Islamic researcher
History Of Islam
Introduction to Islam Islam is a Semitic religion, which has over one billion adherents all over the world. Islam means “submission to the will of God”. Muslims accept the Qur’an, as the word of God revealed to His last and final prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him). Islam states that Allah sent messengers and prophets throughout the ages with the message of Unity of God and accountability in the Hereafter. Islam thus makes it an article of faith to believe in all the earlier prophets, starting with Adam, and continuing with Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, John the Baptist, and Jesus amongst many others (may peace be on them all).
Concept of God
The Most Concise Definition of God
Surah Ikhlas – the touchstone of theology
What does Islam say about ‘god-men’?
By what name do we call God?
God does not take human form:
God does not perform ungodly acts:
God only performs Godly acts:
Philosophy Of Anthropomorphism
The Creator prepares the instruction manual
Allah chooses Messengers:
Each attribute of God is unique and possessed by Him alone:
Unity of God
Tawheed
The Most Concise Definition of God
“Say: He is Allah,
The One and Only.
“Allah, the Eternal, Absolute.
“He begets not, nor is He begotten.
And there is none like unto Him.”
[Al-Qur’an 112:1-4]
The word ‘As-Samad’ is difficult to translate. It means ‘absolute existence’, which can be attributed only to Allah (SWT), all other existence being temporal or conditional. It also means that Allah (SWT) is not dependent on any person or thing, but all persons and things are dependent on Him.
Surah Ikhlas – the touchstone of theology:
Surah Ikhlas (Chapter 112) of the Glorious Qur’an, is the touchstone of theology. ‘Theo’ in Greek means God and ‘logy’ means study. Thus Theology means the study of God and to Muslims, this four-line definition of Almighty God serves as the touchstone of the study of God. Any candidate for divinity must be subjected to this ‘acid test’. Since the attributes of Allah given in this chapter are unique, false gods and pretenders to divinity can be easily dismissed using these verses.
What does Islam say about ‘god-men’?
India is often called the land of ‘god-men’. This is due to the abundance of so-called spiritual masters in India. Many of these ‘babas’ and ‘saints’ have a large following in many countries. Islam abhors the deification of any human being. To understand the Islamic stand towards such pretenders to divinity, let us analyze one such ‘god-man’, Os ho Rajneesh.
Let us put this candidate, ‘Bhagwan’ Rajneesh, to the test of Surah Ikhlas, the touchstone of theology:
The first criterion is “Say, He is Allah, one and only”. Is Rajneesh one and only? No! Rajneesh was one among the multitude of ‘spiritual teachers’ produced by India. Some disciples of Rajneesh might still hold that Rajneesh is one and only.
The second criterion is, ‘Allah is aeternaland eternal’. We know from Rajneesh’s biography that he was suffering from diabetes, asthma, and chronic backache. He alleged that the U.S. Government gave him slow poison in prison. Imagine Almighty God being poisoned! Rajneesh was thus, neither absolute nor eternal.
The third criterion is ‘He begets notbegottenHe begotten’. We know that Rajneesh was born in Jabalpur in India and had a mother as well as a father who later became his disciples.
In May 1981 he went to the U.S.A. and established a town called ‘Rajneeshpuram’. He later fell foul of the West and was finally arrested and asked to leave the country. He came back to India and started a commune in Pune which is now known as the ‘Osho’ commune. He died in 1990. The followers of Osho Rajneesh believe that he is Almighty God. At the ‘Osho commune’ in Pune one can find the following epitaph on his tombstone:
“Osho – never born, never died; only visited the planet Earth between 11th December 1931 to 19th January 1990.”
They forget to mention that he was not granted a visa for 21 countries in the world. Can a person ever imagine ‘God’ visiting the earth, and requiring a visa to enter a country! The Archbishop of Greece said that if Rajneesh had not been deported, they would have burnt his house and those of his disciples.
4. The fourth test, which is the most stringent is, “There is none like unto Him”. The moment you can imagine or compare ‘God’ to anything, then he (the candidate to divinity) is not God. It is not possible to conjure up a mental picture of the One True God. We know that Rajneesh was a human being, having two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth, and a white flowing beard. Photographs and posters of Rajneesh are available in plenty. The moment you can imagine or draw a mental picture of an entity, then that entity is not God.
Many are tempted to make anthropomorphic comparisons to God. Take, for instance, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the famous bodybuilder, and Hollywood actor, who won the title of ‘Mr. Universe’, the strongest man in the world. Let us suppose that someone says that Almighty God is a thousand times stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger. The moment you can compare any entity to God, whether the comparison is to Schwarzenegger or King Kong, whether it is a thousand times or a million times stronger, it fails the Qur’anic criterion, “There is none like unto Him”.
Thus, the ‘acid test’ cannot be passed by anyone except the One True God.
The following verse of the Glorious Qur’an conveys a similar message:
“No vision can grasp Him
But His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension,
Yet is acquainted with all things.”
[Al-Qur’an 6:103]
By what name do we call God?
The Muslims prefer calling the Supreme Creator, Allah, instead of the English word ‘God’. The Arabic word, ‘Allah’, is pure and unique, unlike the English word ‘God’, which can be played around with.
If you add ‘s’ to the word God, it becomes ‘Gods’, that is the plural of God. Allah is one and singular, there is no plural of Allah. If you add ‘dess’ to the word God, it becomes ‘Goddess’ that is a female God. There is nothing like male Allah or female Allah. Allah has no gender. If you add the word ‘father’ to ‘God’ it becomes ‘God-father’. God-father means someone who is a guardian. There is no word like ‘Allah-Abba’ or ‘Allah-father’. If you add the word ‘mother’ to ‘God’, it becomes ‘God-mother’. There is nothing like ‘Allah-Ammi’, or ‘Allah-mother’ in Islam. Allah is a unique word. If you prefix tin before the word God, it becomes tin-God i.e., fake God. Allah is a unique word, which does not conjure up any mental picture nor can it be played around with. Therefore the Muslims prefer using the Arabic word ‘Allah’ for the Almighty. Sometimes, however, while speaking to non-Muslims we may have to use the inappropriate word, God, for Allah. Since the intended audience of this article is general, consisting of both Muslims as well as non-Muslims, I have used the word God instead of Allah in several places in this article.
God does not become a human being:
God does not take human form:
Some may argue that God does not become a human being but only takes a human form. If God only takes a human form but does not become a human being, He should not possess any human qualities. We know that all the ‘God-men’, have human qualities and failings. They have all the human needs such as the need to eat, sleep, etc.
The worship of God in human form is, therefore, a logical fallacy and should be abhorred in all its forms and manifestations.
That is the reason why the Qur’an speaks against all forms of anthropomorphism. The Glorious Qur’an says in the following verse:
“There is nothing whatever like unto Him.” [Al-Qur’an 42:11]
God does not perform ungodly acts:
The attributes of Almighty God preclude any evil since God is the source of justice, mercy, and truth. God can never be thought of as doing an ungodly act. Hence we cannot imagine God telling a lie, being unjust, making a mistake, forgetting things, or having any such human failings. Similarly, God can do injustice if He chooses to, but He will never do it because being unjust is an ungodly act.
The Qur’an says:
“Allah is never unjust In the least degree.” [Al-Qur’an 4:40]
God can be unjust if He chooses to be so, but the moment God does injustice, He ceases to be God.
God does not make mistakes good can make mistakes if He wants to, but He does not make mistakes because making a mistake is an ungodly act. The Qur’an says:
“…my Lord never errs.” [Holy Qur’an 20:52]
The moment God makes a mistake, he ceases to be God.
God does not forget good can forget if He wants to. But God does not forget anything because forgetting is an ungodly act, which reeks of human limitations and failings. The Qur’an says:
“…my Lord never errs, nor forgets.” [Al-Qur’an 20:52]
God only performs Godly acts:
The Islamic concept of God is that God has power over all things. The Qur’an says in several places (Al -Qur’an 2:106; 2:109; 2:284; 3:29; 16:77; and 35:1):
“For verily Allah has power over all things”
Further, the Glorious Qur’an says:
“Allah is the doer of all that He intends.” [Al-Qura’n 85:16]
We must keep in mind that Allah intends only Godly acts and not ungodly acts.
PHILOSOPHY OF ANTHROPOMORPHISMMany religions at some point believe, directly or indirectly, in the philosophy of anthropomorphism i.e. God becoming a human. They contend that Almighty God is so pure and holy that He is unaware of the hardships, shortcomings, and feelings of human beings. To set the rules for human beings, He came down to earth as a human. This deceptive logic has fooled countless millions through the ages. Let us now analyze this argument and see if it stands to reason.
The Creator prepares the instruction manual supposed I manufacture a video cassette recorder (VCR). Do I have to become a VCR to know what is good or what is bad for the VCR? What do I do? I write an instruction manual: “To watch a video cassette, insert the cassette and press the play button. To stop, press the stop button. If you want to fast forward press the FF button. Do not drop it from a height or it will get damaged. Do not immerse it in water or it will get spoilt”. I write an instruction manual that lists the various dos and don’ts for the machine.
Holy Qur’an is the instruction manual for the human being:
Similarly, our Lord and Creator Allah (SWT) need not take human form to know what is good or bad for the human being. He chooses to reveal the instruction manual. The last and final instruction manual of human beings is the Glorious Qur’an. The ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ for human beings are mentioned in the Qur’an.
If you allow me to compare human beings with machines, I would say humans are more complicated than the most complex machines in the world. Even the most advanced computers, which are extremely complex, pale in comparison to the myriad physical, psychological, genetic, and social factors that affect individual and collective human life.
The more advanced the machine, the greater the need for its instruction manual. By the same logic, don’t human beings require an instruction manual by which to govern their own lives?
Allah chooses Messengers:
Allah (SWT) need not come down personally for giving the instruction manual. He chooses a man amongst men to deliver the message and communicates with him at a higher level through the medium of revelations. Such chosen men are called messengers and prophets of God.
Some people are ‘blind’ and ‘deaf’:
Despite the absurdity of the philosophy of anthropomorphism, followers of many religions believe in and preach it to others. Is it not an insult to human intelligence and to the Creator who gave us this intelligence? Such people are truly ‘deaf’ and ‘blind’ despite the faculty of hearing and sight gave to them by Allah. The Qur’an says:
“Deaf, dumb, and blind,
They will not return (to the path).” [Al-Qur’an 2:18]
The Bible gives a similar message in the Gospel of Matthew:
“Seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” [The Bible, Matthew 13:13]
A similar message is also given in the Hindu Scriptures in the Rigveda.
“There may be someone who sees the words and yet indeed does not see them; maybe another one who hears these words but indeed does not hear them.” 1
[Rigveda 10:71:4]
All these scriptures are telling their readers that though the things are made so clear yet many people divert away from the truth.
Attributes of God:
To Allah belong the most beautiful names:
The Qur’an says:
“Say: Call upon Allah, call upon Rahman:
By whatever name you call upon Him, (it is well):
For to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.”
[Al-Qur’an 17:110]
A similar message regarding the beautiful names of Allah (SWT) is repeated in the Qur’an in Surah Al-A’raf (7:180), in Surah Taha (20:8) and Surah Al-Hashr (59:24).
The Qur’an gives no less than ninety-nine different attributes to Almighty Allah. The Qur’an refers to Allah as Ar-Rahman (Most Gracious), Ar-Raheem (Most Merciful), and Al-Hakeem (All Wise) among many other names. You can call Allah by any name but that name should be beautiful and should not conjure up a mental picture.
Each attribute of God is unique and possessed by Him alone:
Not only does God possess unique attributes, but also each attribute of Almighty God is sufficient to identify Him. I shall clarify this point in detail. Let us take an example of a famous personality, say Neil Armstrong. Neil Armstrong is an astronaut. The attribute of being an astronaut possessed by Neil Armstrong is correct but not unique to Neil Armstrong alone. So when one asks, who is an astronaut? The answer is, that there are hundreds of people in the world who are astronauts. Neil Armstrong is an American. The attribute of being American possessed by Neil Armstrong is correct but not sufficient to identify him. So when one asks, who is an American? The answer is, that there are millions of people who are American. To identify the person uniquely we must look for a unique attribute possessed by none except that person. For example, Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on the moon. So when one asks, who was the first man to set foot on the moon, the answer is only one, i.e. Neil Armstrong. Similarly, the attribute of Almighty God should be unique. If I say God is the constructor of buildings, it is possible and true, but it is not unique. Thousands of people can construct a building. But each attribute of Allah is unique and points to none but Allah. For example, God is the creator of the universe. If someone asks who is the creator of the universe, the answer is only one, i.e. Almighty God is the Ultimate Creator. Similarly, the following are some of the many unique attributes possessed by none other than the Creator of the universe, Almighty Allah:
“Ar-Raheem”, the Most Merciful
“Ar-Rahman”, the Most Gracious
“Al-Hakeem”, the Most Wise
So when one asks, “Who is ‘Ar-Raheem’, (the Most Merciful)?”, there can only be one answer: “Almighty Allah”.
One attribute of God should not contradict other attributes:
Besides the attribute being unique, it should not contradict other attributes. To continue with the earlier example, suppose somebody says that Neil Armstrong is an American astronaut who was the first human to set foot on the moon and was an Indian. The attribute possessed by Neil Armstrong of being the first man to set foot on the moon is correct. But its associated quality of being an Indian is false. Similarly, if someone says that God is the Creator of the Universe and has one head, two hands, two feet, etc., the attribute (Creator of the Universe) is correct but the associated quality (in the form of a human being) is wrong and false.
All attributes should point to the one and same God:
Since there is only one God, all the attributes should point to the same God. To say that Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut who first set foot on the moon, but he was born in 1971 is wrong. Both these unique qualities belong to the same person, i.e. Neil Armstrong. Similarly to say that the Creator of the universe is one God and the Cherisher is another God is absurd because God possesses all these attributes combined.
Unity of GodSome polytheists argues by saying that the existence of more than one God is not illogical. Let us point out to them that if there were more than one God, they would dispute with one another, each god trying to fulfill his will against the will of the other gods. This can be seen in the mythology of the polytheistic and pantheistic religions. If a ‘God’ is defeated or unable to defeat the others, he is surely not the one true God. Also popular among polytheistic religions is the idea of many Gods, each having different responsibilities. Each one would be responsible for a part of man’s existence e.g. a Sun-God, a Rain-God, etc. This indicates that one ‘God’ is incompetent in certain acts and he is also ignorant of the other Gods’ powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities. There cannot be an ignorant and incapable God. If there were more than one God it would surely lead to confusion, disorder, chaos, and destruction in the universe. But the universe is in complete harmony. The Glorious Qur’an says:
“If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both!
But glory to Allah,
The Lord of the Throne:
(High is He) above what they attribute to Him!”
[Al-Qur’an 21:22]
If there were more than one God, they would have taken away what they created. The Qur’an says:
“No son did Allah beget,
Nor is there any god along with Him: (if there were any gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had created,
And some would have lorded it over others!
Glory to Allah! (He is free)
From the (sort of) things
They attribute to Him!”
[Al-Qur’an 23:91]
Thus the existence of one True, Unique, Supreme, Almighty God, is the only logical concept of God.
TAWHEED
Definition and Categories:
Islam believes in ‘Tawheed’ which is not merely monotheism i.e. belief in one God, but much more. Tawheed means ‘unification’ i.e. ‘asserting oneness’ and is derived from the Arabic verb ‘Wahhada’ which means to unite, unify or consolidate.
Tawheed can be divided into three categories.
1. Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah
2. Tawheed al-Asmaa-was-Sifaat
3. Tawheed al-Ibaadah.
A. Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah (maintaining the unity of Lordship)
The first category is ‘Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah’. ‘Ruboobeeyah’ is derived from the root verb “Rabb” meaning Lord, Sustainer, and Cherisher.
Therefore ‘Tawheed-ar-Ruboobeeyah’ means maintaining the unity of Lordship. This category is based on the fundamental concept that Allah (SWT) alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing. He created or originated all that exists out of nothing. He alone is the sole Creator, Cherisher, and Sustainer of the complete universe and all between it, without any need from it or for it.
B. Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (maintaining the unity of Allah’s name and attributes):
The second category is ‘Tawheed al Asmaa was Sifaat’ which means maintaining the unity of Allah’s name and attributes. This category is divided into five aspects:
(i) Allah should be referred to as described by Him and His Prophet
Allah must be referred to according to how He and His prophet have described Him without explaining His names and attributes by giving them meanings other than their obvious meanings.
(ii) Allah must be referred to as He has referred to Himself
Allah must be referred to without giving Him any new names or attributes. For example, Allah may not be given the name Al-Ghaadib (the Angry One), even though He has said that He gets angry because neither Allah nor His messenger has used this name.
(iii) Allah is referred to without giving Him the attributes of His creation a reference to God, we should strictly abstain from giving Him the attributes of those whom He has created. For instance, in the Bible, God is portrayed as repenting for His bad thoughts in the same way as humans do when they realize their errors. This is completely against the principle of Tawheed. God does not commit any mistakes or errors and therefore never needs to repent.
The key principle when dealing with Allah’s attributes is given in the Qur’an in Surah Ash-Shur
“There is nothing
Whatever like unto Him,
And He is the one that hears and sees (all things).”
[Al-Qur’an 42:11]
Hearing and seeing are human faculties. However, when attributed to the Divine Being they are without comparison, in their perfection, unlike when associated with humans who require ears, eyes, etc. and who are limited in their sight and hearing in terms of space, time, capacity, etc.
(iv) God’s creation should not be given any of His attributes refer to a human with the attribute of God is also against the principle of Tawheed. For example, referring to a person as one who has no beginning or end (eternal).
(v) Allah’s name cannot be given to His creatures some Divine names in the indefinite form, like ‘Raoof’ or ‘Raheem’ are permissible names for men as Allah has used them for Prophets; but ‘Ar-Raoof’ (the Most Pious) and Ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful) can only be used if prefixed by ‘Abd’ meaning ‘slave of’ or ‘servant of’ i.e. ’Abdur-Raoof’ or ‘Abdur-Raheem’. Similarly ‘Abdur-Rasool’ (slave of the Messenger) or ‘Abdun-Nabee’ (slave of the Prophet) are forbidden.
C. Tawheed al-Ibaadah (maintaining the unity of worship):
(i) Definition and meaning of ‘Ibadaah’:
‘Tawheed al-Ibaadah’ means maintaining the unity of worship or ‘Ibaadah’. Ibaadah is derived from the Arabic word ‘Abd’ meaning slave or servant. Thus Ibaadah means servitude and worship.
(ii) All three categories are to be followed simultaneously.
Only believing in the first two categories of Tawheed without implementing Tawheed-al-Ibaadah is useless. The Qur’an gives the examples of ‘Mushrikeens’ (idolaters) of the Prophet’s time who confirmed the first two aspects of Tawheed. It is mentioned in the Qur’an:
“Say: ‘Who is it that
Sustains you (in life)
From the sky and the earth?
Or who is it that has power over hearing sight? And who
Is it that brings out
The living from the dead and the dead from the living?
And who is it that rules and regulates all affairs?’
They will soon say, ‘Allah’.
Say, ‘Will you not then how piety (to Him)?’ ”
[Al-Qur’an 10:31]
A similar example is repeated in Surah Zukhruf of the Glorious Qur’an:
“If thou ask them, who created them, they will
Certainly say, ‘Allah’: how then are they deluded away (from the Truth)?”
[Al-Qur’an 43:87]
The pagan Meccans knew that Allah (SWT) was their Creator, Sustainer, Lord, and Master. Yet they were not Muslims because they also worshipped other gods besides Allah. Allah (SWT) categorized them as ‘Kuffaar’ (disbelievers) and ‘Mushrikeen’ (idol worshippers and those who associate partners with God).
“And most of them believe not in Allah without associating (others partners) with Him!”
[Al-Qur’an 12:106]
Thus ‘Tawheed al-Ibaadah’ i.e. maintaining the unity of worship is the most important aspect of Tawheed. Allah (SWT) alone deserves worship and He alone can grant benefit to man for his worship.
SHIRK
A. Definition: The omission of any of the above-mentioned categories of Tawheed or deficiency in the fulfillment of any criteria of Tawheed is referred to as ‘shirk’.(Please note that the Arabic word ‘Shirk’ has the same sound as in the English word ‘ship’ and not as in the English word ‘shirk’, which means ‘to evade’
‘Shirk’ literally means sharing or associating partners. In Islamic terms it means associating partners with Allah and is equivalent to idolatry.
B. Shirk is the greatest sin that Allah will never forgive:
The Qur’an describes the greatest sin in Surah Al-Nisa’:
“Allah forgives not
That partners should be set up
With Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah's to devise a sin most heinous indeed.”
[Al-Qur’an 4:48]
The same message is repeated in Surah Al-Nisa’:
“Allah forgives not
(The sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgives whom He pleases other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah,
Has strayed far, far away
(From the Right).”
[Al-Qur’an 4:116]
C. Shirk leads to hell fire:
The Qur’an says in Surah Ma’idah:
“They do blaspheme who say:
‘Allah is Christ the son of Mary.’ But said Christ:
‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord
And your Lord’. Whoever joins other gods with Allah –
Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the fire will be his abode. There will for the wrongdoers no one to help.”
[Al-Qur’an 5:72]
D. Worship and Obedience to none but Allah:
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Ali-’Imran:
Say: “O people of the Book!
Come To common terms between us and you:
That we worship none but Allah;
That we associate no partners with Him;
That we erect not, from among ourselves,
Lords and patrons other than Allah.”
If then they turn back,
Say ye: “Bear witness that we (at least)
Are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s Will).”
[Al-Qur’an 3:64]
The Glorious Qur’an says:
“And if all the trees on earth were pens and the Ocean (were ink), with seven Oceans behind to add to its (supply), yet would not the words of Allah be exhausted (In the writing): for Allah is Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom.”
[Al-Qur’an 31:27]
Our analysis of the Concept of God in various Religions shows that monotheism is an integral part of every major religion in the world. However, it is unfortunate that some adherents of these religions violate the teachings of their scriptures and have set up partners with Almighty God.
An analysis of the scriptures of various religions, reveals that all scriptures exhort mankind to believe in, and submit to One God. All these scriptures condemn the association of partners to God or the worship of God in the form of images. The Glorious Qur’an says:
“O men! Here is a parable set forth!
Listen to it! those whom, besides Allah,
You call, cannot create
(Even) a fly if they all met together for the purpose!
And if the fly should snatch
Away anything from them,
They would have no power to release it from the fly.
Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!”
[Al-Qur’an 22:73]
The basis of religion is the acceptance of Divine guidance. A rejection of this guidance has serious implications for society. While we have made great strides in science and technology, true peace still eludes us. All ‘isms’ have failed to provide the much-vaunted deliverance.
The scriptures of all major religions exhort mankind to follow that which is good and eschew that which is evil. All scriptures remind mankind that good will not go unrewarded and evil will not go unpunished!
The question we need to address is, which of these scriptures provides us with the correct ‘instruction manual’ that we need to regulate our individual and collective lives?
I hope and pray that Allah guides all of us towards the Truth (Aameen).
career 19poorpoor and destitute Muslim youth.[3]
Naik said in 2006 that he was inspired by Ahmed Deedat, an Islamic preacher whom he met in 1987.[27] (Naik is sometimes referred to as "Deedat plus", a label given to him by Deedat.)[27][28]
On 21 January 2006, the Islamic Research Foundation, which Naik heads, founded Peace TV. It is a non-profit Emirati satellite television network that broadcasts free-to-air programming. It is one of the world's largest religious satellite television networks.[29][30]
In the second half of March 2021, Naik launched Al Hidaayah, which provides educational content about Islam. The platform has thousands of hours of videos of more than 40 renowned Islamic speakers from all over the world including Ahmed Deedat, Yusuf Estes, Hussein Ye, and Bilal Philips. He claimed that this platform is a "halal" version of Netflix.[31][32]
His first debate was in 1994, a debate on the views of writer Taslima Nasreen on Islam in her book Lajja, organized at the "Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh", entitled "Is Religious Fundamentalism a Stumbling block to Freedom of Expression?".[38] With the presence of four journalists, the debate went on for hours.[38] In April 2000, Naik debated with William Campbell in Chicago on the topic of "The Qur'an and the Bible: In the Light of Science", one of his most-cited debates.[39] On 21 January 2006 Naik held an inter-religious dialogue with Ravi Shankar in Bangalore about the concept of God in Islam and Hinduism.[40] In February 2011 Naik addressed the Oxford Union via video link from India.[41]
Naik was denied entry into the United Kingdom and Canada in June 2010.[46][47] Naik was forbidden to enter Canada after Tarek Fatah, founder of the openly controversial Muslim Canadian Congress, warned MPs of Naik's views.[47] He was banned from entering the UK by the then Home Secretary Theresa May after arranging to give talks in London and Sheffield. May said of the exclusion order, "Numerous comments made by Dr. Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behavior".[46] Naik argued that the Home Secretary was making a political decision, not a legal one, and his lawyer said the decision was "barbaric and inhuman". He also claimed that his comments were taken out of context.[48] The famous Hindi cinema producer Mahesh Bhatt supported Naik, saying the ban constituted an attack on freedom of speech.[49] It was reported that Naik would attempt to challenge the ruling in the High Court.[50] His application for judicial review was dismissed on 5 November 2010.[25]
Naik delivered four lectures in Malaysia in 2012. The lectures took place in Johor Bahru, Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam,[54] Kuantan and Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, prominent figures, and several thousand people attended the lectures at different places despite protests by the members of HINDRAF.[55] The organizers of Naik's speeches said their purpose was to promote harmony among people of various religions.[56]
Naik delivered another six lectures in April 2016. Two of his lectures in Malaysia, entitled "Similarities between Hinduism and Islam" and "Is the Quran God's word?" were objected to by HINDRAF, along with other NGOs, saying that these lectures might provoke inter-racial tensions. With the initial support of the governing authority, the event went ahead as planned.[57][58][59]
Naik delivered a speech on Islamophobia on 9 August 2019 at the Sultan Mohammad IV Stadium, Kota Bharu, Kelantan which was attended by more than 100,000 people.[60][61]
Zakir Naik does not claim to be an adherent of a particular school of thought in Islam. Despite his denials, some people believe his views and ideology are similar to Salafis.[62][63][64]
Naik says that his goal is to "concentrate on the educated Muslim youth who have become apologetic about their religion and have started to feel the religion is outdated".[15] He considers it a duty of every Muslim to remove perceived misconceptions about Islam and to counter what he views as the Western media's anti-Islamic bias in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States.[65] Naik has said that "despite the strident anti-Islam campaign, 34,000 Americans have embraced Islam from September 2001 to July 2002". According to Naik, Islam is a religion of reason and logic, and the Quran contains 1000 verses relating to science, which he says explains the number of Western converts.[66] Some of his articles are published in magazines such as Islamic Voice.[67]
Naik said that Islam is the "best" religion because "The Quran says it. No other religious text or scripture claims this fact."[68][69] He added, "Islam is also labeled as intolerant, and it is indeed, but towards corruption, discrimination, injustice, adultery, alcoholism, and all evils. Islam is the most 'tolerant' religion as far as promoting the human values is concerned."[70]
Naik equated music with alcohol and stated that both are intoxicating. He has condemned dancing and singing because they are prohibited in Islam.[68]
Naik said that guilty people must be punished and accepts chopping off hands for stealing. He has also recommended that the United States implement this logic to reduce its high crime rate.[68]
Naik referred to the LGBT community as "patients suffering from sinful mental problems" and said that "It's because they watch pornographic movies. The TV channels are to be blamed".[68] "According to Quran and Sunnah",[72] he recommends the "death penalty" for homosexuals.[72][73]
Denying evolution,[68] Naik said that the theory of evolution is "only a hypothesis and an unproven conjecture at best".[74] According to Naik, most scientists "support the theory, because it went against the Bible – not because it was true."[75] Naik also denies that different hominids have missing links, and claims that the majority of scientists do not accept evolution as a whole.[76] Naik argues that scientific theories were prophesied by the Quran. For example, he has stated in 2010 that certain verses of the Quran accurately describe embryological development.[77]
Naik argued, "What Darwin said was only a 'theory'. There is no book saying 'the Fact of Evolution' – All the books say Theory of Evolution." He further added, "There is not a single statement in the Qur'an, which Science has proved wrong yet. The hypothesis goes against the Qur'an – theories go against the Qur'an. There is not a single scientific fact, which is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an which goes against established science – It may go against theory."[68]
Naik has called
Naik also said:
If a Muslim woman wears a hijab or veil it is labeled as women subjugation, but if a nun does the same it turns into a sign of respect and modesty. A 50-year-old Muslim marrying a 16-year-old girl (willingly) is a headline, but a 50-year-old non-Muslim raping a six-year-old girl appears as brief news or filler. They say Islam does not give rights to women and is an illogical religion. They portray Islam as the problem of humanity though it is the solution to all man's problems. The same applies to the misinterpreted words 'fundamentalist' and 'extremist' which are western words.[78] A true Muslim must be an extremist in the correct direction, by being extremely kind, loving, tolerant, honest, and just. While Indians were fighting for their freedom, the British government was labeling them as terrorists; same activity, the same people, but two different labels. The same happened with Muslims who are labelled as terrorists in media, so we should look into backgrounds and reasons for an activity before labeling people."[70]
Apostasy
Naik
Propagation of other faiths in Islamic states
While he appreciates that people of other religions allow Muslims to freely propagate Islam in their country, Naik preaches that the dissemination of other religions within an Islamic state must be forbidden because he believes that other faiths are incorrect, so their propagation is as wrong as it would be for an arithmetic teacher to teach that 2+2=3 or 6 instead of 2+2=4.[68]
Naik criticizes the activities of Christian missionaries in the Muslim world saying, "the missionaries write verses of the Bible in Arabic calligraphy, such as 'God is love' to catch fish with the Muslims. We in Peace TV, for example, do not use such deceit."[70]theviaatin University of The Gambia,[51][52][78] Zakir strongly condemned the atrocities around the world in the name of Jihad, where innocent people lost their lives, saying "Jihad is misunderstood by both Muslims and non-Muslims, Jihad means to strive and struggle to make society better, the best form of Jihad is to strive and struggle against non-Muslims, using the teachings of the Quran; the Prophet Peace Be Upon Him and the Almighty Allah, Islam means peace."[78] According to Naik, the killing of any innocent person, either Muslim or not is prohibited by Islam, while condemning the double standard, played by the western powers and media who describe Muslims as extremists and fundamentalists. He said in an unequivocal term that, even in Islamic Jihad, there are laid down rules and regulations as to when and how to kill a person, which he noted, totally contradicts what is currently happening around the world, by some groups who claim to fight for Jihad.[78]
In another lecture given in Al-Khawaneej, Dubai, Naik stated that the most mistranslated and misunderstood word about Islam by non-Muslims and even some Muslims is "Jihad", which, he said, has nothing to do with the phrase "holy war" that is never actually used in the Quran or Sunnah and was first used by the crusaders who killed millions in the name of Christianity. He added the word "Jihad" actually means to strive or struggle against one's evil inclinations, to make the society better, in self-defense on a battlefield, and against oppression.[70]
11 September attacks and Osama bin Laden
His views and statements on 9/11 have been often criticized. In a lecture delivered on 31 July 2008 on Peace TV, Naik promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories, claiming that George Bush was the instigator of the September 11 attacks.[81] He also said that "even a fool will know" that the 9/11 attacks were "an inside job" orchestrated by US President George W. Bush.[33][82][83][84]
His opinions on 9/11 have been denounced by the United States and he has been denied entry into the United Kingdom and Canada for speaking engagements.[85][46][47]
In 2016, Zakir Naik was asked whether Osama bin Laden was a terrorist, he stated that he did not have an opinion since had not done any research on him.[86]
Naik has been at the center of multiple controversies regarding the topic of terrorism, most notably for being seen as an inspiration for terrorists.[88] In 1996, Naik gave a speech specifically about terrorism and addressing Osama bin Laden. Naik stated that "Every Muslim should be a terrorist. The thing is that if he [Osama] is terrorizing the terrorist, then he is following Islam." Perhaps the most controversial part of his speech was that he called America "the biggest terrorist". In a separate speech, he states that "the western countries say war for peace, the war for peace. It is not a war for peace, it is a war on peace". Naik's comments received significant media attention and the British government banned him based on these comments. Naik's lawyer and IRF argued that the speech was made before 9/11, that the media misquoted Naik and made misleading assertions about the timing of Naik's speech, and that the decision to ban Naik from the UK was "politically motivated".[48]
Naik stated that Hitler, "who was not a Muslim, is the biggest terrorist in the world as he incinerated four to six million Jews."[70]
When asked about his views on killings, Naik said "the Quran says so – if anyone kills an innocent human being, Muslim or non-Muslim, it is as though he has killed the whole humanity, So how can any Muslim kill innocent human beings?"[78][89] It was only permissible, he said, to kill a person who "has killed someone else ... or created corruption in the land."[90] He also criticized the media for "picking up verses of the Quran or hadiths and quoting them out of context to mislabel Islam as a religion that promotes violence and killing".[70] He said that "critics of Islam quote Verse 5/9 which reads: 'Wherever you find a non-Muslim, kill him' out of context to malign Islam though it was an order on a battlefield, and Islam always promotes peace as a better option during the war."[70]
In a press conference via Skype, when Naik was asked for his opinion on suicide bombings he replied affirmatively, saying it was permitted in Islam and said "it is haram if innocent people are being killed. But, if suicide bombing is used as a tactic of war, then it may be permitted. For example, in World War II, Japan used suicide bombing as a tactic of war."[69][91][92][93]
Najibullah Zazi
ISIS
Naik called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria the "anti-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" and said that the enemies of Islam were promoting ISIS. He also added, "We should not say ISIS, we should say AISIS. Because they are anti-Islamic. I request all the Muslims of the world, as well as the Muslim media: Please don't help the enemies of Islam in attacking Islam." He further added, "If you verify you will know that I am totally against terrorism. I am totally against killing any innocent human being."[70][89][95] In another lecture in Dubai, he stated, It is, therefore not correct to say ISIS or Islamic State has killed Syrian or Iraqi innocents. He said, "We should say anti-Islamic state kills them as Quran affirms that whoever kills an innocent person is as if he kills all humanity, and he who saves a single person – disregard his religion, is like saving all humanity."[70]
Orlando shooting
Zakir criticized the media for "linking Islam" with the Orlando nightclub shooting. He accused the media of a "double-standard strategy" saying, "the same [double-standard strategy] is happening with a man related by nothing to Islam but by his name who killed over 50 gays in Orlando."[70]
In 2016, Naik praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his frequent visits to Muslim majority countries, commenting "if his intention is to maintain unity between Hindus and Muslims and between India and other Muslim countries, I am totally for him". He described Modi's visits as favorable for India, believing it could attract foreign investment.[96] In 2019, in an interview in Week magazine, Naik strongly criticized Modi and the BJP for what he called false charges and propaganda against him for political purposes and said that he is targeted for his popularity. He stated that he would not return to India while Modi remained in power, drawing parallels with the example of Muhammad in Hijrah.[97] He also described Modi and the BJP as dangerous for Indian Muslims' security, labeling Modi a "liar" and the "number one terrorist of India according to Google." He also invited Modi to take part in a debate with him about Hinduism.[98]
Naik claimed on 11 January 2020 that the Modi government approached him in September 2019 through an envoy and offered to provide him "safe passage" to India if he spoke in support of the government's move to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.[99][100][101] In a 14 January 2020 tweet, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh asked Modi to clarify Naik's claim of an offer of safe passage to India.[102]
Year of award/honor name of award/honor awarding organization/government
2013
Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work[107]
Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah
2013
Dubai International Holy Quran Award – Islamic Personality of the Year[108][109][110][111]
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai
2013
Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 1435/2013 Award[112][113]
Abdul Halim of Kedah, King and head of state of Malaysia
2015
Service to Islam – King Faisal Prize[114][115][116]
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Naik is currently a wanted fugitive from the Indian authorities on charges of terror financing, hate speech, inciting communal hatred, and money laundering.[16][17][18]
Naik fled the country in 2016,[19] and India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), has tried, unsuccessfully, to convince Interpol to issue a red notice for Naik's arrest due to insufficient evidence.[20]
Based onribunal Restrains Enforcement Directorate From Taking Over Zakir Naik's Assets". NDTV. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
Ahuja, Namrata Biji (28 July 2019). "Interpol again refuses Red Corner Notice against Zakir Naik". The Week. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
"Interpol again refuses Red Notice against Zakir Naik". Hindustan Times. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
"India sends a formal request to Malaysia for Zakir Naik extradition – Times of India". The Times of India. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
The mosque's name is: kul sharif mosque Kazan , Tatarstan, Russia
HISTORY OF KUL SHARIF MOSQUE
Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan opened its doors in 2005 as the central mosque of Tatarstan. The construction of the complex, located inside the Kazan Kremlin, took over 9 years and was built on the initiative of the President of Tatarstan himself.
It is believed that in the 16th century a similar mosque was located inside the Kremlin, which was later destroyed during an attack on the city. The territory of the former cadet school was chosen as the site of construction for the famous 21st-century Kazan mosque, and the building was funded by donations from more than 40 thousand people and organizations. Their names have been recorded in a book which is kept in the main hall of the house of worship.
The mosque was named in honor of Kul Sharif, the last Imam of Kazan, Russia who bravely defended the city from invaders before eventually perishing in battle. According to legend, he was killed on the roof of the original mosque before it was destroyed.
The walls of the Kremlin mosque are decorated with ornamental braids and verses from the Koran etched in marble. All of the light fixtures are made of Czech glass and were designed by Tatar artists. The mosque’s elaborately decorated doors are made of Krasnodar oak, while the building itself is overlaid with marble.
Notable elements of the unique architecture of Kul Sharif Mosque include two squares which intersect at the base of the building at an angle of 45 degrees. At the top of the structure’s pointed arches rests a 35-meter-high dome in the shape of the Kazan cap, a symbol of the power of the Kazan khans. The pointed arches themselves embody the interconnectedness of time as well as the frame of the yurt, the traditional dwelling of all nomadic Turks. Its four minarets, each of which are 58 meters high, are topped with silver crescents.
Depictions of tulips, an ancient Bulgarian symbol of rebirth and prosperity, are strewn throughout the interior of Kul Sharif Mosque. The magnificent carpets blanketing the floors were donated by the government of Iran.
The mosque can accommodate about 1,500 worshippers. Also located on the complex is the Museum of Islamic Culture of the Volga Region, the Museum of Ancient Manuscripts and a library.
Entrance to Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan is free, but you must purchase a ticket to visit the museums. The complex is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. If you are planning to visit Kul Sharif on Friday, bear in mind that the time of prayer is from noon until 2 o’clock. The mosque has a special dress code, and men and women must cover their knees, shoulders and heads. Capes are provided for any visitors who are not dressed in appropriate attire.