What We Believe:
(1) Education, both Islamic and Western, is one of greatest keys to success in this life and the next. Allah says, “It is only those who have from among His slaves that fear Allah” (Fatir: 28). (2) Muslim Communities equipped with both types of knowledge are necessary for our development in the 21st century. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The seeking of knowledge is oblig
atory for every Muslim." (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
(3) Muslims should search for alternatives to interest-based loans to fund their education. Allah says, “O you who believe, do not consume interest, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful” (Aal-Imran: 130). (4) It is the responsibility of the Muslim Community to support their Muslim students in attaining their education by providing non-interest based loans and scholarships. As the Prophet (peace be upon) said, “The relationship of the believers is like the bricks of a building, each strengthens the other” (Bukhari). He (peace be upon him) said that Allah said, “Spend, O son of Adam, and you will be spent on.” (Bukhari)
(5) This effort will not only benefit the future of Muslims but will benefit us individually when we meet Allah. “When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three: a continuous charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who will pray for him” (Muslim). Traditionally, funding for higher education revolves around family support, working during academic years, and/or interest-based loans. Many are unable to adequately fund their education through family and work thus leading to either not pursuing the advancement of their education or taking interest-based loans while sacrificing their religious commitment. So our vision is to bridge that gap and facillitate higher education for Muslims. We call this organization "A Continuous Charity" because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three: a continuous charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who will pray for him” (Muslim, 1631). We believe that ACC will provide this reward at all levels of participation:
(1) Our donors' generous and constant donations will be re-circulated, re-used, and re-invested in more and more students for decades long after we passed. The knowledge that is learned, used, and benefitted from will be another source of continuous reward for our donors. (2) Our recipients will be even better equipped through their higher education to support their communities by teaching and mentoring the youth. The knowledge and experience that they will impart on our youth will be their source of uninterrupted reward, inshaAllah. (3) Our communities will have a continuous source of young educated Muslims to be role models for their communities. (4) Our nation will have a large amount of practicing and educated Muslims that help change social, economic, and political policies, locally and globally (again another source of continued benefit)
What We Believe
(1) We believe in the importance and implementation of education, both Islamic and secular. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim." We believe that Muslim Communities equipped with both types of knowledge are necessary for our development. (2) We believe that Muslims should search for alternatives to interest-based loans to fund their education. Allah states in the Quran, “O you who believe, do not consume interest, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful” (Aal-Imran: 130). (3) We believe that through a united effort from the Muslims, we will be able to promote the education of Muslims while discouraging the use and dependence on interest. Allah states in the Quran, "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah" (Aal-Imran: 110). (4) We believe that this effort will not only benefit the future of Muslims but will also allow our deeds to continue even after our death. The knowledge and recirculation of funds to students will serve as a continuous benefit to mankind. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “When a man dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three: a continuous charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who will pray for him” (Muslim, 1631). How We Operate
Scholarships and loans will be determined by three principles: Islamic knowledge/achievement, secular knowledge/achievement, and community engagement. By using these principles as our criteria, our hope is to nurture a generation of educated Muslim professionals who will aid the Muslim and non-Muslim community through education and community service, serving as beacons of Islam. The ACC will generate funds from donations and its endowment, the National Muslim Student Endowment (NMSA). The National Muslim Student Endowment (created by the ACC) is an educational fund created to:
1. Accumulate additional funds that will help to provide more scholarships and loans
2. Prevent the ACC from becoming a financial burden upon the Muslim Community
3. Ensure longevity of the organization.
