Alhamdulillah, Was Salaatu Was Salaam Aala Rasoolillah Wa Ala Aalihi Wa Ashaabihi Wa Ajma’een, Amma Baad. A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaytan Nir-Rajeem, Bismillah Hirrahman Nirraheem.

Ud`u ‘Ila Sabili Rabbika Bil-Hikmah Wal Maw`izatil Hasanah Wa Jaadilhum Bilati Hiya ‘Ahsan

Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li ‘Amri Wa Ahlul `Uqdatan Min Lisani Yafqahu Qawli

My respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome all of you with the Islamic greetings… ‘As-Salaamu Alaikum, Wa Rahmatullahi, Wa Barkatahu’… ‘May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah (swt) be on all of you.

Al Hamdulillah, it is an honour and a pleasure for me to be invited for the third time by the Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award organized by the Dubai Government under the patronage of Sheikh Muhammad Raashid Al Makhtoom, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and the role of Dubai. And yesterday we spoke on the topic “Da’wah or Destruction” and the sequel to this lecture is todays lecture, that is ‘Misconceptions about Islam’

As I mentioned yesterday it is the duty of every Muslim to convey the message of Islam to those who are not aware of it. It is compulsory, for every Muslim to do Da’wah. Da’wah means an invitation. A call to the Non Muslims. It is the duty of every Muslim that he invites the Non Muslims towards Islam. There are various different methodologies as well as strategies used by Muslims as far as Da’wah is concerned. The most common strategy is… whenever a Muslim meets a Non Muslim he speaks hundred good things about Islam. Even if that Non Muslim agrees with all the hundred things that the person has spoken about Islam yet that Non Muslim will have few negative points behind the mind. He may say yes…. I agree about all these hundred good things about Islam… but you are the same Muslim who is a terrorist. Ah you are the same Muslim who is a fundamentalist. Ah you are the same people who spread the religion with the sword. You are the people who subjugated the women. Ah you are the person who marry more than one women. These few negative points at the back of his mind will prevent him from accepting the beauty of Islam. That’s the reason, whenever I meet a Non Muslim I ask him upfront, what do you feel is wrong with Islam? With your limited knowledge, whether right or wrong, what do you feel is wrong with Islam? And I make him comfortable, that you can criticize Islam, if you want you can attack Islam, I make him comfortable and I ask him, what does he feel is wrong with the religion of Islam? And after he’s made comfortable he poses about three or four questions about Islam and in the past couple of decades that I have been in the field of Da’wah, I have realized that there are about 20 most common questions which the Non Muslim’s have regarding Islam. When the Non Muslim poses three or four questions about Islam invariably these three or four questions fall amongst the 20 most common questions. If all the Muslims know the reply to these 20 common questions, posed by the Non Muslims with reason, logic and science, with the quotations from the Qur’an and Saheeh Hadith and the quotation of the scripture of the Non Muslim, even if he cannot make the Non Muslim accept Islam, atleast he can neutralize the animosity that is there in the minds of the Non Muslim. At least he can neutralize the negative feeling that the person has regarding Islam. That’s the reason it’s very important that we Muslims are aware about these 20 common questions. How do these 20 common questions arise in the mind of the Non Muslims? Everyday the Non Muslims they are being bombarded by the international media, regarding misinformation about Islam. There is virulent propaganda regarding Islam in the international Media. Whether you read the International newspapers, the international magazines the radio broadcastations, the television satellite channels, the internet we find there is virulent propaganda regarding Islam. And depending how the media portrays Islam these 20 common questions, they keep on changing. The 20 common questions that were there a couple of decades earlier, they were different than what they are today. The 20 common questions a couple of decades earlier may change again. Depending upon how the media portrays Islam, similarly the 20 common questions keep on changing in the minds of the Non Muslim. And believe me, by Allah’s grace I’ve traveled to most of the major countries in the world. USA, Canada, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia, South Africa, India… wherever you travel, these 20 common questions are the same. There may be an additional one or two questions depending upon the local surrounding and the environment of that place. For example… if you go in the western countries there may be an additional question… Why does Islam prohibit the taking and giving of interest? But the remaining 20 common questions are the same. If every Muslim masters the reply to these 20 common questions, he will be able to do the Fardh, the compulsory act of Da’wah to the Non Muslims. You know when you appear for your examination if you atleast want to pass with a good grade… not excellent.. atleast good grade… what you do? You read the guide. You know in India we have the Navneet 21 questions. If you want to appear and pass, favorably well then you study the most common question. You know in India we have Navneet 21 Most Likely Questions to appear in examination. And every country you have such books.. that if you want to do a short cut and atleast pass as far as the exam is concerned, similarly these 20 common questions will atleast make you a part time Da’ee. If it cannot make the Non Muslim accept Islam, it will atleast remove the animosity that’s there in teh minds of Non Muslim. Time may no permit me to cover all the 20 questions in this time, due to the limited time that I have, you can surely go on the internet of our website www.irf.net were all these answers are given in detail. There may be certain Non Muslims who may go out of the way and read material against Islam. For example, they may go to the anti Islamic sites, they may read books which are written against Islam. As far as these Non Muslims are concerned who go out of the way to find additional material against Islam, for that we have another 20 common questions. 20 common questions asked by Non Muslims who have gone to anti Islamic sites and have read material against Islam. That we wont discuss today. That is if you want to get… you know may be first class or distinction you’ve to do that. The reply to these 20 common questions asked by Non Muslims who have gone to anti Islamic sites is also given on our website www.irf.net.

As far today is concerned, I will try and cover the major….. question.. the first.. more than 50% atleast of the 20 common questions asked by Non Muslims regarding Islam.

The fist number one misconception regarding Islam, the top of the charts is regarding Jihad. Today Jihad is the most misunderstood word regarding Islam. It is not only misunderstood by the Non Muslims, it is even misunderstood by many of us Muslims. Non Muslims and many Muslims think that Jihad means any war fought by any Muslim for any reason, whether it be for power, whether it be for wealth, whether it be for land, whether it be for language….. Any war fought by any Muslim for any reason, is called as Jihad. Jihad does not mean any war fought by any Muslims for any reason, whether it be for money, whether it be for power, whether it be for land, whether it be for language….. ‘Jihad’ is an Arabic word which comes from the word ‘Jahada’ which means to strive, which means to struggle. So Jihad basically means to strive and struggle. In the Islamic context Jihad means to strive and struggle against one’s own evil inclinations. Jihad also means to strive and struggle to make the society better. Jihad also means to fight against oppression. Jihad also means to fight in self defense in the battlefield. So Jihad basically means to strive and struggle. For example if a student is striving and struggling to pass in the examination in Arabic we say the student is doing Jihad. He’s striving and struggling. Many people have a misconception and they think that Jihad can only be done by a Muslim. There are many verses in the Qur’an which say that even Non Muslim did Jihad. Qur’an says in Surah Luqmaan, Chapter No. 31, Verse No. 14,

“We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to their parents, in travail upon travail the mother bore them and in pain did she give them birth”

Immediately after praising the parents, specially the mother the verse continues……. Surah Luqmaan, Chapter No. 31, Verse No. 15, says that,

“But if your parents do Jihad, strive and struggle to make you worship somebody else besides Allah (swt) of whom you have no knowledge then don’t obey them but yet live with them with love and compassion”

Here the Qur’an is talking about Non Muslim parents, doing Jihad, striving and struggling to make their children do Shirk, worship somebody else besides Allah.

A similar message is given in Surah Ankaboot, Chapter No. 29, Verse No. 8, that

“We have enjoined on human beings to be kind to the parents but if the parents do Jihad, strive and struggle to make them worship somebody else besides Allah (swt) don’t obey them but yet live with them with love and compassion”

So here the Qur’an is talking about Non Muslim parents doing Jihad.

And there are various such examples of Qur’an mentioning Non Muslim doing Jihad. Now this type of Jihad in Arabic we say Jihad Fee Sabi Shaitaan. Jihad in the way of the Satan. What we Muslim should do is Jihad Fee Sabilillah, Jihad in the way of Allah. and whenever the word is mentioned individually about Jihad in the Islamic context it is understood it is Jihad Fee Sabilillah. Most of the Non Muslims including many so called Muslim scholars, inverted comas, they translate Jihad as the Holy War. Holy War of you translate into Arabic it means ‘Harbum Muqaddasah’. If you read the Qur’an, if you read the Hadith, there is no Qur’anic verse, there is no Hadith which uses the word ‘Harbum Muqaddasah’. The word Holy War doesn’t exist in the Qur’an neither in the Hadith. Jihad as I mentioned basically means to strive and struggle and one type of Jihad is also fighting in the way of Allah (swt), it is Kitaal in the way of Allah (swt). But Jihad doesn’t basically mean a War. One type of Jihad…. There are various Jihad fin Nafs… one type of Jihad is fighting in self defense in the way of Allah (swt). If we see the history of Prophet Muhammad (saw), the first thirteen years of his Prophethood that he lived in Makkah. There were many Qur’anic verses that were revealed…. All the Makkan Surahs… many a times in these verses the word Jihad was used and never did the Muslims ever fight… physically fight. Only when they migrated to Madina then the War’s took place. But yet you find the word Jihad in several verses of Qur’an which were revealed in Makkah. Many examples I can give you. For example Qur’an says in Surah Ankaboot, Chapter No. 29, Verse No. 69, that

ZN: “That those who do Jihad in the way of Allah. Those who strive in the way of Allah (swt) we open up the path ways for them”

“..those who strive In Our (cause),- we will certainly guide them to Our paths: for Verily Allah is with those who do right.

When the verse was revealed there was no war at that time.

Qur’an says in Surah Furqan, Chapter No. 25, Verse No. 52, that

ZN: “Do not follow the unbelievers, but do Jihad against them, strive against them, strenuously with the Qur’an”

“Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness, with the (Qur’an).”

That means you do Jihad with the Qur’an. Jihad with the Qur’an means… strive to convey the message of Allah. Do you think you gonna fight with the Qur’an? So here we realize that this misconception regarding this word Jihad it is depending how the Media portrays, this word Jihad wasn’t a problem a couple of decades earlier. After 9/11 it came on top of the charts. Number one, previously it wasn’t there. So depending how the Media portrays Islam, these misconceptions arise in the minds of the Non Muslims. For more details on Jihad you can see my lecture, my talk, “Jihad an Islamic Perspective.”

The second misconception that’s there in the minds of the Non Muslim is that Muslims are fundamentalist. And many a times we Muslim feel ashamed and we don’t know how to reply. What is the meaning of the word fundamentalist? Fundamentalist by definition means a person who follows the fundamentals of one particular subject. For example if a Mathematician wants to be a good Mathematician, he should know, follow and practice the fundamentals of Maths. Unless he is a fundamentalist in the field of Maths, he cannot be a good Mathematician. For a person who wants to be a good Scientist, he should know, follow and practice the fundamentals of science. Unless he is a fundamentalist in the field of science, he cannot be a good scientist. You cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush, that all are good or all are bad. Depending in which field the person is a fundamentalist, you have to label him accordingly. If we have a fundamentalist robber in the society, whose profession is to rob, he is a bane for the society. On the other hand, if we have a fundamentalist doctor, who’s profession is to save thousands of human lives, he is good for the society. So depending in which field the person is a fundamentalist; you have to label him accordingly. As far as I am concerned, I am a fundamentalist Muslim and I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim. Because I know, follow and I strive to practice the fundamentals of Islam and I know that there is not a single fundamental of Islam, which is against humanity as a whole. There may be a few fundamentals which the Non Muslims may think it is against humanity, but the moment you reply to them, or tell them the logical reason why these things are there in Islam, there is not a single human being who can point out a single fundamental of Islam, which is against humanity as a whole. When you go back in History we come to know that according to the Webster’s Dictionary fundamentalism was first time used to describe a group of American Christians in the early part of the 20th century. These American Christians they protested against the Church. And they said… previously they believed that the complete message of the Bible was from God. These Protestant Christians protested against the Church and said not only is the message of the Bible from God, every word, every letter of the Bible is from God. If someone can prove that every word, every letter of the Bible is from Almighty God, then this movement is a good movement. On the other hand if someone can prove that every word, every letter of the Bible is not from Almighty God, then this movement is not a good movement. When we read the Oxford dictionary, the Oxford dictionary says that, “‘fundamentalist’ is a person who strictly adheres to the ancient or fundamental doctrine of any religion.” But when we read the revised edition of the Oxford Dictionary, there’s a slight change, it says that, “‘fundamentalist’ is a person who strictly adheres to the ancient scriptures or fundamentals of any religion, especially Islam!” “Especially Islam” has been added in the revised edition of Oxford Dictionary. The moment you hear the word fundamentalist, immediately you start thinking of a Muslim. The Muslims, they’re fundamentalist, they’re extremist. And we Muslims we are becoming apologetic. No..no..no..i’m not a fundamentalist. No No… I’m not a extremist. I say I’m an extremist. I’m extremely honest, I’m extremely just, I’m extremely kind, I’m extremely merciful, I’m extremely loving. Can anyone tell me why being extremely just, extremely honest, extremely loving, extremely merciful, extremely kind is bad? What’s wrong in being an extremist? The Qur’an says you have to be extremely honest. You can’t be partly honest… when benefits you you’re honest, when doesn’t benefits you you’re dishonest. The Qur’an says you have to be extremely honest, extremely just. So if you are a practicing Muslim you have to be extremely kind, extremely honest, extremely just. We have to be extremist in the correct direction. We should not be extremist in the wrong direction. But a Muslim should be extremist in following the Qur’an. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 208, Allah says,

“Udkhulu Fis-Silmi Kaffah”

“Enter into Islam whole-heartedly”

“Enter into Islam whole-heartedly”

You can’t say partly. So why are the Muslims becoming apologetic. The Media is attacking Islam and unfortunately we Muslims….. we have the best Deen, but why are we afraid? Why are we apologetic? Its time that we turn the tables over.

The third most common misconception is Muslims are terrorist. And after 9/11, you had the 7 July, that’s the London Bombing and there was a common statement which said, “All Muslims are not Terrorist but All Terrorist are Muslims”. And it was very common in the Media and that gave rise to a new lecture of mine, “Is Terrorism A Muslim Monopoly?” Time does not permit me to speak in detail about “Is Terrorism A Muslim Monopoly?” But you are most welcomed to see it on Peace TV or on our website. What it the meaning of the word ‘Terrorist’? ‘Terrorist’ by definition means a person who causes terror. For example if a criminal sees a policeman, he is terrified. So for the criminal, the policeman is a terrorist. In this context every Muslim he should be a terrorist. Whenever any criminal sees a Muslim he should be terrified. Whenever any robber sees a Muslim he should be terrified. Whenever any rapist sees a Muslim he should be terrified. Whenever any anti social sees a Muslim he should be terrified. Every Muslim should be a terrorist to the anti social element. I’m aware that ‘Terrorist’ more commonly means a person who terrorizes innocent human being. In this context no Muslim, no human being should terrorize any other innocent human being. We know from the Media that many a times two different labels are given to the same individual for his same activity. For example more than 60 years back there were many Indians who were fighting for the freedom of the country. These people by the British Government they were called as ‘Terrorists’. But we common Indians, we called these people as freedom fighters, as patriots. Same people, same activity, but two different label. If you agree with the view of the British Government that they had a right to rule over India, then you have to call these people as terrorist. But if you agree with the view of the common Indians that the Britishers came to India to do business, they had no right to rule over us then you have to call these people as patriots, have to call these people as freedom fighters. Same people, same activity, but two different labels. And I very often attend the Media and while having interaction with the Indian press, they ask me that do you consider Bin Laden as Terrorist? So I ask them a question. That do you consider Bhagat Singh as a terrorist? So he said No, is said why? The same western media when they call Bhagat Singh as a terrorist you say he’s not a terrorist, why? Because you know the background of the history of India’s freedom. Even I consider Bhagat Singh not to be a terrorist. But the same western media today when they are calling Bin Laden as terrorist why do you agree? Have you done a research? So he started to laugh. I’m not here to support Bin Laden. Bin Laden is neither my friend neither my enemy. I haven’t met him. But I’m just telling…. Qur’an says in Surah Hujuraat, Chapter 49, Verse No. 6,

“Whenever you get a information check it up before you pass to the third person”

He’s not my friend neither my enemy. I neither call him a saint neither call him a terrorist. Bu the point to be noted is that when the British government called Bhagat Singh a terrorist, you didn’t agree. Now why do you agree with them? Why these double standards. And you have several such examples.

When we read the history of the American Revolution in 1775, during the American Revolution, George Washington he was called as the terrorist number one by the British Government. When the Britishers were ruling America. The Britishers called George Washington as Terrorist number one. Later on when America gets its freedom, George Washington is made the President of USA. Imagine terrorist number one becomes the President of USA. And he happens to be the God father of all the Presidents to come including George Bush. And you find several such examples, several.

You have the example of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela several decades earlier when South Africa was ruled by the White Apartheid Government. Nelson Mandela was arrested and was imprisoned in Robin Islands for more than 25 years. By the White Apartheid Government, Nelson Mandela was called as terrorist number one. Later on when he South Africa gets its freedom and the White Apartheid Government is removed, , Nelson Mandela is given freeedom and he gets the Noble Prize for Peace. Imagine terrorist number one of world gets the Noble Prize for Peace. Not that he was bad and then he became good, for the same activity for which he was called a terrorist 30 years later he gets the Noble Prize for the same activity, Noble Prize for Peace. So we realize whoever is in power, whatever the label that person gives that gets stuck on to that person. This is Media. Media is very powerful. According to me it is the most important weapon today. It can convert black into white, day into night, hero into a villain, villain into a hero, this is Media. Unfortunately we Muslims we are very backward as far as Media is concerned. Our technology, you know whatever technology is Halaal, what is permitted in Qur’an and Sunnah we have to use it. We have to convert it to Halaal. Television per se is not Haraam. I do agree 99% things that come on Television is Haraam. We have to convert the Haraam into Halaal and that’s how you have to convey the message of Allah (swt). The best way today that you can convey the message to Allah (swt) is the satellite channel, it’s the Media. Atleast we can give Shahaada, we can tell on the day of Judgement to Allah (swt), atleast we tried our level best to let the message of Islam reach every home. Or atleast as many homes as possible and Al Hamdulillah, Summa Al Hamdulillah since three and a half years after the launch of Peace TV now the viewership of Peace TV is more than hundred million. Al Hamdulillah. People may be wondering that you know why are there so many cameras, people are saying why 12 cameras required. One lecture, one man, 12 cameras. One man and twelve cameras. The television channel say oh we use only two or three cameras. 12 cameras, because we want to present Islam in a beautiful manner. When you have rock show that time 12 cameras no problem. When Da’ee gives a lecture why only two cameras. See today is the age of science and technology. When we want to convince the youngsters… see the Media is taking them on the wrong track. We have to use the same Media to get our youngster on the right track. From wrong track to the right track. And believe me….. we know I agree that majority of the Media is Haraam. But as long as we don’t break any rule of the Shariah of the Qur’an and the Saheeh Hadith, we can use this Media to the benefit of the spread of Islam.

The fourth most common misconception in the minds of the Non Muslim is Islam was spread by the sword. What’s the meaning of the word Islam? Islam comes from the word ‘Salam’ which means Peace, its also derived from the Arabic word ‘Silm’ which means to submit your will to Almighty God. Islam in short means peace acquired by submitting your will to Almighty God. So if I translate “Islam was spread by the sword.” It means ‘Peace was spread by the sword’, it’s contradicting, how can peace be spread by the sword? And we know that every human being in the world would not want Peace to prevail. Islam is the religion of Peace, its main aim and objective is to spread Peace, but every human being in this world would not want Peace to prevail that’s the reason every country in the world has a police force. This police force many a times uses force to maintain peace in that country. They don’t use force to disrupt Peace. If the anti social element want to disrupt Peace the police of the various countries they use to maintain peace in that country. Similarly in Islam…. Islam is against violence, it’s against fighting, it’s against using force except as a last resort to maintain peace. Similarly Islam does give permission to use force to let justice and peace prevail in that land. And the best reply to this allegation that Islam was spread by the sword is given very well by a very famous historian by the name of De Lacy O’Leary, in the book ‘Islam at the Crossroads’ on page no. 8,

“History makes it clear, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping across the world, forcing Islam at the point of the sword over conquered races is the most fantastic myth that historians have ever repeated.”

I would like to repeat the statement, De Lacy O’Leary, writes in the book ‘Islam at the Crossroads’ page no. 8, that

“History makes it clear, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping across the world, forcing Islam at the point of the sword over conquered races is the most fantastic myth that historians have ever repeated.”

Which sword?

We Muslims, we ruled Spain for 800 years. We didn’t do the job. We didn’t convey the message of Islam to the Non Muslims. Later on the crusaders came, the Christians came and they wiped out the Muslims – there was not a single Muslim who could openly give the Adhaan. If we read History, the religion that was spread by force was the religion of Christianity. If we read History… hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the name of Christianity. And today these same people are telling that Islam was spread by the sword. We Muslims, we have been the rulers of the Arab lands for the past 1400 years. For a few years the Britishers came, for a few years the French came. But as a whole the Muslims have been the rulers of the Arab land for the past 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians. Coptic Christians means Christians since generations. These 14 million Coptic Christians, they are giving Shahadah, they are bearing witness that Islam wasn’t spread by the sword.

We Muslims ruled India for more than a thousand years. If we wanted we could have converted each and every Indian at the point of the sword, we didn’t do it. Today more than 80% of the Indian’s they are non-Muslims. These 80% non-Muslim Indians they are giving Shahaadah, they are bearing witness that Islam wasn’t spread by the sword.

Today the country which has the maximum number of Muslims it is Indonesia. Which Muslim army went to Indonesia? Which Muslim army went to Malaysia? Malaysia has more than 50% Muslims. Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa? Which sword? The reply is given by Thomas Carlyle a very famous historian from Europe he writes in his book “Heroes and Hero Worship”, and he places Muhammad (saw) as his hero number. And he writes in his book “Heroes and Hero Worship” that Which sword? First you’ve to find your sword. Which sword? First you’ve to find your sword. Every new idea originates in the mind of one. In one mans head it dwells alone. One man against the whole world. It will do little good that he picks up a sword and propagates it. You’ve to find your sword, talking about the sword of intellect. Which sword has made hundreds and thousands of human beings to accept Islam. He’s talking about the sword of intellect. And I started my talk by quoting a verse of the Glorious Qur’an from Surah Nahl, Chapter No. 16 Verse No. 125, which says,

“Ud`u ‘Ila Sabili Rabbika Bil-Hikmah Wal Maw`izatil Hasanah Wa Jaadilhum Bilati Hiya ‘Ahsan”

“Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them and reason with them in the ways that are best and most gracious.”

It is the sword of reason, logic which is conquering the hearts of the people. It’s not the sword of metal. Even if we had the sword of steel we could not use it, because Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2 Verse No. 256,

“La ‘Ikraha Fid-Deen”

“There is no compulsion in Religion. But truth stand out clear from errror”

“Let there be no compulsion In religion: truth stands out Clear from error”

Thomas Carlyle is talking about the sword of the intellect, the sword of reasoning. There was a survey done by the Reader’s Digest Almanac year book which came in 1984 and this article was reprinted in the “The Plain Truth” Magazine. It did a survey of increase in the major world religions in a span of 50 years, from 1934 to 1984. and in that survey the religion that spread maximum number one it was Islam 235%, Christianity only 47%. I’m asking a simple question, which war took place in the span of 50 years, between 1934 to 1984, which forced tens and thousands of human being to accept Islam. Which war? Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam, the fastest growing religion in Europe, is Islam. I’m asking, who is forcing these Americans and Europeans to accept Islam? Which sword? Today the Media its attacking Islam saying subjugates the women. Do you know? Out of those accepting Islam, in America and Europe, 2/3rd of them are women. If Islam subjugates the women, why are the American women, why are the European women accepting Islam? Who’s forcing them?

Yesterday we saw Masha Allah a westerner, a lady Masha Allah, she gave Shahaada, she accepted Islam. Who forced her? Did we use the sword? We used the sword of the intellect. The sword of reasoning.

To end the answer to the question on “Was Islam Spread By The Sword?” I like to quote to you the saying of Adam Pearson, Adam Pearson says, “People who worry that one day nuclear weaponry will fall in the hands of the Arabs, they fail to realize that the Islamic bomb, the bomb of Peace has already been dropped, it fell the day Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born”.

The fifth most common question asked by the Non Muslim is why does Islam allow a Muslim man to marry more than one wife?

This before 9/11 was number one, top of the charts now it has become number five. Depending how the media portrays. So previously the women issue was number one, now Terrorism, Jihad has overtaken. Previously if you read my top 20… If you hear my old lecture number one was regarding polygamy. The question is, Why does Islam allow a man to marry more than one wife? Why does Islam permit polygamy?

Polygamy means a person having more than one spouse. Polygamy is divided into two types, Polygyny and Polyandary. When a man has more than one wife it’s called as Polygyny. And if a women has more than one husband it is called as Polyandary. Islam permits limited polygyny and prohibit polyandary. Infact if you read the Qur’an is the only religious book on the face of the earth which says marry only one. There’s no other religious book on the face of the earth, you read the Bible, you read the Veda, you read the Bhagavad Gita, you read the Talmud there’s no religious book on the face of the earth besides the Qur’an which says marry only one. If you read Ramayan, it’s mentioned there that the father of Shri Ram, King Dashrath he had more than one wife. If you read Mahabharat, Sri Krishna, how many wives he had? Four? Ten? Hundred? Thousand? 16,108 wives. So when Sri Krishna can have 16,108 wives so why cant we Muslims maximum have four? If you read the Bible, according to Christianity, a man can have as many wives as he wishes. It is later on the Christian Church has put a restriction that a Christian should marry only one wife. Further more if you read the Talmud, if you read the Jewish scriptures, it says… also in the Old Testament, that Abraham (pbuh) he had three wives according to the Bible. Solomon he had 700 wives. So according to the Judaism you can marry as many as you wish, hundred, two hundred, thousand… no upper limit. It is later on Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah, 960 C.E to 1030 C.E, he passed a synod, he passed an edict saying that Jew should only marry one women. And in the Sephardic Jewish Community who lived amongst the Muslims, they married more than one wife till as late as 1950. later on the Chief Rabbi of Israel put a ban and said all the Jews should marry only one wife. But according to scripture you can marry as many as you wish. Same thing according to the Hindu scriptures, you can marry as many as you wish. If you read the statistics of the Status of Women in Islam which is published on page number 66 – 67 it says that the Muslims in India 4.31% did polygamous marriages. 4.31% of the Muslims in India did 4.31% polygamous marriages and the Hindu’s that did polygamous marriages was 5.06. .75% more than the Muslims. In a span of 10 years from 1951 to 1961 the Hindu’s in India did more polygamous marriages than the Muslims in India. Tough the Indian Law says that the Hindu’s cannot marry more than one wife, the Muslims can marry. Tough its illegal yet, Hindu’s did 5.06% polygamous marriages, .75% more as compared to the Muslims. If it was allowed legally I don’t know how much percentage the Hindu’s would reach to. So the Hindu scriptures give permission for the Hindu’s to marry as many wives as they wish. It is later on in 1954, according to the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Government put a restriction and passed a Special Marriage Act known as Hindu Marriage Act. Special Hindu Marriage Act which said that Hindu should only marry one women. So the restriction came in 1954, not in the scriptures. The scripture say you can marry as many as you wish, 5, 10, 20, 100, 10,000… as many as you wish. What does Islam say? Islam says in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 3,

“Marry women of your choice in two’s, three’s or four’s, but if you cant do justice, marry only one.”

Qur’an says,

“Marry women of your choice in two’s, three’s or four’s, but if you cant do justice, marry only one.”

That means only if you can do justice can you marry two, three, or four, otherwise marry only one. Qur’an also says in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse 129 that,

You cannot do justice between your wives. But do not turn away from them altogether”

Many people think it is compulsory in Islam that you should have four wives. It is not compulsory in Islam to have four wives, it is optional. Marrying more than one wife is optional in Islam. It is Mubah. But if you marry more than one wife and if you don’t do justice then you are in problem. So if you marry more than one women you should be able to do justice between them.

Let’s analyze what are the logical reasons why Islam permits a Muslim man to have more than one wife. By nature we know male and females are born in equal proportion. But in the pediatric age itself, you ask any medical doctor, he will tell you that medically the female sex is a stronger sex. The female child has more immunity than a male child. The female child can fight the germs and diseases much better than the male child. So in the pediatric age itself there are more deaths among the male children as compared to the female children. So in the pediatric age itself there are more females as compared to males. There are wars taking place, in the wars there are more men being killed as compared to women. As life goes on deaths take place due to accidents, due to alcoholism, due to drug addiction, due to drug disease.. in all these cases more males are dying as compared to females. And today statistic tells us that a average span of a woman is much more than a average span of a man. Today in the world there are more females as compared to the males. In some third world countries like India where I come from the female population female population is less than the male population and the reason is because of female infanticide and female feticides. There’s a programme by the name ‘Let Her Die’, under the banner Assignment, it came on BBC where a British reporter she says that everyday more than 3000 foetuses are being aborted after they are identified that they are females. In India alone more than 3000 foetuses are being aborted after they are identified that they are females. If you multiply this number by 365, the number of days in a year, we get a figure of more than one million foetuses are being aborted every year in India after they are identified that they are females. And according to the report of the Government Hospital of Tamil Nadu out of 10 females born alive, four are put to death. If this evil practice of female infanticide and female foeticide stops in India, even in India in a few decades the female population will out number the male population. Today when we analyze throughout the world there are more females as compared to males. In New York alone there are one million females more than males. In USA alone there are 7.8 million females more than males. In UK alone there are 4 million females more than males. In Germany alone there are 5 million females more than males. In Russia alone there are 9 millions females more than males and God alone knows how many millions of females are more than the males throughout the world. If I agree with the Non Muslims that every man should marry only have one woman. And suppose my sister or suppose your sister happens to live in USA and if the market is saturated every woman has found a life partner for herself, yet there will be 7.8 million females who have not found husbands. And if unfortunately your sister or my sister happens to live in USA and if she’s amongst one of those 7.8 million females who has not found a husband, what’s the option she has? The only option she has is, that she either marries a man who already has a wife or she become public property. Public property, many people say Dr. Zakir Naik such a harsh word. It is the most sophisticate word I can use. I cannot think of a better word. There’s no option, she either marries a man who already has a wife or becomes public property. In America having mistresses is very common, the American statistics tell us on a average a man has eight different sexual partners before he settles down with one. Eight different… Some may have 5, some may have 10, some may have 20. eight different sexual partners before he marries… after marrying how many he has the statistics doesn’t says that. But before he marries he has on a average eight different sexual partners. Having mistresses in America is common, no problem, 10, 20, no problem. Having two wives doesn’t go down their throat. You know when the women becomes the second wife of a man, she gets honour, she gets her rights. She lives a very peaceful life, with grace, with honour with all her rights. And when a woman is a mistress she doesn’t get her rights, she has no protection, she leads a life of disgrace. Therefore Islam permits some men to have more than one wife to protect the women and I do agree, if some one tells me that no woman under would like to share her husband… I agree with them. I don’t argue. I agree with you that no woman under normal circumstances would like to share the husband. But, the Islamic Shariah says, Let a small loss take place to prevent a big loss. That means a good Muslimah, who knows the situation of the world, would not mind sharing her husband to prevent her sister from becoming a public property. You ask nay modest woman would she prefer becoming the wife of a man who already has a wife or becoming public property… any modest woman would choose the first one.

Sixth most common question. If Islam allows a man to have more than one wife why does not Islam allow a woman to have more than one husband?

As far as marrying woman is concerned, the categories of woman a man can marry is clearly specified in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse No. 22 to 24 and its mentioned in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse No. 24,

that “You cannot marry a woman who is already married.”

That means in Islam a woman cannot have more than one husband. Before I give you the real reason, imagine there is already a scarcity of woman finding husband, if a woman has more than one husband this scarcity will increase. It will multiply the problem. Lets analyze what are the logical reasons that Islam prohibits a woman to have more than one husband. When a man has more than one wife and if any child is born out of that wedlock you can easily identify who is the father as well as who is the mother. But if a woman has more than one husband, and if a child is born you can identify the mother but you will not be able to identify the father. And if you go to admit that child in school and if they ask you what’s the name of the father, you may have to give two names. And today physiologist they tell us that, identifying the parents is very important for a healthy childhood, specially the identity of the father. If you cannot identify the parents, the has a lot of mental trauma. Today after science has advanced I’m aware that there is DNA testing and Genetic testing where you can identify who is the father or who is the mother, though its not very accurate. There was a case recently where a person who claimed that this woman is my wife, they did Genetic testing and they proved no, she’s not his wife, she cannot be his wife, so she is your sister and later on the person fought the case and he proved with reason and logic and science that this is my wife and not my sister and he won the case. So Genetic testing and DNA testing is not very accurate, but even if I agree that may be after a few years it becomes accurate, yet it has happened recently… all these years it wasn’t there. And this is not the only reason why a woman is not allowed to have more than one husband. There are various other reasons. For example today science tells us that a man is more polygamous in nature as compared to a woman. Today science tells us that because of the various behavioral changes that take place in a woman during menstrual cycle, she cannot do the role of multiple wives simultaneously. Whereas a man he can do the role of multiple husband simultaneously. Furthermore if a woman has more than one husband or more than one sexual partner and if all of them are loyal to each other, yet there are high chances that veneral diseases and sexually transmitted diseases will emerge and it can be re-transmitted back to the man. Whereas if a man… today medical science tells us that if a man has more than one sexual partner, has more than one wife and if all of them are loyal to one another there are hardly any chances of veneral diseases or sexually transmitted diseases emerging in them. So scientifically also and medically its not problem for a man to have more than one wife, but problematic for a woman to have more than one husband

The seventh most common question, or the seventh misconception in Islam in the minds of the Non Muslim is that why does Islam subjugate the woman by keeping her behind the veil? Why does Islam subjugate the woman by keeping her in Hijab?

Before I discuss the reason of Hijab, let us analyze what was the status of woman in the past civilizations. When we read the History of Babylonian civilization, it says that woman were illtreated and if a man committed murder, his wife was put to death. This was the law. If you read the history of the Greek civilization, none as a very great civilization at that time they believed in an imaginary women by the name of Pandora who was the cause of all the evil in society. In that great Greek civilization woman were used for sex and pleasure. Prostitution was common. When we read the history of Roman civilization, even in Roman civilization the woman were looked down upon. Nudity and prostitution was common. When we read the History of Egyptian civilization the women were considered as an evil and she was called as an instrument of the devil. When we read the History of the Arab civilization, before Qur’an was revealed the Arabs very often they buried the female alive after she was born. Al Hamdulillah, Summa Al Hamdulillah after the revelation of the Qur’an this evil practice has stopped, but yet it persists in other parts of the world. Islam…. Al Hamdulillah… Uplifted the woman. Muhammad (saw), Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the major benefactor in giving the rights to the woman and after Islam has given rights to the woman it has even shown us a way how that woman should maintain her status. Hijab has been prescribed for the woman so that she maintains the status and doesn’t go back to the old days. Normally people talk about Hijab for the women, but Allah (swt) in the Glorious Qur’an first speaks about the Hijaab for the man and then speaks about the Hijaab for the women. Qur’an in Surah Noor, Chapter No. 24. Verse No. 30,

“Say to the believing man that he should lower his gaze and guard his modesty.”

Whenever a man looks at a women if any brazen thought, any unashamed thought comes he should lower his gaze, this is what the Qur’an says. Once there was a Muslim man who was staring at a girl for a long time. I told him brother what are you doing? This is Haraam in Islam. He told me our beloved Prophet said the first glance is forgiven, the second is prohibited I’ve not completed half my glance. What did the Prophet mean when he said the first glance is forgiven, the second is prohibited? What the Prophet meant was that if you unintentionally look at women don’t look at her again that does not mean you can look at a woman for 10 minutes without blinking and saying I’ve not completed my glance. The next verse of the Qur’an Surah Noor, Chapter No. 24. Verse No. 31, speaks about the Hijaab for the woman.

That,

“Say to the believing women that she should lower her gaze and guard her modesty; and display not her beauty except what appears ordinary of; and draw a veil over the bosoms and display not her beauty except in front of her husband, her father, her sons ……..”

Whenever women looks at a man and if any brazen thoughts comes he should lower his gaze. There are basically six criteria for Hijab given in the Glorious Qur’an and Hadith. Regarding the clothing of Hijab the first is the extent. As far as the man is concerned the extent is from the naval to the knee. For the women the complete body should be covered, the only parts that can be seen are the face and the hands upto the wrist. The remaining five criteria for the man and the woman are the same.

The second is, the clothes they wear they should be loose. It should not be tight fitting so that it reveals the figure.

The third, it should not be transparent or translucent so that a person can see through it.

Fourth, it should not be so glamorous so that it attracts the opposite sex.

Fifth, it should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

And Sixth it should not resemble that of the unbeliever.

These are basically six criteria for Hijab regarding clothing, but this does not constitute the complete Hijab, the complete Hijab besides the Hijab of the clothing…. also includes the behaviour, the conduct, the attitude as well as the intention of the person. Besides the Hijab of the clothing there’s Hijab of the eyes, Hijab of the heart, Hijab of the mind, Hijab of the thought, it even includes way a person talks, the way a person walks, the way a person behaves. This is a complete Hijab. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Ahzaab, Chapter No. 33, Verse No. 59,

“O Prophet tell your wives and your daughters and the believing woman when they go abroad they should put on the cloak, so that they shall be recognized and it will prevent them from being molested.”

Qur’an says Hijab has been prescribed for the woman so that they shall be recognized and it will prevent them from being molested. I would like to ask you a question that suppose two twin sisters who are very beautiful, who are equally beautiful, if they are walking down the streets of Dubai, walking down along the Cornish and if one twin sister she is wearing the Islamic Hijab, the complete body covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. And the other twin sister she is wearing the western clothes, the mini skirts or shorts and if both of them are walking down the streets in Dubai along the Cornish and if on the side there is a ruffian who’s waiting for a catch. Who’s waiting to tease a girl, I’m asking the question which girl will he tease? Will he tease the girl wearing the Islamic Hijab? Or will he tease the girl wearing the western clothes? The Which girl will he tease? Which girl? But natural the girl wearing the western clothes, the mini skirts or shorts, which girl will he tease? Which girl? But natural the girl wearing the western clothes, the mini skirts or shorts. If you’re inviting then you’ll receive. Qur’an rightly says that Hijab has been prescribed to prevent the women from being molested. And after this if any one rapes any woman, the Islamic Shariah says, death penalty. Many Non Muslim will say, death penalty in this age of 21st Century, Islam is a barbaric religion, it’s a ruthless law. But when I ask this question and I’ve this question to thousands of Non Muslims that suppose God forbid, someone rapes your mother or someone rapes your sister and if you are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you, what punishment will you give him? Believe me, all of them said 100%, we will put him to death. Some went to the extreme of saying we will torture him to death. So someone rapes your mother, your wife, your sister you want to put him to death. Someone rapes somebody else’s mother, somebody else’s sister you say death penalty, Barbaric Law. Why these double standards? Why? And do you know America, USA which happens to be the most advanced country in the world, do you know it has one of the highest rate of rapes in the world. The country which has one of the highest rate of rapes in the world is USA. According to the FBI statistics of 1990, every day 1756 cases of rapes took place. According to the statistics of US Department of Justice in 1996, everyday 2713 cases of rape took place. 1990, 1756…. 1996, 2713, may be the Americans got bold, you know… bolder… in six years time they got more bold. If you calculate every 32 second one rape is taking place in America. You know we are here in this auditorium for the past one and a half hour, already 150 rapes may have taken place in USA till the time we are here. I’m asking you the question, that if you implement the Islamic Shariah, any man looks at the woman, he should lower his gazes, the woman should be modestly dressed, complete body covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist, and after that any man rapes any woman, capital punishment, death penalty. I’m asking you the question will the rate of rape in America will it increase, will it remain the same or will it decrease? It will decrease. It’s a practical law. You implement the Shariah and you get results. That’s the reason the least rate of rape in any country in the world it’s in Saudi Arabia. You implement the Shariah and you get results. The western society claiming to uplift the woman… when it speaks about Women’s Liberalization, its nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, deprivation of honour and degradation of her soul. The Western civilization claiming to uplift the women, have actually degraded her to a status of concubine, mistresses, society butterflies, which are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers, which are hidden behind the colorful screen of art and culture. In the name of art and culture the westerners they are selling their daughters, they’re selling their mothers. And you see it’s very common in most of the Ads invariably we have to find a woman. You see an Ad of a motorcycle… how many woman ride motorcycle, yet you see a woman in the Ad of motorcycle. In Ad of a car… percentage wise a small percentage of woman drive cars, yet you’ll find a woman in the Ad of a car. And I was told about a very famous advertisement Ad of the BMW, you know BMW car… its in competition with Mercedes. The youngsters they prefer BMW, it has a better pick up, its fast. Someone told me in one of the very famous Ad of BMW there was a woman who was standing in front of the car with a bikini and the Ad read “Test Drive Her Now.” Who? The girl or the car? So in the name of Women’s Liberalization they are selling their daughters… they are selling their mothers. We love our daughters… we love our mothers… we love our wife. If the Hijab subjugates the woman and protects her we love this subjugation, we love this subjugation and we love this protection. If this is your freedom in the name of Women’s Liberalization… selling your body, selling your self we are very happy with our religion. Islam has prescribed woman Hijab to protect her and to uplift her and we see today the same thing is happening in the western world. Same thing what happened in Greek civilization, Roman civilization, Women’s in the name of Liberalization… Art….Culture…..Modelling ….. Fashion TV all this you see what are they doing going back to the old age.

The eight most common question asked by the Non Muslims is that why does Islam permit a Muslim to have non veg food? You know killing a animal is a ruthless act. So why does Islam permit a Muslim to have Non Vegetarian food. I would like to mention at the outset that a Muslim can be a very good Muslim even by being a pure vegetarian. There’s no verse in the Qur’an and the Hadith that say it’s compulsory for the Muslim to have Non Veg food. But since the Qur’an and our creator Allah (swt) has given permission for the human beings to have Non Veg why should we not have? The Qur’an says in Surah Ma’idah, Chapter No. 5 Verse No. 1,

“O ye who believe! fulfil (all) obligations. lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals, with the exceptions named”

“Ya ‘Ayyuhal-Ladhina ‘Aamanu”

“Oh you who believe full fill your obligations and it of the four footed animals with exceptions named”

Eat the meat of the lawful animals four footed with the exceptions named.

Qur’an says in Surah Nahl Chapter No. 16 Verse No. 5

“We have created for you cattles and from it you derive warmth and many benefits and of thier meat you can eat.”

“And cattle He has created for you (men): from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, and of their (meat) ye eat.”

Qur’an says in Surah Mu’minoon Chapter No. 23 Verse No. 21,

“And In cattle (too) ye have an instructive example: from within their bodies we produce (milk) for you to drink; there are, In them, (besides), numerous (other) benefits for you; and of their (meat) ye eat”

“That verily in the cattle is an instructive sign for you, we give you to drink from what is within their body and you derive many benefits from them and of their meat you can eat.”

So when Qur’an has given permission to have the meat of the lawfull animals then why should we Muslims not have it? Let’s analyze the scientific as well as logical reasons for having non Veg food. Today science tells us that in Non Veg food it is a wholesome food, its rich in protein, and the body requires amino acids. There are eight amino acids which are not created in the body it has to be given by the external diet, it’s know as essential amino acids. Only in the flesh food do you have all the eight essential amino acids. Therefore the meat is called as a complete protein. There is no vegetarian food which has all the essential amino acids in it. Furthermore meat is rich in niacin, Vitamin B and it’s a wholesome food. There are many Non Muslims specially the Hindu’s thy say that why do Muslims have Non Veg? and because you know Indians… besides India they are present throughout the world, 20% population of the world. You got to any part in the world, USA, Canada, UK, Dubai you’ll find Indians there. So it has become a common question throughout the world. I tell them if you analyze the set teeth of the herbivorous animal cow, goat, sheep, they only have vegetables. If you see their set of teeth they have flat set of teeth called as Herbivorous set of teeth. If we analyze the set of teeth of the carnivorous animal who only have flesh food lion, tiger, leopard. They have pointed set of teeth. They have canine set of teeth. If you analyze the set of teeth of the human beings, if you go in the mirror and see we have flat teeth as well as pointed teeth. If Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables, why did he give us the pointed teeth, the canine teeth? For what? To have Non Veg.

Further more if we analyze the digestive system of the herbivorous animal human, cow, goat, sheep they can only digest vegetables, if they take flesh food they will not be able to digest it. If we analyze the digestive system of the carnivorous animal, the tiger, the leopard, the lion, they can only digest flesh food. They cannot digest vegetables, but their digestive system of the human being can digest veg food as well as non veg food. If you thrust down the mouth of a sheep, cow, goat, any flesh food, it will not be able to digest. Similarly the lion, the tiger, the leopard they will not be able to digest the vegetables. But the human being can digest both. If Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables, why did he give a digestive system which can even digest Non Veg? But natural to have it. We have a small intestine as well as a large intestine… for having both veg food as well as non veg food. We are neither herbivorous, neither carnivorous, we are omnivorous.

And many of the Hindus have a misconception that Hinduism prohibits a human being from having Non Veg food. If you read the scrioptures of the Hindu’s, in several scriptures, several places it says that sages, saints had Non Veg food.

If you read Manusmriti Chapter No. 5 Verse No. 30, it says, that,

“The eater if he eats the flesh of the thing which is to be eaten then it is good. Even if he does it day after day, because God has crated some to be eaten and some to become eater.”

When you read Manusmriti Chapter No. 5 Verse No. 31, it says that,

“Eating meat in sacrifice it is not a sin it is the law of the Gods.”

Its mentioned in Manusmriti Chapter No. 5 Verse No. 39 – 40, that,

“God created sacrifical animals so killing animals in sacrifice is not considered as killing”

Furthermore when you read Mahabharat, Anushasana Parv, Chapter No. 88, regarding the Pandav’s, the five brothers, the eldest bother Yudhistir he asked Bheeshm, that while they were doing Pooja, Yagna for their ancestors, he asks Bheeshm that, what things we should give in Pooja, in Yagna, so that our ancestors will be satisfied? So Bheeshm replies, that if you put in the Pooja herbs, vegetable and fruits the ancestors will be satisfied for one month. If you give fish, two months. If you give meat, three months. If you give hare, four months. If you give the meat of goat five months, if you give bacon, meat of the pig, six months, if you give birds seven months, if you give deer eight months and the menu continues, if you give a buffalo eleven months, and if you give cow ancestors will be satisfied for one full year, that is beef. And if you give rhinoceros meat or red meat of goat our ancestors will be satisfied inexhaustibly. So there’s big menu… imagine…. vegetables, fish, meat, hare, what.. everything is there in the menu. So if you read the Hindu scriptures it was permitted to have Non Veg. It is later on when the Hindu’s were being influenced by other Non Hindu’s and tried to take their philosophy that they converted and tried to make their religion into vegetarianism. Though all Hindu’s aren’t vegetarian. Now when we ask these people that why are you vegetarian? They tell us that killing animal is a sin. Because killing living creature is a sin. So I say I agree with you. If I person can live without killing living creature I’m with you. Today, science tells us that even the plants have got life. Previously people did not know that plants and vegetables have got life. So now their logic has changed…. No..No.. we understand, we realize plants have got life but the plants can’t feel pain. Therefore killing an animal is a bigger sin as compared to killing a plant. Now science has further advanced and we have come to know that even the plants can feel pain. Though we cannot hear the cry of the plant, but even the plants can feel pain. They don’t have a very well developed system, but they can fell pain. And there was a research done in America that a farmer had made a gadget where you could make the cry of the plant be heard to the human ear. Because the human ear only hears between 20 cycles to 20,000 cycles per second. Anything below and above this the human being cant hear. Like this is below 20 cycles, I cant hear, if I do fast … I can hear because its above 20 cylces. You know the dogs they can hear upto 40,000 cycles per second. So you may have heard about the silent dog whistle, you blow the whistle the frequency is between 20,000 and 40,000 cycles per second, the human beings cant hear, the dog hears and comes to the master. So the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human beings. So there was a research done in America where a farmer makes a gadget and whenever the plant wanted more water it will cry out, he use to convert the cry and he use to hear it. So today science tells us that even the plants can feel pain. So now, there is a Non Muslim who argued the maximum, he said ok brother Zakir I agree with you that plants have got life the plants can feel pain, but you know plants have got about 2 senses less as compared to the animals, you know animals have got 5 senses, plants have got 3 senses. So I say ok for sake of argument I agree with you that plants have got 3 senses, animals have got 5 senses. So I asked him question that suppose if you have a brother who’s born deaf and dumb, and if someone comes and kills him, will you go and tell the judge, me lord give this murderer a less punishment because my brother had 2 senses less. In fact, I will go and tell the judge give this murderer double punishment, my brother was masoom, could not hear, could not speak. Give him double punishment. So where is the logic, two senses less so less punishment. In Islam it does not work, , two senses less or , two senses more.

Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 168,

“O ye people! eat of what is on earth, lawful and good”

“Eat of the things which are good and Halaal for you.”

What is permitted and what is good you can have. So what is Halaal, what is lawfull and what is permitted and what is good you can have. As far as Non Muslims who are against Non Veg, you know if I agree that fine we should no kill any animals you know the population of the cattles, it grows so fast, that if we stop eating animals there’ll be over population of the cattle’s in the world. Now you have over population of human beings in some countries, India … China.. you’ll have problem of over population of the cattle’s. and personally if Non Muslim’s don’t have Non Veg I’ve got no problem, believe me I have got no problem because if in India all the Non Muslim starts having Non Veg, then may be the price of mutton and beef will go up, you know? So for me no problem. If they don’t have non veg I’ve no problem. But if someone tells me that eating non veg is Haraam it’s a sin, that’s the time I give all these logical explanation.

The ninth most common question asked is, that Non Muslims say we don’t have any problem that Muslims have Non Veg food but why do the Muslims slaughter the animal so ruthlessly? Know Zabiha? Slowly you torture, you kill the animal, slowly and steadily, you’ll are ruthless people. So once there was a Muslim who was having an argument with a Sikh. You know in India we have the Sikh, those who wear the turban, so the Sikh was telling… you Muslims are ruthless you’ll are merciless why do you’ll torture the animal, you know? One jhatka, Fataik and animal dies” So the Muslim told him, “You Sikh’s you’ll are cowards you’ll attack the animal from behind, we are marad ka baccha, we are macho we attack from front. This is his Hikmah, this is not the reason why we do Zabiha, it is his Hikmah, he had no argument so he said we are marad ka baccha, macho we attack from front, you’ll are cowards you’ll attack from behind. The real logical, scientific reason is that why do we do Zabiha? Why do we slaughter in the Islamic method. In the Islamic method of slaughtering the knife should be very sharp, it should be swift, so animals feels the least pain. Secondly we cut the throat, the wind pipe and the vessels of the neck, without damagind the spinal cord is damaged the nerve going to the heart can be severed, there can be cardiac arrest. That’s the reason the spinal cord should not be cut. You only cut the throat and wind pipe and the vessels of the neck and let the heart beat. When the heart beats majority of the blood flows out of the body of the animal. Today science tells us that blood is a very good medium of germs, bacteria and toxin. So when we let the blood flow out of the animals body what are we doing we are cleansing the animal, we are removing the germs, bacteria and toxin. Its more hygenic. Furthermore an animal slaughtered by the Islamic method of Zabiha remains fresh for a longer time as compared to an animal slaughtered by the stunning methods because there’s less blood in the animal.. remains fresh for a longer time. Furthermore people have a misconception, people think that in the Islamic method of slaughtering the animal dies of pain. And is mercilessly killed. Today science tells us that when we slaughter, when we cut the throat, the wind pipe and the vessel of the neck the nerve supply going to the brain is also cut which is responsible for feeling of pain. So the animal does not die of pain. The animal dies a peaceful death, unlike in stunning many a times the animal dies after hours together. So the Islamic method is the most peaceful method and the animal dies a peaceful death. The animal kicks and writhers, not because of pain because the muscles are contracting and relaxing, so that the blood can flow out of the body. Animal writhers and kicks, because of the flow of the blood not because of pain. So the Islamic method of slaughtering is the most hygenic and the best and the humane way of killing.

The tenth most common question is or the misconception about Islam is that Non Muslims many of them say you Muslims, you eat animals and you behave like animals, violent and ferocious. You Muslims you know you’ll have Non Veg food and you behave like animal, violent and ferocious. I have to agree today science does tells us that what you eat has an effect on your behaviour. And I agree with them that what you eat has an effect on your behaviour that’s the reason we Muslims we are not allowed to eat ferocious and violent animals like tiger, leopard, lion, which are ferocious we are only allowed to eat the peacefull animals like cow, goat, sheep, because we are peace loving. You know the herbivorous animal, they’re peaceful… we say Allah Miyan Ki Gaay Hain, you know in Hindi we say, you know he….. so we are only allowed to eat the peacefull animals you know? The cattles. And Qur’an says in Surah Araf, Chapter No. 7, Verse No. 157,

“The Prophet commands you that which is just and prohibits you that which is evil. He allows you that which is lawful and good and prohibits you that which is bad and impure”

Allah repeats the message in Surah, Chapter 59, Verse No. 7,

“Take what the Prophet assigns to you and abstain for that which the Prophet prohibits to you.”

“So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which He withholds from you.”

So whatever Allah and his Rasool prohibits we Muslim abstain from it. And there are various Saheeh Hadith in Bukhari, in Muslim, Ibn Majah that speak about the prohibition of these violent animals, these carnivorous animals. It’s mentioned in Saheeh Muslim, in the Book of Hunting and Slaughtering, Hadith no. 4752 also in Ibn Majah, Chapter No. 13, Hadith No.3232 and 3234, the various types of food that the Prophet has prohibited amongst them is animals that have carnivorous set of teeth, the carnivorous animal, that belong to the cat family like lion, tiger, cat, dog, wolves, hyena’s all these are prohibited. Certain rodents like mice, rats, rabbits with claws, certain reptiles like snakes, allegators all these are prohibited. The prophet also prohibited birds which have talons and claws like vultures, eagles, crow, owls, etc. all these are prohibited.

Now we’ll discuss the eleventh most common question asked by the Non Muslim is…. The eleventh misconception in the minds of the Non Muslim is that if Islam is against idol worship why do the Muslims bow down to the Ka’bah? The reply to the allegation is no Muslim ever worshipped the Ka’bah. Ka’bah is the Qibla, is the direction, its mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 144 that

“Wherever you are, face in the direction of sacred mosque”,

(face in the direction of Ka’bah)

“Wherever you are bow in the direction of the Ka’bah”

The Ka’bah is the Qibla. For example if the Muslims want to offer Salaah here, some will say lets face north, some will say south, some will say east, some will say west, so for congregation, for unity all the Muslim face towards one direction that is the Ka’bah. So Ka’bah is our Qibla. And the Muslims they were the first people who drew the world map. And Al Idrusi, in 1154 was the first humanbeing who drew the world map and when the Muslims drew the world map they had the south pole on top, north pole down and Ka’bah in the centre. Later on the western cartographers came and they turned the map upside down. North pole top and south pole down, yet Al Hamdulillah Ka’bah is in the centre. So whichever part of the world you are, if you are in the north you face south. If you are in the south you face towards the north if you are in the east you face towards the west, if you are in the west you face towards the east. Ka’bah is the centre. Now when we Muslims go to Makkah and during Umrah or Hajj or while doing Tawaaf, we circumambulate round the Ka’bah. Now why do the Muslims circumambulate round the Ka’bah? Because it is the commandment of Allah and our Rasool, we do it. But the logically reason that I can think of is that when we circumambulate we know that every circle has got only one centre. So when we are circumambulating we are testifying that God is only one. Furthermore the statement of the second Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. (RA) he said Its mentioned in Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. No. 2, Book of Hajj, Chapter 56, Hadith No. 675, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, pointing at the Black Stone Hajr-e-Aswad,

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“This Black Stone can neither benefit me can neither cause me loss. Just because I’ve seen the Prophet kiss it, I’m kissing it.”

This statement that the Black stone, Hajr-e-Aswad can neither benefit me any Muslim nor harm any human being is sufficient to prove that we Muslims don’t worship the Ka’bah. And furthermore during the time of the Prophet, there were many Sahabaas who stood on the Ka’bah and they gave the Adhaan, no idol worshipper will ever stand on the idol he or she worships. This is sufficient proof to show that we Muslims we don’t worship the Ka’bah. The Ka’bah is only the Qiblah.

The twelth most common question asked by Non Muslim is that if Islam is a universal religion then why aren’t Non Muslims allowed to inter Makkah and Madina. If Islam is religion for everyone then why aren’t the Non Muslims allowed to enter Makkah and Madina? The reply to this question is every country has certain areas which are called as cantonment area. Cantonment area means only the military and the people who are involved in the defense of the country are allowed. Though I am a citizen of India I am not permitted to go in the the cantonment area. I cannot say I am a citizen of India, why am I not allowed to go in the cantonment area. No, only those who are involved with the defence and the protection of the country, they are allowed in cantonment area. Similarly Makkah and Madinah, both the Harmain they are the cantonment area of Islam. So only those who believe and are willing to love and die for Islam are allowed to enter Makkah and Madinah.

That’s the reason Allah says in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2,

“From this day do not allow any Non Muslim to enter in these two areas.”

Once Allah has prohibited we agree with it. The other reason is that whenever you enter a country, whenever you want to visit a country you have to first obtain the visa. No visa, means you cannot enter the country. And one of the most difficult country to get visa is USA, you know they ask you so many questions and now a days they ask you are you a terrorist? As though anyone will write yes. I want to ask the American government has anyone written yes. Do you belong to any terrorist organization? Ajeeb, I want to ask them has anyone written yes, so far… yes I’m a terrorist, yes I belong to terrorist organization, they ask so many questions… so you have to fulfill their requirement otherwise they wont give you visa. And I had gone to Singapore the first time in 1986 and it was mentioned in the emigration form “Death to drug traffickers” means if you’re caught with drugs, death penalty. You can’t say Oh…. death penalty, very barbaric, if you want ot enter Singapore you agree with the law otherwise don’t enter. So if you want to get the visa you have to agree with the law of the land. Now the visa to enter Makkah and Madinah, is to say with your lips, “La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasoolallah” There’s no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If any human being says this with his lips, La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasoolallah” Insha Allah no one can prevent you from entering the Makkah and Madinah. This two Holy places are our cantonment area and the visa is to agree, “There’s no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”

Due to time limitations I’ll just give the reply to one more misconception or one more common question the we can have the common question from the audience Insha Allah. atleast im touching more than 50%. The thirteenth most common question today according to me is that why does Islam prohibit a Muslim from having pork? The flesh of swine. The answer to this question is… Qur’an says in no less than four different places

In Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 173,

In Surah Ma’idah, Chapter No. 5, Verse No. 3,

In Surah An’aam, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 145,

And Surah Nahl, Chapter No. 16, Verse No. 115,

“Hurrimat `Alaykumul Maytatu Wad Damu Wa Lahmul Khinzir Wa Ma ‘Uhilla Lighayrillah Bih”

“Forbidden for you are dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah.”

So there are no less than four different places where it says that eating the flesh of swine is prohibited. Qur’an says that we Muslims believe. This prohibition is also mentioned in the Jewish and the Christian scripture. Its mentioned in the Book of Leviticus, Chapter No. 11, Verses No. 7 & 8,

“The swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.”

“The flesh of swine is unclean though it has cloven foot and divided hoof it chews not the cud, its flesh is unclean, Thou shall not eat its flesh not touch its carcas”

That means the Bible says eating the flesh of swine is prohibited, even touching it is prohibited.

The same message is repeated in the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter No. 14, Verse No. 8,

“The swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.”

That the swine though it has divided hoof it chews not the cud, its flesh is unclean for you, its carcass should not be touched”

The same message is repeated in the Book of Isaiah Chapter No. 65, Verse No. 2 to 5. that you should not have the flesh of swine.

So according to the Jewish scripture and the Christian scripture eating pork is prohibited.

If you read the Hindu scripture, even in Hindu scriptures eating pork is prohibited. Its mentioned in Manu Smriti that a Brahmin, a twice born, should not eat cock, or onion, or pig. Its further mentioned in Manu Smriti anyone who sells the meat, the forbidden meat that is pork you should chop of the opposite hands and limbs, punishment. Its not there in the Qur’an and Hadeeth, Hindu scriptures… chopping of the hands if you sell pork. Let us analyze what are the logical reasons… so according to the religious scriptures, whether it be Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam…. Its clearly mentioned in all these scriptures that eating the flesh of swine is prohibited. Let us analyze what are the logical reasons and scientific reasons for the prohibition of the eating of pork. Today medical science tells us that if a person has pork he has chances of having no less than 70 different diseases. Pin worm, round worm, hook worm, you name it is there. Many helminthes. One of the most dangerous helminthes is called as Taenia Solium. Taenia Solium in lay man’s terminology it is tapeworm. And it harbours in the intestine, its is very long. And the eggs, the ova via the blood stream can enter different organs of the body. If it goes to the brain it can cause memory loss. If it goes to the eye it can cause blindness, If it goes to the heart it can cause heart attack, if it goes to the liver can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body. And by the time you realize you are suffering from this Taenia Solium its already to late.

The other dangerous disease is… if a person has pork is Trichura Tichurasis. And many people have a misconception that when you cook your food very well, these helminthes die. According to a research out of twenty-four people suffering from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty two had cooked the food well. That means the food that you cook in your house, the normal temparature you reach cannot kill the germs and bacterias and the ovas that are there in the pork. There are various other reason why a person should not have pork. Today science tells us that eating pork has got fat building material, it has very little muscle building material. Because of the fat building material person has high chances of having hypertension, astro sclerosis, heart attacks. That’s the reason more than 50% of the Americans they suffer from hypertension because most of them are pig eaters. Today we know that one of the most filthiest animals on the face of the earth is the pig. Wherever you find faeces, muck, filth, you’ll find the pig there. It is the most dirtiest animal. You know what some people say… you know in certain countries like Australia, you know they breed pigs very well, very hygienic. I tell them even Australia in the stie the pigs are kept together. You know the pig, when it excreates, it eats its own excreta. So do you have man 24 hours manning wherever he excretes he picks up the excreta? No. so even in Australia the pig is dirty. Its one of the most filthiest animal. And one more reason I can think of besides many is that today science tells us pig is the most shameless animal on the face of the earth. It is the only animal that invites its friends to see when its having sex with its mate. When the pig is having sex with its mate it invites its friends to see him having sex with its mate. You know in America, modern society they have dance parties, after the dance parties, they have swapping of wives; “you sleep with my wife and I will sleep with your wife.” you eat pigs you behave like pigs.

Due to limitation of time I would not be able to complete all the 20 common questions but you are most welcomed to go to the website www.irf.net. And get all the answers in details, I would like to leave the rest of the time for the open question and answer session. I’d like to end the speech with the verse of the Qur’an from Surah Israa, Chapter No. 17, Verse No. 81 which says,

“Wa Qul Ja’al-Haqqu Wa Zahaqal-Batil ‘Innal-Baatila Kaana Zahuqaa”

“When truth is hurled against falsehood, falsehood perishes, for falsehood is by its nature bound to perish”

Wa Aakhirud Da’wana anilhamdu lillahi Rabbill Aalameen.