General

This is a community of people of all ages and backgrounds, experienced and inexperienced with the web. Please watch what you say when you write to avoid being misunderstood or offensive. You are responsible and liable for all your activities while participating in the forum. Remember, you are responsible for anything you say or post.

Do not use the forum to spam others. Spam includes sending identical and irrelevant or unsolicited submissions to many different users and threads, and includes misrepresenting the source of anything you post. Trolling, spamming and scrolling in forums are serious violations of online etiquette.

A forum is a place for discussion, not for personal agendas or vendettas. Engage in dialogues and refrain from soapbox antics. Forum abuse will be promptly dealt with.

Studying Islam does not allow any form of advertising, therefore promoting websites or products in the forum is inappropriate. Hyperlinks to 3rd party web sites are allowed only if they pertain directly to the discussion topic. Advertising includes but is not limited to:

• Advertising or recruiting for other sites
• Spamming links to external websites with malicious content
• Linking to sites offering illegal and/or inappropriate material such as pornography, slurs, illegal software (warez), etc.

One-word posts (often referred to as "bumping") are discouraged. Sometimes a single word is all that's required, but please refrain from the custom. Repeatedly bumping threads is considered spamming and is a violation of this code of conduct.

The lingua franca of the forum is english. If you need to post in another language, provide english references or translations. Hacker jargon, also referred to as "1337" or Leetspeak, is considered a non-english scripta defecta.

Legalities

The Studying Islam forums do not allow behavior or content related to illegal activities. You may not use the Studying Islam forums to publish, post, distribute, or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene, or other unlawful material or discussion. This includes, but is not limited to, pornography, violence, illegal drugs, software piracy, and harassment.

You may not use the Studying Islam forums for the purpose of linking to external sites that violate this code of conduct.

In addition to upholding this code of conduct, you are responsible for adhering to all local and national laws that pertain to your location.

You are responsible for any actions you may take based on advice or information you receive online. Use your own judgment when evaluating information provided through any communication service, and remember that the information provided could be from people at any age and experience level. The decision to conduct transactions is your own and you should perform your own research prior to making any decisions.

We caution you against giving out any personally identifiable information online. This information can easily be used for illegal or harmful purposes.

Disclosing personal information about other members is strongly discouraged. Please be advised that any such information will be deleted from posts by request of the offended party or at the discretion of the administrative and moderating board.

Profanity

The use of profanity in any posting will not be tolerated. This site is here for everyone, young and old, professional or amateur. Any post that is considered offensive in any way will be deleted or modified. This is an Islamic forum. Disrespect against Allah (swt) and/or the Prophet(sws) will not be tolerated.

In unclear cases the administrative and moderating team shall be the sole arbitrator of what does and what does not violate community standards.

Personal Attacks

Please treat all other forum members with respect and do not use the forum to threaten, harass, stalk, or abuse other members. Treat other forum members as you would like to be treated. Don't attack others in any manner or form. The forum implements a strict No Takfir Policy. No member here is in such a position of authority that they can pronounce another Muslim anathema. Personal attacks on others of this nature will not be tolerated.

Challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully, without insult and personal attack. Personal attacks, slurs, and profanity in any and all interactions are forbidden. Address issues, not people. Repeated offense will result in permanent loss of forum privileges.

Harassment includes but is not limited to sending mass PMs, confrontational posts with malicious intent, stalking other members, and anything that could be construed as harassment.

The Studying Islam forums are a large, diverse community. Please realize other posters are likely to hold different opinions than you. Since we embrace diversity, any attacks or hateful speech regarding race, religion, or sexual preference will not be tolerated, and offenders will be sanctioned accordingly.

Explicit Language & Behavior

Discussion forum posts that contain explicit, obscene or vulgar language will be removed. The SI forums adheres to a strict PG-13 setting.

We encourage users of all age groups and beliefs, so please refrain from using offensive language. What’s acceptable? If it’s a word you hear on primetime network TV, it’s probably acceptable. Circumventing this by simply replacing a few letters with an asterisk or other symbols is not allowed.

Similarly, discussion forum posts that solicit or offer explicit or X-rated GIFs, JPEGs or similar content files will be deleted without notice. We encourage users of all age groups and beliefs so please keep any and all images in the PG-13 category or they will be deleted without notice, and the user warned. Repeated offense will cause the termination of forum privileges.

These are public forums and we ask that you behave as you would if you were in a public place. These issues are left to the discretion of the moderating and administrative board, but may include any material that is knowingly false or defamatory, misleading, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, that otherwise violates any law, or that encourages conduct constituting a criminal offense.

Studying Islam is not responsible for messages posted on the Studying Islam Forums or the content therein. Unless expressly stated otherwise, this includes messages posted by Studying Islam personnel, agents, representatives et al.

Repeated Questions

Please check to see if your question has already been asked and answered. Your question may have been asked and answered many times already. You're very likely to find your answer much more quickly, and it is a courtesy to others on the forum. Do not post unnecessary duplicate threads. If an existing thread is already posted within the last couple of days on a subject, do not start another thread on the same subject. Duplicate threads make it difficult for members to find the original threads and they slow down user access to the forum. New threads are encouraged, but unnecessary duplicates will be merged or deleted in their entirety.

Continually posting the same topic on a particular board, and posting the same question across several forums is also considered spamming, and is a violation of this code of conduct.

Choosing Descriptive Titles and Subjects

Many people do not have the time to read every message, so they rely on the subject line to tell them if your question is something they might be able to help you with. Rather than title your post "I Need Help Please!" or "What Does This Mean?" try something descriptive, like "How Do I Add a Font?" or "What Is Your Opinion On Positive Thinking?" That way the subject matter is narrowed down and others can see if it's something they can discuss or help with.

Welcoming Newcomers

When newcomers arrive, welcome them to our growing community. Many of our community's "elders" (regardless of age) have a wealth of knowledge and much to share. Help new members learn about how to find information and resources, save time, and how to get involved in the community.

Copyrighted Information

Quoting information or data from sources outside the Studying Islam forum or website abides to the Fair Use Doctrine {USC Title 17, Sec 107}.

Studying Islam forums users agree not to post any material that is protected by copyright, trademark or other proprietary right without the permission of the owner(s) of said copyright, trademark or other proprietary right.

Information copyrighted or owned by any individual or entity other than the member may not be posted on the discussion forums without the consent of the owner. If such an event occurs, the individual posting the information shall be held solely responsible. Studying Islam shall not be held responsible for member-posted information that may violate copyright law.

Studying Islam has a very strict policy against piracy and the illegal use of copyrighted material. Linking or giving information about any site that distributes illegal software, seeking help in circumventing copyright laws, possessing or distributing illegal copyrighted material, or encouraging media piracy are all grounds for immediate and permanent account termination. This goes for all copyrighted material, including but not limited to broadcasts, media, publications, software and games.

Protecting Identities and User Accounts

Any impersonation of another user from these forums, in any mode of communication, is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate and permanent banning.

To maintain thread clarity members are allowed to create one user account only. Multiple accounts resulting in multiple profiles will be deleted upon detection. Members are restricted to a single username. An agreement must be arbitrated between the member and the moderating board for multiple accounts and/or usernames to be allowed. If multiple profiles are maintained after a note of reprimand has been issued, the violator shall be suspended pending adjudication. Violating or attempting to violate this rule shall be grounds for permanent loss of forum privileges.

You may not impersonate another forum member. Accessing someone else's account or attempting to access another poster's account is strictly prohibited.

Personal messages (PM's) are considered proprietary and confidential and may contain legally privileged information. They are intended for the designated recipient(s) only. Any and all unauthorized use, distribution, copying or alteration of personal messages is strictly forbidden. Breach of this rule will be sanctioned according to case.

Any acting on behalf of a banned or suspended member will be dealt with promptly. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned according to case. Any and all disciplinary decisions are at the discretion of the administrative board.

The Moderating Board

Users are not privileged to argue a moderators decision publicly. Any and all complaints directed at moderating actions must first address the moderator in question via personal messaging (PM). If the issue cannot be resolved, the moderator and user shall send their positions to the forum administration. The administration will make or change any and all final decisions.

Members are not privileged to call for moderating or disciplinary actions against other members publicly. If moderating or disciplinary actions are called for, the moderating board and administration are to be contacted via personal note or personal messaging. If calls for moderating actions are repeatedly done publicly, disciplinary consequences against the offending party will be considered according to case.

The administration shall perform the functions and duties imposed upon them by this title, may issue such rules and regulations as they deem necessary to carry out such functions and duties, and may delegate the performance of such functions and duties and the authority to issue such rules and regulations to such individuals as they may designate.

The moderating board has the right but not the obligation to monitor and/or moderate the Studying Islam Forums. Neither moderators nor administrators are exempt from the forum rules.

Reserved Rights

Note: Studying Islam and its assigned agents reserve the right to amend or change any or all other parts of this code of conduct at any time at its sole discretion and without notice, including but not limited to implementing codes of conduct, posting privileges and permissions and/or other measures, and encourages you to periodically review these guidelines to ensure you are in compliance. Violation of any of these rules and guidelines will result in sanctions determined according to case.

Participation in the Studying Islam Forums is a privilege, not a right. Studying Islam and its assigned agents has the right, at its sole discretion, to revoke board privileges at any time without notice.

• The owners of Studying Islam Community and their assigned agents reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread or post for any reason.
• Studying Islam and its assigned agents reserve the right to remove a post which does not relate to the topic being discussed in the forum.
• The administrative board of Studying-Islam reserves the right to organize discussion forums in order to best serve the majority of our members. For example, narrow-interest or minimal activity topics may, at the administrative boards discretion, be relocated to a more appropriate discussion forum, or deleted entirely.
• Studying Islam and its assigned agents reserve the right to prohibit or delete discussions that are thought to violate applicable law or that may be harmful to other members, the sites that comprise Studying-Islam, or the rights of Studying Islam or others.
• While users have the right to delete their own posts the moderating board reserves the right to restrict deletion if the action compromises the integrity of any forum or thread. Further action, if any, is arbitrated by the user and the moderating board.
• The administrative and moderating board reserves the right to revert any and all deletion of any and all posts if deletion has compromised the integrity of any forum or thread. The decision is at the sole discretion of the administrative and moderating board or its assigned agents.
• The administrative board reserves the right to ban or suspend any member from the forum for violating any of these rules. The administrative board is not obligated to expound the reasons for banning or suspending a member, closing a thread and/or any other disciplinary or corrective action.

All messages express the views of the author, and neither the owners of Studying Islam Community, nor Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. (developers of vBulletin) will be held responsible for the content of any message.