I know Sayed Jumaa Salam’s writing ability, or shall I say, more accurately, the LACK thereof. I think that if he were in a fifth grade English course, he would fail; yet, he claims sole authorship to this book “Noor Al-Bayan”. -SaLee Amina

When Sayed Jumaa came to me, SaLee’ Amina Mohammed, asking for my professional writing services to compose “Noor Al-Bayan”, he promised me co-authorship (both names would appear as authors), he promised to pay me, he promised I would share in the profits from sales of the book and he said that we would write other books together. He broke his word on every point. Yet, this man is supposedly a Muslim Imam at Islamic Center of Reseda (ICR), California, where I had attended and donated for decades, every time that I was in town.

The book was published with his own name ALONE as the author, and reports to me indicate that it seems to have become his personal means of extracting money from people, as “donations”, and to advance his own public relations. I know Sayed Juma’s writing ability, or shall I say, more accurately, the LACK thereof. I think that if he were in a fifth grade English course, he would fail; yet, he claims sole authorship to this book, rather fraudulently, it seems, probably because he is financially benefiting from the sales of the book, being hawked by this “Fake News” author.

I had protected Sayed Jumaa in the past from severe criticism that many in the mosque were hurling at him, reminding fellow Muslims that with all of his flaws, he does lead the prayers at ICR and he studies Islam and sometimes gives classes at the mosque, but, he is also PAID quite a bit for doing that. It is not out of compassion or generosity. Nevertheless, I felt we should not forget the good things, while focusing on the bad. However, despite the fact that I was the ONLY one to stand up for him at that time, and despite that he continually stated how very much he respects me, it did not stop him from cheating me and breaking his agreements, for his own benefit. For two years now, I attempted to get Sayed Jumaa to be truthful and to do the right thing and keep his agreements, but this has not been successful. He seems to love the praise he gets, as well as the extensive “donations”, while he ignores his commitment. I felt as if I had made his dream come true, but he had used me, saying anything to get what he wanted, with no intention whatsoever of keeping his word or being honorable.

The original publication of “Noor Al-Bayan”, a Universal English translation and interpretation of the Holy Quran, was self-published, with the original small amount of capital for a small number of copies reportedly provided by Aref Abedi, Director of the Islamic Center of Reseda (ICR), in California. The reality is that the majority of writing was not by Sayed Jumaa Salaam, whose name alone appears in big golden letters on the cover, as the ONLY author. In fact, such a claim of sole authorship of this particular translation and interpretation of the Holy Quran is simply “FAKE NEWS,” created by Sayed Jumaa Salaam, for his own self-aggrandizement.

When Sayed Jumaa came to me, asking for my professional writing services to compose “Noor Al-Bayan,” he promised me co-authorship (both names would appear as authors,) he promised to pay me, he promised I would share in the profits from sales of the book and he said that we would write other books together. He broke his word on every point. I have known Aref for decades, and I tried to get him to correct this situation, as I believe I have been seriously defrauded by Sayed Juma. But, the mosque needs someone to lead the prayers, which is presently performed by Sayed Jumaa (for a hefty salary), and I felt that perhaps Aref was not fully aware of all of the facts. Plus, it appeared that Aref did not want to challenge Sayed, a man who had often severely criticized Aref to me and many others, even violently attacking brothers in the mosque, verbally and physically, which I saw with my own eyes, and complained to Sayed Jumaa that it is wrongful of him to treat Muslims in that manner, especially in the mosque. Thereafter, he even verbally insulted and abused me in the mosque, after I had completed my back-breaking work on “Noor Al-Bayan”. This was very strange to me, in that he had previously repeatedly stated that he respected me more than almost any other person he had me. I suppose his words were false flatter, to connive me into helping him turn out an adequate written rendition of “Noor Al-Bayan”, which I know could not have happened if he had done it alone, since his English writing was very deficient.

It has been reported to me that over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised on work that I did in good faith, yet was paid nothing for my services, received no “co-authorship credit”, which had specifically been promised, and I have shared nothing in the profit from sales.
Sayed Jumaa did not keep his promises to me, he took my work without any compensation in any way, and he claimed (falsely) that he is the EXCLUSIVE and ONLY author of that publication, which is a lie. I have been further informed that about $50,000.00 was raised in the first event promoting the publication, Nov. 2016. I am informed that he has continued since then to pocket or himself the profits from the sales of Noor Al-Bayan, which seems to have become his own personal money maker.

I was also informed that he takes the book that I worked so hard to get into print to mosques and Muslim businesses, collecting “donations”, allegedly so that he can publish yet more copies (of his “Fake News” that he is the only author of that book, “Noor Al-Bayan”, which is untrue.)

I was appalled at what I saw as his outrageously selfish, greedy and dishonorable conduct; and I was disgusted that a person might hide behind a title or position of authority, such as being an Imam or Director of a mosque, while conducting himself as a conniving deceiver. ‘Allah condemns the deceivers..’ – Quran 8:20)

To my shock and dismay, I realized that I was totally used, abused and betrayed by him, and I continue to be maligned and cheated, while he bathes in money received from sales of the Quran and donations from well-meaning Muslims who think Sayed Jumaa Salam must be good, since he (allegedly) wrote a Quran Translation. This “False Thesis,” which it seems Sayed Jumaa felt fine about plagiarizing the combined writing of others as exclusively his own, seems to follow the same pattern as his claims of (alleged) multiple advanced degrees and his (alleged) many previous written books. Despite several requests, Sayed Jumaa never could show me one valid degree, nor one book in print that he supposedly had written. Maybe these things exist, but surely, it seemed to me that if it was truth, then he would be able to produce them.

This is NOT acceptable conduct for a Muslim, no less one who calls himself an Imam and who is paid a substantial salary to lead the ICR Muslim community. This UNHOLY plagiarism by Sayed Jumaa Salam is such a disgrace to those of us who supported him, believed him, trusted him and defended him from accusations. I now realize that probably all the bad things that I had heard about him might actually be true. Many times, I tried to get him to come clean and make amends for his wrongdoing, but he chose to end all contact with me, the person who he had previously continually praised, as being someone he respected very, very much. Does one cheat people who they respect? I suppose the money he has made on this and the great “big shot” status that it has won for him (unfairly) was too attractive, causing him to compromise ethics, honor and integrity.

This reminds me of when I was a whistle-blower against two corrupt Judges, one corrupt Deputy District Attorney, 23 corrupt law enforcement officers, one corrupt Sheriff and his corrupt Deputy Sheriff. 18 were criminally tried, convicted and sentenced. Some are still imprisoned in Federal penitentiaries. Because Sayed Jumaa Salam is born as a Muslim, despite his outrageous misconduct, I chose not to report or prosecute what I believed to be blatant fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract and unfair business practices. But, after two years, my patience is wearing thin. Am I doing a disservice to the integrity of Islam by not stopping this man from reaping monetary gain from his “Fake News” sole authorship of this book, and am I shielding a wrongdoing in a manner that encourages him to do such evil to other innocent Muslims. It is a difficult dilemma for me, because I care deeply about Islam, as well as about the social impression or “image” of Islam to the public. This is an awful scandal that this man has done, and it seems that no efforts whatsoever have been made to curtail his wrongful actions or to correct the harm done to me, and to others.

Right now, I feel a bit like the former FBI Director, James Comey, must have felt. I ask myself, Should I continue to hold myself back from making Sayed Jumaa Salam pay for his transgressions, in civil or criminal Court, or in the public media. In doing so, more and more damage is done, and without outside pressure, Sayed Jumaa will never come clean and make up for the damage, loss and betrayal that his deceit has caused. Therefore, this is the first step I am taking, to release this information to a Muslim brother, so relay it as he feels is proper, among the Muslim community of ICR. I pray to Allah for guidance in this matter.

I pray for the future of Islam, which is in the hands of Muslims. The reputation of Islam rests upon the CONDUCT of Muslims.

Salam Alaikum

AMINA
Dr. Salee Amina Mohammed
www.saleeamina.com
YouTube: Salee Amina