About Hisba

HISBA’s Four Functions

To achieve it’s aims, HISBA undertakes four functions:

Accountability Inquiries

Investigating public misconduct by MPFs and holding them to account

Exoneration Inquiries

Investigating and publicly exonerating victims of provably false slander (at their request)

Mediation Process

De-escalating disputes by open mediated private channels of communication between disputants

Educational Publications

Publish articles on Islamic standards of conduct and creed, using real-life examples obtained from HISBA investigations as lessons for the public
How it works

HISBA’s Accountability Inquiry

If HISBA receives a complaint about a Muslim Public Figure or Organisation (MPFO)’s public misconduct, HISBA will begin an accountability inquiry proceeding along the following four steps:

Investigation

Fact-based investigation of public bad conduct

Encourage Self-rectification

Request the perpetrator(s) to make an apology and retraction voluntarily to their followers. If they refuse, then go to next step

Scholarly Involvement

The council of advising scholars to HISBA will be given a report of the fact-based investigation and consulted for judgement.

If the scholars conclude bad conduct/speech, request the individuals again to make an apology/retraction voluntarily. If they again refuse, then go to next step

Public "Name and Shame"

Publish by video (on our YouTube) and text on this website, with the full investigation and the scholars’ judgement, to the public
Outcomes

The four outcomes of the accountability inquiry

The four possible outcomes from an accountability inquiry are:

Anonymised Self-rectification

Individual apologises to their followers on social media. HISBA will not publish their name on its media channel and website, but only that an unnamed MPFO involved in a case of specific bad conduct, has retracted and apologized.

Anonymised Exoneration

Investigation/scholars rule that no bad conduct occurred. The MPFO involved requests anonymity. HISBA will not publish their name on its media channel and website, but only that an unnamed MPFO in a case reported to be ‘bad conduct’, was actually conduct justifiable and in line with Islamic standards.

Named Exoneration

Investigation/scholars rule that no bad conduct occurred. The MPFO involved does not request anonymity. HISBA will publish their name on its media channel and website as a case reported to be ‘bad conduct’, was actually justifiable and in line with Islamic standards.

Named Report and Scholars' Ruling

(i.e. ‘name and shame’) If the investigation/scholars discover/rule that bad conduct did occur, and the MPFO refuses to self-rectify, their name and the particular conduct they were involved in will be published in detail on media (YouTube) and text.
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File a request for an accountability inquiry

Read FAQs first
FAQs
Submit a Case
How it works

HISBA’s Exoneration Inquiry

If HISBA receives a request from a MPFO, to exonerate them against a public slander to their reputation on a matter of public interest, HISBA will begin an exoneration inquiry (if you are not a public individual, and have been slandered by an MPFO, use the accountability inquiry option above). This consists of the following steps (where applicable):

Investigation

Fact-based investigation of the slander, looking for evidence and tracing the source of the slander (if possible)

Approach Requester With Findings

If the findings show the slander to be true and of public interest, HISBA will approach the requester to self-rectify by publishing an apology

Public Exoneration

If the findings show the slander to be false, or lacking evidence, or the slanderers refuse to provide evidence, HISBA will publish the findings and exonerate the requester

Begin Accountability Inquiry

If the source of the slander is a MPFO, HISBA will begin an accountability inquiry on the perpetrator

File a request for an exoneration inquiry

Read FAQs first
FAQs
Submit a Case
How it works

HISBA’s Mediation Process

If two MPFOs are reported to HISBA engaging in a immature online dispute (i.e. a dispute with insults and ad hominem attacks), HISBA will intervene to offer mediation. This consists of the following possible steps:

Contact Both Parties Privately

Speak with both parties to arrange a meeting with a HISBA representative as an impartial moderator. If both parties have not yet committed any misconduct, process ends. If both respond but have committed misconduct, go to step (3). If one or either party do not respond and continue their immature online dispute, go to step (2).

Contact Both Parties Publicly

Use social media to make a public entreaty to one or both parties to cease and desist and to attend a mediated meeting. Then go to next step (3)

Encourage Self-rectification

Request the disputant(s) to make an apology & retraction of the misconduct voluntarily to their followers. If they refuse, then go to step (4)

Begin Accountability Inquiry

Begin inquiry on one or both of the disputants

File a request for mediation

Read FAQs first
FAQs
Submit a Case
Educatonal Publications

HISBA’s educational publications

Prevention is better than cure. In tandem with the inquiries and mediation service, HISBA will be publishing on both its media channel and website, a number of videos and articles on the following areas:

Case-studies of Bad Conduct

All cases that HISBA investigates, together with their rulings from the scholars council, will be published on the HISBA website (and as videos on the media channel) for the public to learn what conduct is unacceptable.

Educational Material on Islamic Standards & Creed

HISBA will publish informational articles and videos on Islamic adāb, akhlāq and how to stay within the limits of the agreed upon areas of Islamic creed. Articles will be linked to relevant HISBA case-studies for practical examples of how to avoid common mistakes and slip ups.
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Check out our Educational Resources

Educational Resources