How are Jewish and Muslim congregations governed?

[ltwin]

As someone who has an interest in different forms of ecclesiastical polity, I’ve always wondered how synagogues and mosques were governed.

In Christianity, there are essentially 3 major types of “church polity” or governance–episcopal (rule by bishops), presbyterian (rule by a hierarchy of representative assemblies), and congregational (rule by the members of a local congregation). Of course, some Christian denominations have elements of all 3 polities.

Are there comparable types of polity in Islam or Judaism? Are there hierarchical organizations that make binding decisions for individual synagogues or mosques?

Just curious here.

 

[CatholicDetroit]

I can’t speak to the Jewish hierarchy but each mosque is independent for the most part. Some may follow the same school of thought or follow a particular scholar. Each mosque is governed by an imam or for shia an ayotallah. Literally any muslim can create a mosque and it doesn’t require any approval from the higher ups. There’s no head of the islamic faith, there’s no caliph to answer to. Theres no leadership or governing body for the Islamic religion.

That’s basically why Isis and other terrorists organizations are always trying to establish a caliph…to rule the muslims.

 

[CatholicDetroit]

Also, some big mosques may have something like a board of directors to make decisions for how money is spent. But most times the imaam handles that.

 

[Augustinian]

Are there comparable types of polity in Islam or Judaism? Are there hierarchical organizations that make binding decisions for individual synagogues or mosques?

I think it varies a lot among the muslims- depending on which group they belong to. The Nation of Islam is really run by Minister Farrakhan and because of his public stature has a loud voice. In other groups like the 5%'ers and such, there is probably more autonomy out there, without the loud voice.

 

[CatholicDetroit]

Yeah I agree. Even though most Orthodox communities don’t consider the NOI (Nation of Islam) under the leadership of Minister Farrakhan to be “Real Muslims” they are very organized.

I never thought about that before so I appreciate you mentioning that fact. He definitely is the head of the NOI headquartered out of Mosque Maryam, in Chicago. They have a lot of numbered mosques and I suppose approval for a new mosque would come from the high ups (Farrakhan himself or his student ministers).

I agree…The 5%'ers, Nation of Gods and Earths, definitely seems to have more autonomy. I wish we had some of the followers from either on our forums.