The Need of the Hour

As Muslim professionals, we must be alerted to the reality that we work in fields that are not governed by foundational morals and ethics. Overwhelmingly, we work in industries designed to maximize material profits at all costs. We toil in “not-for-profit” healthcare systems that prioritize cash flow over altruistic patient care; in biomedical research enterprises that allocate resources based on profitability of disease rather than human benefit; in a legal system that clearly delivers justice unevenly rather than universally; and in a technology industry focused on generating stockholder value rather than accounting for technology’s tangible harms to human beings or maximizing technology’s ability to address basic human needs. Even the academic institutions from which Muslim professionals graduate demonstrate a lack of moral integrity, with top-tier university presidents resigning over academic misconduct; university boards ousting presidents, not based on merit or academic integrity, but due to financial pressure from top donors; and a record number of academic publication retractions. 

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Founding

In the eye of this malicious storm of moral, ethical and spiritual bankruptcy, Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia founded the Al-Amin Ethics Institute in Jumāda Al Awwal 1445 AH/December 2023.  This visionary collaboration under the leadership of Shaykh Amin seeks to cultivate moral and ethical excellence (ʾIḥsān) among Muslim professionals from the disciplines of healthcare, law, and information technology. 

Shaykh Amin is the founder of Darul Qasim College, a world-renowned institute of higher Islamic learning. He is a muftī, a master theologian and a polymath in the field of Islamic sciences. He has trained scholars and professionals to represent Islamic ethics in today’s context. 

Shaykh Amin reminds Muslims of a Prophetic statement in which Rasūlullah ﷺ advises us:

The upper hand is better than the lower hand, (for) the upper hand is one that gives and the lower (hand) is one that takes. [Ṣaḥih Al-Bukhāri 1429, Ṣaḥih Muslim 1033]

Mission

The time has come for well-intentioned Muslim professionals to sincerely ask themselves a simple question: Are we among those who give (the upper hand) or are we among those who only take (the lower hand)? Are we even equipped with knowledge of what and how to “give”? 

Under the guidance and direction of Shaykh Amin, the Al-Amin Ethics Institute will promote an Islamic ethical framework based on an uṣūlī (principles-based) approach built from a traditional Sunnī Māturīdī foundation. This ethical framework creates a compass for Muslim professionals to navigate the moral and ethical complexities of their respective fields. These trained Muslim professionals will transform their approach to framing and solving the critical issues needed to positively impact the quality of their professional communities. As Muslim professionals apply an authentic, structured Islamic ethical framework, they will distribute knowledge derived from the Prophethood of Muḥammad ﷺ; an inheritance of knowledge that provides the most comprehensive and beneficial solutions to humans universally.

The Macro

On a macro-level, the Healthcare, Law, and Information Technology cohorts will contribute their unique expertise by synergistically collaborating to solve complex ethical challenges while fostering a creative, interdisciplinary environment. Shaykh Amin’s uniquely crafted pedagogy offers a comprehensive understanding of our place in the universe by delving into the very nature of knowledge, human existence, and appreciating the perfect attributes of the Divine. 

The Micro

On a micro-level, these cohorts will create practical guidelines for professionals to actualize the idea of “do no harm, do no sin.” Each cohort will shape professional codes of conduct to represent the Islamic civilizational value of adab (decency, morals & manners) that can be applied to governing policies of American professional organizations. With these codes as their guide, professionals can confront ethical challenges with a global outlook, contributing to a more secure world. 

Al-Amin Ethics Institute seeks to cultivate individual professional responsibility by promoting the common good (maʿrūf) and discouraging evil (munkar) upon the proven framework of Islamic civilizational values. The immediate benefit will be leveraging justice into the policy discourse. This will be done by advocating for an ethical foundation underlying corporations and organizations.   

An Open Invitation

Shaykh Amin, an authority in Islamic Law, has provided pivotal rulings to facilitate professionals’ and scholars’ quest for morality and self-improvement. Al-Amin Ethics Institute will establish a universal platform for Muslim professionals to benefit directly from the ʿĀlim in bringing forward the timeless wisdom of Al-Amīn (a known title of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ) through the legacy of his noble Ṣaḥābah (may Allah be pleased with all of them). 

Al-Amin Ethics Institute invites all Muslim professionals to join us in learning from esteemed ʿulamāʾ at Darul Qasim about how to replace complacency with actions that reflect Allah’s attribute of Al-Karīm (most generous, most noble); how to replace dishonesty and lack of integrity with Rasūlullah’s ﷺ attributes of Al-Sādiq Al-Amīn (the truthful, the trustworthy); how to address the many forms of ẓulumāẗ (injustice and darknesses) with ʿadl and nūr; and how to reform material selfishness with īṯār (altruism) through iṣlāḥ (reform) and tazkiyah (self-purification) of the nafs (inner-self/soul). With Allah’s faḍal (grace) and through our sincere and collective efforts, we intend to holistically represent and manifest the strength of the upper, giving hand to benefit all creation.