, if needed, stop the prayer.During the act of worship, in both individualand congregational prayer, specific versesfrom the Qur'an are recited silently oraloud, and the Muslim will stand, bow andtouch the forehead to the ground. Duringthe prayers, the worshiper will face in adirection towards Mecca, calledqiblahwhich is generally northeast inAmerica. Before the prayer, Muslims arerequired to wash their faces, hands and feetwith pure water. This ablution, called wudu,is normally performed in a restroom sink orother facility that has running water.

FRIDAY CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

In Islam, Friday is the day for weeklycongregational services, called Jum'ah. Thisevent takes the place of the daily noontimeprayer and includes a sermon, called theKhutbah, which is delivered by an Imam(Prayer Leader). Some Fridaycongregational prayers may take about 60-90 minutes; others may last until theafternoon prayer. This is especially true inwinter, when there is only about two-hourdifference between the noon and theafternoon prayer times. The Jum'ah prayeris held in a mosque or other communityspace.

Because of the rapid Muslim populationgrowth taking place in many parts of thecountry, mosques conduct several serviceson Fridays. Fire departments are advised toschedule random inspections on other days.Should any necessary business beconducted involving the premises of Islamiccenters on Friday, that business must becompleted before 10:OO A.M. or scheduledto start after 3:00 P.M.

QUR'AN AND OTHER LITERATURE

The Qur'an is the most important sourceof religious knowledge for Muslims. Muslimsrevere it as the last revelation from God tomankind. If an officer has cause to believethe Qur'an may contain any contraband, itmay be inspected and, if needed, taken asevidence. Should Qur'ans be seized, they

should not be placed on the floor andshould be handled with respect as much aspossible. This way, officers can demonstratethat they separate the actions of suspectsfrom a holy scripture cherished by allMuslims. Requirements of religioussensitivity, of course, are superseded bysafety concerns under emergencycircumstances.

BEARDS

Following the example of the ProphetMuhammad, many Muslim men wearbeards. Some Muslim scholars are of theopinion that wearing of a beard is areligious obligation. Cleanliness andproper appearance are required by Islamicteachings.

MUSLIM CALENDAR

There are several days in the Muslimcalendar with special religious significance.Islamic holy days and festivals follow thelunar calendar. Like the solar calendar, thereare twelve lunar months. However, a lunarmonth, which is marked by the appearanceof a new crescent moon on the horizon, maylast only 29 days. Thus, a lunar year hasabout 11 days fewer than the solar year.Therefore, it is important for administratorsto note that the dates of Muslimobservances and special celebrationschange each year because of this differencebetween the solar and lunar calendars.

RAMADAN FAST

Ramadan is a period of personalrestraint and a time to focus on moralconduct. The month of Ramadan, the ninthmonth of the Islamic lunar calendar, is thetime in which Muslims are required to fast.Observing Ramadan means refraining fromeating and drinking from dawn to sunset.This implies a temporary change in foodschedule. The morning meal, called suhoor(predawn meal), must be taken beforedawn, when the early morning light breaksthe darkness. The evening meal, called iftar(fast-breaking meal) must be servedimmediately after sunset.

Sick persons are not required to fastduring Ramadan, but they must make upmissed days after recovery. If the patientstill wishes to observe the fast, oralmedications can be rescheduled for intakeduring the night. Injections do not invalidatethe fast unless they are nutritious or used assubstitute for nutrition.

ALMSGIVING

Caring for the poor and disadvantagedis considered a foundation of the Islamicfaith. For Muslims with ability, there aremandatory annual and seasonal obligationsof giving charity. The Islamic traditionrequires Muslims to give a portion of theirwealth to eligible categories of the needy.Also, Islam recommends generouscharitable giving in general--no matter what

personal circumstance, as even a smile ischarity.

PILGRIMAGE

Every capable Muslim is obliged to go ona pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in alifetime during the pilgrimage season, whichstarts two months after Ramadan. Theround trip and the religious rites in the holyplaces usually take seven to ten days.

MUSLIM HOLIDAYS

Eid (Day of festivity) is the main holidaycelebrated by Muslims twice a year. Thefirst, Eid al Fitr, is celebrated at the end ofthe month of Ramadan. The second, Eid alAdha, is celebrated on the tenth day of thetwelfth Islamic month. A typical greeting onthese occasions is Eid Mubarak (BlessedEid). Celebrating Eid requires that Muslimstake only one day off from work. A specialcongregational prayer for the wholecommunity takes place in the morningbetween sunrise and noon. The festivitiesusually include carnivals for children, familyvisitations, gift exchanges, and communitymeals.

There are other days of religioussignificance for Muslims. These include:

Night of Power (Lailat al-Qadr): Thisobservance occurs during the last ten daysof Ramadan. Muslims believe the revelationof the Qur'an began on that night. DevoutMuslims offer special prayers throughout

the night. During this time Muslims may stayat the mosque all night, or even go to themosque during the "wee hours."

Ashura: This commemoration occurs onthe tenth day of Muharram, the first monthof the Muslim calendar. It marks the daywhen God saved Moses and the believersfrom Pharaoh and his soldiers. Following theexample of the Prophet Muhammad, manyMuslims fast on that day and another daybefore or after the event. Ashura alsocommemorates the martyrdom of Hussein,grandson of the Prophet Muhammad andthe third most revered Imam for the Shi'aMuslim community (which represents about10-1 5 percent of Muslims). Gatherings areconducted in which this historical event andits lessons are memorialized.

Al-lsra wal-Miraj (The Night Journey andAscension): This event is marked on the 27thday of Rajab, the seventh month in theIslamic calendar. The Qur'an states that theProphet Muhammad was taken by thepower of God on a night journey fromMecca to the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.From there, he was then taken to Heaven,where he received the order to start thepractice of the obligatory daily prayer.Gatherings are conducted in which thestory of the miraculous journey is told fromreligious texts.

Mosques usually experience higherattendance levels around and during theseoccasions. Consequently, traffic aroundmosques becomes heavier than usual.

During Ramadan, mosques may be busywith people even late into the night, andbefore dawn.

CLOTHING

Islam prescribes that both men andwomen behave and dress modestly. Muslimsbelieve that men and women should bevalued as members of society who must bejudged by their wisdom, skills andcontribution to community, and not by theirphysical attributes. There are a number ofways in which Muslims express suchteachings:

MEN

Some men wear a beard and/or a smallhead covering, called a Kufi. Some men wearlong tunics or robles to cover their bodiesmore fully.

WOMEN

When in public, Muslim women tend towear loose-fitting, non-revealing clothing. Inthe presence of unrelated men, Muslimwomen wear attire known as hijab inobservance of religious commands. Thisattire, which may vary in style, usuallyincludes covering the hair, neck, and body,except the face and hands. Some womenfollowing strict religious interpretations maywear niqab, or a face veil.

MUSLIM NAMES

Converts to Islam often adopt Muslimnames. Popular names include the name ofthe Prophet Muhammad and otherprophets mentioned in the Qur'an.Common Muslim names may behyphenated (even though in some spellingsthe hyphen may be dropped). The first partof the name may be Abd (or Abdul), whichmeans servant. The second part may be oneof the names or attributes of God, ninety-nine of which are mentioned in the Qur'an.For example, Abdul-Rahim (sometimesspelled Abdurrahim or Abdelrahim) meansthe Servant of the Most Merciful.

Still, one must be cautious ofstereotypes. Some non-Muslims may havewhat some may believe to be Muslim-sounding names, while Muslims may bearnames lacking any religious influence.

PRAYER RUGS

Muslims may typically be seen prayingon special rugs. A prayer rug is about thesize of a large towel. The prayer rug may besearched as needed, but like the Qur'anshould be treated with respect-never to bethrown away or stepped on. Muslims mayuse any clean, flat object, such as cardboardor a piece of paper, in place of a prayer rug.

RIGHTS OF MUSLIM LAW ENFORCEMENTOFFICERS

Some Muslim law enforcement officershave successfully settled job discrimination

complaints, which often involved religiousaccommodation concerns; others had toseek help through the legal system. Suchreligiously mandated expressions areprotected by the following provisions in theBill of Rights and federal law:

• The First Amendment to theConstitution of the United States, whichprotects the free exercise of religion.

• Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act,which provides that an employer maynot discriminate against a personbecause helshe adheres to a particularfaith, and that employers must accom-modate an employee's religious prac-tices unless doing so would cause unduehardship to the employer.

• In a number of cases the courts haveaffirmed the right of Muslims to exercisetheir religious precepts. On October 4,1999, the Supreme Court let stand alower court ruling in favor of beardedMuslim police officers against theNewark Police Department's no-beardpolicy. The ruling, issued by the UnitedStates Court of Appeals for the ThirdCircuit Court in Fraternal Order ofPolice v. City of Newark (App. No. 97-5542), stated:

Because the Department makesexemptions from its policy for secularreasons and has not offered any substantialjustification for refusing to provide similartreatment for officers who are required to

wear beards for religious reasons, weconclude that the Department's policyviolates the First Amendment.

DEATH

It is essential that family members (orthe local mosque, if family members cannotbe reached) know immediately when aMuslim is dying or has died. All efforts mustbe made to ensure that a person's body isceremonially washed according to Islamicteachings and buried in 24 hours if at allpossible. A dying Muslim would appreciatehelp in turning his or her face toward Mecca(northeast in the United States), inaccordance with Muslim practice. Muslimswash the body of the dead and bury him orher quickly. Cremation is not permissibleand embalming should not be performedunless required by law. Muslims may havespecified in their wills where they should beburied and who should handle their funeraland burial. Such requests should beaccommodated.

AUTOPSY

Islam prohibits the mutilation of deadbodies because it shows a lack of respectfor the dead. Unless required in connectionwith an investigation of a crime, an autopsyshould not be performed.

GENERAL INTERACTION

It is appropriate to keep a physical

space when dealing with members of theMuslim community. Words of sympathy forvictims of crime are considered adequateemotional support. Some Muslims may beuncomfortable with gestures that includeany touching, especially from the oppositegender, because of religious concepts ofmodest behavior.

Officers speaking with a Muslim of theopposite gender may observe thatindividual avoiding eye contact. Rather thanbeing a sign of evasion or deceit, it is likelythat the individual is following religiousteachings of modesty which require"lowering the gaze."

Many Muslims, especially immigrants,may feel great fear or discomfort arounddogs for cultural reasons. Canine officersshould take this into account whileperforming their duties.

BODY SEARCHES

Islam prescribes certain parameters forrelations between the sexes. For example,many Muslims may interact formally and arereluctant to shake hands with the oppositesex. This should not be taken as an insult,but as a sign of personal modesty.

Following religious teachings, Muslimfemales may want to stay fully covered inpublic and Muslim males may want to keeptheir bodies covered from the navel to theknees. Muslim detainees in facilities withopen showers should be allowed to wrapthemselves with large towels. The officerdoing shakedowns, including pat searches,

should be of the same gender as theMuslim. Also, in non-emergency situations,frisking and strip-searches should beconducted while respecting the privacy ofthe suspect. Whenever the situationpermits, female paramedics should attendto Muslim female patients.

ETIQUETTE ON ENTERING HOMES ANDMOSQUES

Because Muslims kneel to the ground inprayer, they try to keep their flooring free ofimpurities. In mosques as well as places ofresidence, Muslims take off their shoesbefore stepping on carpeted areas (oftenupon entering the front door). When alone,Muslims may not invite officers of theopposite gender into the house, again,because of religious concepts of modesty. Innon-emergency situations, officersdemonstrate sensitivity when they adhereto such etiquette during visitation of Muslimplaces of worship. If conducting homesearches, officers should allow women tocover in the presences of non related men.

RECRUITING MUSLIMS

Muslim community organizationsencourage their members to join lawenforcement. Still, many Muslims hesitate todo so. In the case of some recentimmigrants, their countries of origin mayhave had police officers who were agents ofrepressive regimes. Other Muslims shunservice believing that American law

enforcement agencies tolerate an anti-Muslim bias. There have been manyinstances when Muslims were profiledbased on their faith, ethnicity or politicalviews. In some cases they were questionedor visited by federal agents at their homesor places of work based on unsubstantiatedreports. Also, anti-Muslim remarks havebeen attributed to even some high officials.Law enforcement agencies can increase thechance of recruitment in the Muslimcommunity by dispelling such fears andexhibiting utmost fairness at all times.

MUSLIM COMMUNITY OUTREACH

There are about seven million Muslims inthe U.S. and they are found in every state.For more information and questions, call theCouncil on American-Islamic Relations at(202) 488-8787. Also, check your localtelephone directory for the nearby Islamiccenter to contact a local imam or anoutreach officer. A local Muslim center maybe located on the Internet by visiting<www.islamicfinder.com>. For more detailsabout the concerns of Muslim employeesconsult An Employer's Guide to IslamicReligious Practices. For more information onissues relevant to Muslims in detention,consult A Correctional Institution's Guide toIslamic Religious Practices. Bothpublications are available from CAIR at<publications@cair-net.org>.Muslim policeofficer groups can also help improverelations between the community and lawenforcement institutions.

Civil Rights Reports1996 - The Price of Ignorance

1997 - Unveiling Prejudice

1998 - Patterns of Discrimination

1999 - Expressions of Faith

2001 - Accommodating Diversity

2002 - Stereotypes & Civil Liberties

2003 - Guilt by Association

2004 - Unpatriotic Acts

2005 - Unequal Protection

2006 - The Struggle for Equality

2007 - Presumption of Guilt

Guides to Islamic Religious PracticesEmployer's Guide

Educator's Guide.

Health-Care Provider's Guide

Correctional Institution's Guide

Law Enforcement Official's Guide.

Know Your Rights Pocket Guide

Voter Registration Guide (groups, orgs, etc.)

Muslim Community Safety Kit

Other PublicationsJournalist's Guide

The American Mosque - Study Project

A Rush to Judgment

The Usual Suspects

Community Safety Kit

Also availableWelcome to Our Ramadan pamphlet

Welcome to Our Mosque pamphlet

Mosque Open House pamphlet

CAIR Travel Mug

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