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IMPORTANT: Complete your membership form here.
Nominate a candidate for the Board of Directors Election here.
Download a copy of the signed bylaws here.
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا
"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided."
What Happened
On October 31, 2025, the ISSWW Board of Directors fell below the minimum quorum required to conduct official business. Under the ISSWW bylaws (13.6), a Board that cannot meet quorum is unable to hold valid meetings, make decisions, or oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization. This leaves ISSWW without a functioning governing body.
In accordance with the bylaws, the existing Board of Trustees (Dr. Khalid Khan & Hassan Abdalla) is calling a special meeting to dissolve the Board of Directors and restore proper governance. This meeting will be held at ISSWW on December 6 at 12:30 p.m.
ISSWW Leadership Structure
ISSWW is governed by a three-tier system called the Majlis Shura, which includes:
1. Board of Trustees
3 members, serving 6-year terms
Elected by a 2/3 vote of the Majlis Shura
Provides long-term stability and oversight
2. Board of Directors
6 members, serving 4-year terms
Elected directly by the general body members
Responsible for operational and day-to-day leadership
Quorum: 3 members (Bylaws 8.0)
3. Standing Committees
8 committees, with 3 voting members each (24 members total)
Appointed by the Board of Directors
Handle specialized areas of community work (Dawah, Education, Long-Term Planning, etc.)
Together, these groups form the Majlis Shura, the overall steering body of ISSWW. For Majlis Shura decisions, such as appointing new trustees or dissolving the organization, quorum is 50%, including at least 2 Trustees and 3 Directors (Bylaws 21.6 & 21.12.3). Votes must reach a ⅔ majority to be passed.
The Former Board of Directors
Cheikh Ibrahim Soumare – Resigned July 6, 2024 (vacancy was not replaced)
Alex Arrick - Resigned January 15, 2025 (vacancy was not replaced)
Dr. Muhammad Riaz - Resigned October 30, 2025
Mohanned Qandil - Resigned October 31, 2025
Ahmed Qayoumi - Resigned during a board meeting in October 2025. No meeting minutes were recorded or published.
Ilyas Mohammed Siddiqui - Did not resign
A Clear Timeline
1. Board of Directors Falls Below Quorum - October 31, 2025
2. Special Community Meeting & Appointment of Interim Board of Directors - December 6, 2025, 12:30 p.m. at ISSWW
3. Board Election Nominations Open - Until March 25, 2026
4. General Board Election - April 4–5, 2026 at ISSWW
5. Membership Registration (Ongoing)
Steps for the ISSWW Community:
Attend the Special Meeting
Participate in the upcoming special community meeting where the Board of Trustees will discuss the transition of the Board of Directors.
Date: December 6, 2025, 12:30 p.m. at ISSWW
Submit Nominations
Nominate a member of ISSWW to serve on the Board of Directors.
Deadline: March 25, 2026
Complete Membership Form
Fill out the ISSWW membership form to be eligible to vote in the election.
Election Dates: April 4–5, 2026
Submit Questions
If you have any questions or comments about this process, submit them via our contact form.
On the Validity of the Existing Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees serves six-year terms and must be either a founding member of ISSWW or, in the absence of founding members, a member with at least ten years of involvement (Bylaws 12.1 & 12.5). The legitimacy of the current trustees was reaffirmed by the Majlis Shura when they voted to appoint a new trustee on September 20, 2025.
Recently, a former member of the Board of Directors questioned the validity of the Board of Trustees, suggesting they should have been replaced years ago. However, since the current trustees were signatories of the bylaws in 2020, their terms are properly established and remain valid until 2026 according to multiple lawyers’ opinions. The Majlis Shura has not replaced any trustees prior to September 2025, nor did the Board of Directors initiate any replacement process until that date.
To replace a trustee, a 2/3 vote of the Majlis Shura is required – a body which is currently not at quorum and therefore has no authority to act according to the bylaws (12.1). For context, the committees that complete the Majlis Shura have been inactive since January 2020, only to be recreated for a short time in September 2025. The Majlis Shura is also under quorum as it requires 3 directors present for any action.
It is also important to note that if the trustees were deemed invalid, the Board of Directors itself would also be invalid, as the trustees oversee the Board of Directors elections – including those held in 2024. Therefore, the current Board of Trustees must be considered legitimate, and their oversight of ISSWW governance is fully authorized.
Attempted Unauthorized Unilateral Action
A former member of the Board of Directors will be attempting to call an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to appoint new trustees and Board members. This action appears to be based on a misinterpretation of Bylaws Section 33.2, which states:
"The members may consider and transact any business either special or general without any notice thereof at any meeting of members."
While this language allows members to discuss general or special business at meetings, in both corporate and nonprofit law, specific provisions of the bylaws take precedence over general language. Section 33.2 does not, and cannot, override the specific procedures outlined elsewhere in the bylaws for:
Replacing trustees, which requires a 2/3 vote of the Majlis Shura, and
Appointing Board of Directors members, which must occur through a formal election process.
Any attempt to unilaterally bypass these required procedures is therefore unauthorized and invalid under the governing bylaws and applicable law (RCW 24.03A.125).
Ongoing Gridlock
The Board of Directors is currently under quorum, which means that the day-to-day operations of ISSWW cannot be carried out effectively.
It is essential for the community to actively participate in the Masjid’s operations, whether by serving on the Board, committees, or other volunteer roles. It is inappropriate for any individual to attempt to run the Masjid unilaterally, hoard funds, prevent membership drives, or impede diverse opinions.
Transparency and adherence to established governance are critical for the proper functioning of any nonprofit organization. We strongly advise against any attempts at unauthorized takeover and encourage all members to engage through the proper, collective channels.
Dua
We ask Allah to protect our community from fitnah and division, to unite our hearts, and to guide us to act with justice and wisdom. May He safeguard ISSWW and keep our Masjid a place of harmony and trust.
Sincerely, the Board of Trustees, Dr. Khalid Khan & Hassan Abdalla