MANAGEMENT

MCABS is a registered society under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908.

It is also registered under the Charities Act 2005. The Charities Commission Registration Number is CC54420

MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIETY

1. Under the Rules of the Society, anyone who wants to become a member, has to apply through the masjid or Islamic Centre he attends or associates with. Or he can apply online once a website is up and running.
2. There will be a Council made up of three representatives from each masjid or Centre.
3. The Council will appoint a Board to run the affairs of the Society. The Board will have eleven (11) members most of whom will be professionals in their own fields. Their term will be for five years. However, every year one Board member will retire and a new one will be appointed.
4. Any payment to be made by the Society will have to be approved by the Board and at least three (3) members will have to sign the cheque or authorise Bank to make a payment.

RULES GOVERNING MEMBERSHIP AND THEIR RIGHTS

THE FOLLOWING RULES WILL APPLY TO THE RUNNING OF THE SOCIETY. THESE MAY BE CHANGED AS AND WHEN NECESSARY BY THE BOARD.

1. OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIETY:

– To provide financial assistance to family members of any deceased person who was a member of the society and also to those who are poor and need financial assistance for burial and other associated costs.

2. WHO CAN BECOME A MEMBER – any Muslim over the age of 18 years. The spouse and /or any dependent (under 18 years) will automatically be included as members.

3. IS MEMBERSHIP AUTOMATIC? No it is subject to approval by the Board.

4. ONCE MEMBERSHIP IS APPROVED WHAT IS REQUIRED FROM THE MEMBER? The member has to pay a levy to the Society. The levy will include membership fees and donation. The amount of levy will be fixed by the Board to cover the funeral costs of the member and others who are poor and needy.

5. HOW CAN A MEMBER PAY THE AMOUNT LEVIED? It can be paid in one lump sum or by instalments monthly or annually by direct credit or automatic payment in to the Society’s Bank Account.

6. HOW DOES A MEMBER KNOW WHEN HIS MEMBERSHIP IS APPROVED AND HOW MUCH TO PAY– the Board will notify him/her.

7. WHY IS PART OF THE LEVY TO BE TREATED AS DONATION? The donation will allow the Society to assist poor and needy for their funeral costs. It will give the member a right to claim tax credit for his or her donation made to a registered charity.

8. CAN A MEMBER ASK PART OF THE LEVY NOT TO BE TREATED AS DONATION? Yes he/she can.

9. WHAT IS FAMILY THE MEMBER? It includes the member and his or her spouse and any children under the age of 18 years.

10. FOR HOW LONG IS THE MEMBER REQUIRED TO PAY HIS MEMBERSHIP FEES? The board will determine this by fixing an amount of levy for different age groups. Once the fixed amount is paid, the member will become a Life Member.

11. IS A LIFE MEMBER REQUIRED TO CONTINUE PAYING ANY LEVY? No, unless he or she chooses to continue to do so as a donation by way of waqaf.

12. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DEPENDANT CHILDREN ONCE THEY REACH THE AGE OF 18 YEARS? They will no longer be included with the member and will be required to become a member in his or her own right.

13. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SPOUSES ARE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER? Each spouse will have to become independent member and pay separate fees.

14. IN THAT EVENT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LEVIES ALREADY PAID? The Board will apportion the levy standing to their credit equally to each of them.

15. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DEPENDENT CHILDREN? They will be covered in the membership of the person who has their custody.

16. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MEMBER OR HIS SPOUSE OR ANY DEPENDANT CHILD DIES? The funeral of the deceased is arranged by any Funeral Service provider of the family’s choice ie NZMA, SAMA or anyone else. The family will be provided with an invoice for the costs of the funeral. The Society will pay the cost of his or her funeral to whoever has arranged the funeral upon production of an invoice. This is the benefit of becoming a member of the Society.

17. WILL THE PAYMENT COVER THE FULL COST OF THE FUNERAL? Yes, if the full levy is paid for Life Members (option 1) or Premium Members (option 2). However, if the full levy is not paid, the Society will pay the actual levy standing to the credit of the member and any other amount that the Board may fix for any particular period.  Any shortfall will have to be paid by the deceased’s family.

For Ordinary Members (Option 3), IF DEATH OCCURS WITHIN TEN (10) YEARS OF JOINING, SOCIETY WILL PAY WHATEVER  YOU HAVE PAID AS LEVY PLUS $1,000 ON TOP OF THAT. IF DEATH OCCURS ANYTIME TEN (10) YEARS AFTER DATE OF JOINING, SOCIETY WILL PAY FULL FUNERAL COSTS

HOWEVER, if the Society’s fund is large enough the Board may decide to pay the full costs of the funeral even if the member does not meet the above criteria.

18. WILL THE SOCIETY PAY FOR FUNERAL COSTS OF ANY ONE WHO IS NOT A MEMBER? Yes, provided the deceased is poor and needy and has no assets or income or does not have any relatives.

19. WILL THE LEVY BE SAME FOR EVERYONE WHO JOINS THE SOCIETY? No, it may vary depending on the member’s age at the time of joining. This will be decided by the Board.

20. CAN A MEMBER TERMINATE HIS MEMBERSHIP? Yes.

21. WILL THE MEMBER GET A REFUND OF HIS LEVY PAID? No. The levy is paid to a charitable society for a specified purpose which in accordance with Shariah is a Takafful fund. However, the Baord may refund the levis paid if the fund is large enough and the reasons for termination is considered to be genuine by the Board.

22. CAN A MEMBER BE REMOVED? Yes, as provided for in the Rules of the Society.

23. WHAT HAPPENS IF A MEMBER MOVES TO ANOTHER COUNTRY? The member may choose to keep his or her membership and a reasonable funeral cost of the country where he or she dies will be paid by the Society. The reasonable cost will be the cost that is payable in Auckland.

24. WHAT HAPPENS IF A MEMBER DIES AND HIS FAMILY DOES NOT CLAIM ANY FUNERAL COSTS? His or her membership can be transferred to either spouse who is living at the time or to any of his or her children or any other person as authorised by the legal representative.

25. WHAT HAPPENS TO SURPULUS FUNDS HELD BY THE SOCIETY? The Council will set up a Management Trust made of respected and trustworthy members who shall invest the funds in shariah compliant way.

26. CAN THE SOCIETY HELP MUSLIMS IN ANY OTHER WAY? Yes, this is possible if the Society can accumulate a large fund. This will be decided by the Council.

27. HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER? – by filling out an application form and handing it to the chairman of the Islamic Centre /and/or masjid you attend. (Forms will be available at every Islamic Center and/or masjid in Auckland area) OR by emailing it or posting it to the address provided in the form OR it can be done online.

for more information visit the MEMBER’S PAGE