But suppose the majority in the community actually wants an exclusive masjid, where it is almost entirely of religious function and where the majority can look down on and ignore individuals who may not fit into what appears as a ‘good’ Muslim? Just because the community doesn’t go much to the mosque, does not mean that the majority of them would like the masjid to become more inclusive and with more “secular” community services.

No way can voting solve the problem then.

Jazak Allahu Khair for your comment! To be clear, I am not exempting the board. Leadership in Islam is a tremendous burden and board members should definitely be held accountable. Who’s responsibility is it though to make sure incapable board members do not get elected? The community itself is in charge of casting a vote! And, when there are literally less than 50 people voting for the board, the community has the ability and opportunity to change the board very easily.

Yes the board is to blame, but the problem is when the community just points a finger at them without doing anything themselves. They have the power to take action and make a change, but they don’t utilize it.

Should we have better trained board members who understand the issues within a community? Absolutely and without question. Do we have them? In most masajid probably not. Do most board members see themselves as needing to do a better job? Allahu Alam, but should we as a community just blame them instead of doing something about it? No, and that’s my main point.

An insightful observation to a potent post!