In the last few days two articles have appeared in Greater Kashmir about Dr. Zakir Naik (latest by Omar Gul, 28 June) in which the writers have attempted to air their disagreement with  his approach.

 Without intending to call in question their right to disagree __ which in any circumstance we Muslims need to  learn to demonstrate our tolerance and the ability take on such challenges in the same manner ___, one really wonders if there is enough justification in what has been attempted at in these two articles in so far as the mission of dau’ wa in which Dr. Zakir is for the last few decades involved and which he seeks to push further through the  Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), that he has set up in Mumbai.

 It will be a travesty to downplay the contribution of Dr. Zakir Naik not just to the Muslim community as a whole but to a vast majority of non-Muslims as well whose many of misconceptions about Islam he and his colleagues across the globe have successfully corrected for  a comprehensive understanding of the faith of Islam. Perhaps his contribution to the Muslims of Kashmir has equally been invaluable.

  We should not lose sight of the fact that in this Muslim majority State of ours, where the religion for many reasons has been playing a dominant role, the understanding of the very core of the religion has been profoundly lacking. And, without meaning any ill will for any one, a vast majority amongst us do acknowledge unhesitatingly that our own clergy has done pretty little towards this end. Rather, some of them have strengthened many misconceptions than allowing them to be removed or settled  in accordance with the Holy Quran and Sunnah. We have been rather groomed to be more tolerant towards social evils than being presented with the truest aspect of the religion and of the life of the Prophet (PBUH). We are not just a politically exploited lot but but  also distanced from the religion. This has been one of our tragedies.

 We hold the Prophet (PBUH) in highest reverence; swear hundred-thousand times a day by him (PBUH) to justify our rights and wrongs and yet shy away, rather knowingly, from emulating his (PBUH)  conduct to be the best human being on this earth. We have been knowingly pushed into this quagmire of sins. With the result, we are, perhaps,  the most astrayed people on this earth. We are Muslims by faith but not by deeds. One small instance of a marriage ceremony in a Srinagar suburb two days back  saw the marriage party (barat) being entertained to an unprecedented feast which culminated into the groom being presented with a tooth pick of gold. That level of ostentatious practices so perverse and inhuman that even the Prophets must have sent their curse. This is just the one instance to show how far we have gone from our religion.

 Under these conditions, scholars like Dr. Naik are undoubtedly the most needed people to reform people like us and bring us close to the right path. But for him and the efforts that he is putting through the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), the mission started by Late Ahmad Deedat would not have continued. I have heard late Dr. Asrar of Pakistan being highly appreciative of the mission of IRF. I have seen many non-Muslims being equally appreciative of him as they have now a better understanding of Islam and many of their misgivings are removed.

 So, it is proper that we take the broader view of Dr. Zakir Naik’s mission than criticizing him for small and insignificant things. There is no dearth of people who must be otherwise also in his “pursuit”. We shouldn’t add to misunderstandings.

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Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST