I was used to make their dreams come true, so that Sayed Jumaa Salam could brag about writing something as significant as a translation of the Holy Quran. -SaLee Amina
To My Fellow Muslims, from SaLee’ Amina Mohammed:
I have personally suffered at the hands of Sayed Jumaa Salam, Imam of the Islamic Center of Reseda (ICR), Reseda, CA 91335, and I feel compelled to encourage Muslims to meet together directly and to discuss, investigate, explain and RESOLVE all issues in a rational and respectful manner, including matters like this one.
My complaint about Sayed Jumaa Salam is that he solicited my professional writing services to produce the book now known as “Noor Al-Bayan” a universal interpretation and English translation of The Holy Quran, over which I labored around the clock, with deep sincerity and commitment; dedicating myself to completing the work, while putting everything else aside to do so.
But, Sayed Jumaa Salaam broke his word and cheated me. He published it in his name ONLY, pretending he was the sole author, he paid me NOTHING, he pocketed the money from sales, and he gave me no credit for the extraordinary work I had done, at great personal cost and consequences to me.
Now, he continues to use the fruits of my labor in what appears to me to be a somewhat plagiarized product, a small printing of which was originally financed and is still promoted by the Director Aref Abedi of ICR, which have been followed by multiple printings, from which Sayed Jumaa Salam profits, giving not one cent to me, despite my extensive work. If he had not made the promises to me, then things would be different, but he did promise, and in those broken promises lie the true fact that he had deceived me, so as to put himself in the spotlight, getting all of the applause, whether deserved or not; while I stand in the shadows, betrayed.
It had surprised me that ICR Director Aref had financed the original printing (as a dedication to his deceased family member) because Sayed Jumaa Salam had very often criticized Aref to me, who I had known for decades, even accusing that Aref stole money from the mosque. What I knew about Aref is that he was the Director of that mosque when I first started attending there, whenever I was in town, and it was a very small building in which we prayed. I watched Aref build the mosque from something small into something large and beautiful.
I assume that for as long as “Noor Al-Bayan” is producing money to line the pockets of those involved in selling it, they will not be inspired to come clean, be honest, do the right thing, keep agreed upon promises, compensate hard work and acknowledge the truth of authorship.
I immediately complained about this the moment that I discovered that “Noor Al-Bayan” was printed with Sayed Jumaa Salam as the sole author. But, Sayed Jumaa threatened that IF I DARE to complain, he will remove my name completely from any mention whatsoever, which he immediately did. The first publication barely mentions me, in passing, lost in the middle of page 10, following the subsection entitled, “About the Author, which some have called a “Litany of Lies”, as to the alleged credentials and accomplishments of Sayed Jumaa. The second publication does not mention my name whatsoever, nowhere in the publication.
That is NOT the “co-authorship” that he had promised me. His promises were only bait to catch a fish. It seems that he and the ICR Director are now capitalizing on a product that would never have occurred without the professional services of people who were sometimes deceived, conned, scammed, cheated and betrayed. It seems that even the printer, assistants, researchers, editors and Arabic language experts were similarly betrayed. The ONLY ones to benefit seem to be Sayed Jumaa Salam and the ICR Director. I would like to see a full accounting of the income and profits that my hard work produced.
For two years, I have tried to convince Sayed and Aref to do the right thing, but it seems that I was used to make their dreams come true, so that Sayed Jumaa Salam could brag about writing something as significant as a translation of the Holy Quran, while actually, I only know ONE other writer whose writing is as desperately lacking as is Sayed Jumaa Salam’s; while it seems both men profit on the sales. Where does that money go?
Long ago, when people criticized the authenticity of the original Quran, the Muslims asked them to produce even one verse as excellent as the Quran, which they could not do. Similarly, anyone could challenge Sayed Jumaa Salam to write even one page, without continual errors, misspellings, incorrect grammar and bad English. Sayed Jumaa Salam could not have produced the “Noor Al-Bayan” on his own, independently, so he solicited help, saying any tricky lie needed, so as to get what he wanted, then, he broke his word. Is this the proper conduct of a Muslim? Is this the righteous conduct of an Imam?
Salam Alaikum
AMINA
SaLee Amina Mohammed
www.saleeamina.com
YouTube: Salee Amina