Open Question and Answer Session 

(Duration – 49 Minutes)

Chairman: Bismillah Ar-Rehaman Ar-Raheem. JazakAllahu Khairan to Brother Dr. Naik for that enlightening lecture. Now we will take questions. There’s a mike at the front so if any brothers who are interested in asking questions please queue at the mike. This should remind everybody, the rules are the questions must be brief concise and to the point, no speeches. We also have questions from sisters so we will alternate. So anybody from the brothers who would like to ask a question please make que here at the front. Any Non-Muslims they have preference in asking any questions. So if there are any Non-Muslims present then they’ll have preference in asking the questions.

Dr. Zakir: I’d prefer questions directly from the micro-phone rather than on chits, for the sisters they can put forth the chits. For the gents I prefer a live rather than chits you know because I’m not too much in favour of chits because when we ask chits hundreds of them come and everyone complaints that why didn’t you reply to my question. So we have an open session, you make a queue whoever comes first at the micro phone InshaAllah will be given the chance. Please pose questions on Islam and comparative religion or on the topic misconceptions about Islam, that’s my speciality and if there are any Non-Muslims, I would request the Non-Muslims to come on the micro phone. We’d like to give them the first opportunity, If any Non-Muslims have any questions, any clarifications, any criticism, no problem. I can take it, I’m young I can take it. If any Non-Muslim who has any questions, any clarifications, any query even if its criticism even if you don’t agree with some point of Islam this is the opportunity and you’ll be safe here no problem, I take the guarantee. You can ask any questions, If any Non Muslim has any questions I prefer Non Muslims coming first on the microphone, any clarification and those who would like to ask a question can make a queue so that we know how many would like to ask a question. You can come from the aisle and make a queue here. Yes brother…

Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum.

Dr. Zakir: Walaikum Salam.

Questioner: My name is Akbar Siddique and I am a revert and I would like to ask you a question regarding Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says in the Quran in Surah Al Zumur, Surah Zumur he  says that ‘Inna Allaha wamala-ikatahu yusalloona ala alannabi’ that Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and His angels send Durood and Salaam upon Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) and what is the true nature of Muhammad Mustafa (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam)

in the eyes of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala)

Dr. Zakir: Brother’s asked a question. He’s quoted a verse of the Quran he said it’s from Surah Zumar. If I’m not mistaken its from Ahzaab ch. No. 33 verse no. 56 that “We have to send our blessings, the angels and all of us have to send blessings on Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), The brother asked a question that what was the nature of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? Brother as far as the nature of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he is the messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala), the last and final messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala)  sent to the whole of human kind, In nature he was a human being like you and me as a human being but he is an exemplary human being, he is a human being but as a human being yes he’s like you and me, but in terms of quality and superiority he’s far superior than us. He’s but a human being and he is the best exemplary human being.

As Allah sways in the Quran in Surah Qalam Ch. No. 68 verse no. 4 that

“Verily thou are standeth on the highest standard of character.”

Allah says in Surah Ahzaab ch. No. 33 verse no. 21 that

“Verily in the Prophet you’ll find a beautiful pattern of conduct.”

So he was human being but he was a Messenger of Allah

(Subhanahu wa ta’ala) he was a Prophet of All Mighty God because many people have like other religions, you know, they have All Mighty God coming in the world in the form becoming a human being which is totally illogical. If God comes down in the world how can he be an example to the human being? If I want an example he should be like me, who requires to eat, who requires to sleep so Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) was a human being but he was a exemplary human being. He was the last and final messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and he was the culmination of all the Prophets.

As Allah says in the Quran in Surah Ahzaab ch. No. 33 verse no. 40

“Ma kana Muhammadun aba ahadin min rijalikum walakin rasoola Allahi wakhatama an nabiyyeena wakana Allahu bikulli shay-in aleeman”

“Prophet Muhammad pbuh is not the father of any of you men but he is a messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets. Allah is All knowing and full of wisdom.”

So you have to realize that Prophet Muhammad pbuh belongs to the categories of Prophets, of messengers of Allah which is the best of the human beings and the Prophets underwent more trials and tribulations than us normal human beings because of the post that they held and Allah gives that post it has to be trials and tribulations. So there’s a Hadith of Muhammad SAW that the Prophets, the Ambiyas and the Rasools they underwent more trials and tribulations than the normal human beings. So he was an exemplary human being, he is the best of example but he is a human being, but he is a Bashar. Alhumdulillah, Suma Alhumdulillah the person who after Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala)  if we love, we follow, we’re ready to die is Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) but he is the messenger of Allah and the best exemplary Muslim. Hope that answers the question.

Chairman: Question from the sister. There’re many questions on Polygamy and the question is, how can the married woman be encouraged to accept Allah’s decree that husband can take another wife. How can she accept that husband can take another wife?

Dr. Zakir: Sister’s has asked a question that how can a woman accept a husband to take another wife which I have discussed in my answer in detail. I gave the reasons why Islam permits polygamy i.e. a man to have more than one wife how can she accept? If she is a good Muslimah and if the requirement is there and if she feels that… its not a must for every husband to take a second wife, its not must but if she feels that there’s a requirement for the husband to take a second wife she should permit, its preferable and if she feels that there’s a requirement because of society but unfortunately what we find in our society, I am not advocating that every Muslim should have more than one wife, that’s not possible because if that happens then the whole ratio will go topsy turvy but if there is a requirement, it’s a requirement. Sometimes as I mentioned in my talk that some men are hypersexual but is the western society a woman would not mind her husband having extra martial sex, with 5 girls, 10 girls, 20 girls no problem. But taking one more legal wife they can’t tolerate. So if you feel there is a requirement that the husband is there, if he is good etc. it is preferable, if there is a requirement that he takes one legal wife and gives her, her right rather than have mistresses which can cause problem to him. There can be diseases which can come back to her also and but natural it is not following the Qur’an alos. Hope that answers the question.

If there is any Non-Muslim who would like to ask a question and would like to come up in the micro phone. Non Muslims, Reverts they are most welcome or I feel people get scared to come in Pakistan. You’re most welcome.

Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum! This is one atheist who asked me this question on his behalf I am asking this question to you. If there is a one true God as it is in Taurat, the Bible and the Quran why does each book create so much hatred in within the same religions? This is one of a atheist who asked this question.

Dr. Zakir: Brother asked a question that atheist who doesn’t believe in God that if everyone believes in one God why is the hatred within the religion? I have read the Qur’an, I have read the Bible. Nowhere does the Qur’an say that you should have hatred amongst… Some people may have a misconception that Qur’an says that you should kill the Non-Muslims, it’s a misconception again. Qur’an, Alhumdulillah, if you read the Qur’an there is nowhere in the Qur’an does it mention that you should spread hatred, infact the Qur’an says repel evil with good, repel evil with good. Yes sometime as a last resort as I mentioned in my talk that we have to use force so that peace will prevail, peace will prevail but it does not advocate hatred. Qur’an does not advocate hatred that you should hate whether Muslims should hate Muslims or Muslims should hate Non-Muslims It’s not like that. The Qur’an advocates that you should convey the message to the Non-Muslims if Allah gives them Hidaaya, Alhumdulillah. So your job is as

Allah says in Surah Gashiaya ch. No. 88 verse no. 21

“Fazakkiir innama anta muzakkir” that

“You convey the message for your job is to deliver the message.”

Giving Hidaaya is in the hands of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala).  So that’s the misconception of that Atheist may be he hasn’t read the Qur’an or the other scriptures but no scripture in the true since ever says that you should have hatred within or with the others. Hope that answers the question.

Questioner: The question is regarding the London bombings. What advice you would give to the Muslims living in the west after the bombings and is it allowed for a woman to take her Hijaab off?

Dr. Zakir: There are 2 questions posed. What is the advice after the London bombing that took place just last month and regarding the Fatwa given by a Muslim that the Hijaab should be taken off.

As far as the first question is concerned we normally find Muslims on two sides when I keep on traveling, one group saying what happened is totally wrong, absolutely wrong and they condemn other group totally right. And we find…I’m a person who believes that we should take the middle path.

My reply is that what happened in London last month where more than 50 human beings were killed, more than 50. Killing any innocent human being is Haraam.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Maidah ch. No. 5 verse no. 32

“If anyone kills any other human being unless it be for murder or for creating corruption and mischief in the land it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity.”

Qur’an says any human being kills any other human being whether Muslim or a Non Muslim whether he kills a Hindu, Jew, Christian or a Muslim it is as though he’s killed the whole of humanity and if anyone saves any human being it is as though he has saved the whole of humanity. So more than 50 innocent human beings were killed the act should be condemned.

We find that many of the Muslim organizations’ head, scholars, America front page, UK we condemn the act, we condemn the act. Alhumdulillah what they said is right but I feel it’s incomplete. I agree what happened in London was wrong, It’s against Islam, we condemn it…We even condemn what happened in 9/11, World Trade Center more than 5,000 people were killed but we don’t stop there. We also condemn the thousands of people killed in Afghanistan, we also condemn thousands of people killed in Iraq in the same breath why are double standards? We also condemn the thousands of people killed in Gujrat what’s unfortunate has happened that we Muslims have become apologetic you k now I don’t like using the word we have lost all the vigor, what you call impotent. Why, Why are we afraid? What is wrong is wrong; we condemn it but why double standards? Why double standards? Here infact we don’t even know who did it….We don’t know who did it. Why when the media portrays Islamic terrorism, Muslim terrorism….

See what happened you know IRA, IRA …Irish? Haan… who calls it a Catholic terrorism? Does anyone call it a Catholic terrorism? It is Catholicism. They are Catholic but they are not called as Catholic terrorism any Muslim does it Muslim terrorist. The media picks up black sheep of the community and they portray as though as they are exemplary Muslims.

We have black sheep in our community, I’m not trying to support, we have imagine the person who killed maximum human beings in the world, who was he? Who? Hitler, Hitler. 6 million Jews, 6 million….do we say that Christianity says you should kill 6 million Jews? Mussolini, who was he? He was a Christian. When the media says you know you should put a ban to Madarsaa. You know Madarsaa because Madarsaa creates violence and trains people to kill other human beings, which Madarsaa did Hitler go to? Which Madarsaa Mussolini went to? Which Madarsaa? So here what happens that we should realize we should speak the truth what is wrong is wrong.

I was In Australia and I gave a talk on terrorism and Jihaad and the American Conciliate General he asked me a question, “Brother Zakir, do you consider Osama Bin Laden to be a terrorist?” So I told that terrorist if you mean terrorizing innocent human being… I personally have not met Osama Bin Laden, I don’t know, I’m neither his friend I’m neither his enemy.

Qur’an says in Surah Hujurat ch. No. 49 verse no. 6

“Whenever you get any information check it up before you pass it on to the third person.”

I cannot base my comments on BBC and CNN. So I personally I am not in favour of Osama Bin Laden, I am not against him because I haven’t met him. Fine if I met him and do my research on him fine then I can give my comments. See certain things of the media we can come to know it is a fact but certain things. He’s a Prime Suspect, see there are so many theories. If you go on the net, on the internet there are theories that it was an inside job some people say it that George Bush did it himself. Now based on that theory I cannot say that George Bush, he’s the culprit and when Afghanistan is asking for proof why Osama Bin did it. George Bush gives the proof to Tony Blair, he gives it to Musharaf. Even if we agree for sake of argument, for sake of argument even if we agree that Osama Bin Laden did it, how can you kill thousands of innocent human beings in Afghanistan just for one man. Can you do it? Which religion permits that? Which religion? And this is, you don’t have to check up, we are seeing it he’s telling on the television, ‘we’re going to attack Afghanistan and thousands of people are being killed. And we could see the bombing on CNN, BBC absolutely clear.

So if you ask me who is terrorist no. 1? I would say George Bush and it came as headlines in the Australian news paper “Dr. Zakir Naik calls himself a fundamentalist Muslim and says terrorist no. 1 is George Bush”, it came as headlines.

I was giving this talk a couple of years back in London and there was a youngster I don’t want to name from which group he was. After the talk on Islam and Terrorism he was very happy, he got up Takbeer… Allahu Akbar.. then he says “Death to George Bush” and he had a few supporters so all my talk… so I got up and I said our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam)

,.. the two staunchest enemy of Islam both their name was Umar. Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he prayed to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala)  that give Hidaaya to at least one Umar and Umar (r.a.), the second Khalifa of Islam, he became a Muslim.So our dua should be give Hidaaya to George Bush.

So the problem with us Muslims we open our mouth and we don’t know how to open our mouth, If I tell give Hidaaya to George Bush, can anyone blame me? I say give Hidaaya to Tony Blair also, May Allah give him Hidaaya, may Allah give him guidance. So the problem is that if we don’t read the Seerah of the Prophet… imagine if Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, who was one of the staunchest enemy, when he became a Muslim, he became a staunchest supporter. He got the title ‘Al Farooq’, so imagine if George Bush tomorrow becomes a Muslim, that is better, why do you want to kill him? So we pray to Allah that may He give him Hidaaya, give Tony Blair Hidaaya and all these people.

So where it comes to condemning what happened in Iraq, weapons of mass destruction, No weapons of mass destruction were found, what’s happened? See we agree that the previous ruler Saddam Hussain, we agree that he was not a good Muslim, we agree that he was not good but now when I meet somebody from Iraq, they tell me that when Saddam Hussain was there it was bad but now it is worse, the situation was bad but now it is worse. There is more robbing, there in more problem in Iraq, more women are being raped, there is more insecurity, imagine in the name of war on terror and peace. So you realize that this is nothing but open terrorism.

And no one is opening their mouth, no one. So if you condemn about 53, 54 people killed in London, it is wrong. We don’t condole it, we condemn it. But if like someone said that lets have a 2 minute silence we agree with it. So how many minutes silence we should have for Afghanistan and Iraq? If 50 people have died in London, you want to have two minutes silence, we aren’t against it what happened is wrong, we don’t condole it, we condemn it but imagine thousands of people being killed in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Gujrat you know, Gujrat just a few years back, the Gujrat riots, there were more people killed in Gujrat than on 11 September in New York. 5 to 10 thousands Muslims were butchered and killed. Thousands of women were raped, did the international media speak about it? Just few clippings here and there finished. The economic loss that took place in Gujrat was much more than the World Trade Center, the survey done.

Who speaks about that? As though if one European dies or Britishers die it makes no difference that Palestinians are dying, Iraqis are dying, Afghanis are dying. In Islam all human beings are equal except by virtue.

Allah says in Surah Hujurat Ch. 49 vverse no. 13

“Ya ayyuhannasu inna khalaqnakum min zakarin wa onsa waja’alnakum shu’ooban waqaba-ila lita’arafoo inna akramakum inda Allahi atqakum inna Allaha’aleemun khabeer.”

“O humankind we have created you from a single pair of male and female and I have divided you into nations and tribes so that you shall recognize each other not that you shall despise each other. And the most honored in the sight of God, in the sight of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is the person who has Taqwa.”

The only criteria that one human being can be superior to the other it is not sex, its not wealth, its not the color of the skin, its not nationality, it is Taqwa, it is God consciousness, it is piety, it is righteousness. It’s the same.

A few European westerners tourist die, they are killed it comes as headlines, hundreds and thousands of Palestinians, Afghanis are being killed where does the media speak about it? So why these double standards? What we are against is the double standards. Yes we condemn what happened in London, we condemn what happened in New York 11th September but we condemn even what happened in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Gujrat.

And when the media poses they take, you know what does the media do they pick up black sheeps they pose a question are you a Muslim first or British first? What are you? Answer is not wrong but it’s not Hiqma. Answer is right but I would answer it in a different way, if they had asked me am I an Indian first or a Muslim first everywhere? If someone asks you next time are you a British first or a Muslim first you counter question and ask are you a man first or a British first? Counter, turn the tables over. Is he a man first of a British first? What’s the reply? Man, MAN! Are you Anti-British? Are you Anti-National? Turn the tables over. Why are we apologetic? When he goes to America yet he is a man, correct or not? When he goes to any other country, yet he is a man. So we have to turn the tables over. When they are putting us in the firing line why are we apologetic? You ask him a counter question. Are you a man first or a British first? First he is a man. So same way when you are a man first we are Muslim first. Why we are Muslim first? We are British also, Muslim first, then British. Because Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), He is our creator, He is our sustainer, He has given us this life, He has given all the facilities. We are allegiance to Him first and then we also have allegiance to the country but if the laws contradict of God and the country, Allah comes first. If the law of humanity and country contradict, who will you follow first? Country or humanity? Humanity because first you are a man, Imagine if any country has a law which is against humanity will you follow it? No! Because you are a man first.

Similarly are you a Saudi first or a Muslim first? You are a Muslim first that doesn’t mean only in Britain we are Muslim first, even in Saudi Arabia first we are a Muslim and then a Saudi. In UAE first we are a Muslim then an Emirati, in Kuwait first you are a Muslim then you are a Kuwaiti, we should know how to turn the tables over. Unfortunately we did not know as Allah says speak with Hiqma. So we have to know how to counter argue. In this way InshaAllah we will be able to clarify.

And what does the media do they pick up the black sheep of the community.

As far as the second question is concerned what do I have to say about the Fatwa that Hijaab should be removed Now what does the media do? Media picks up black sheeps. Like after 11th September there was a survey in Canada, almost all the Muslims say it is wrong, it is wrong killing innocent human beings. One young boy of the age of 14 of Ottawa said ‘what they did is good’ that was put in the news as though he represents al the Muslims. Now here you ask any scholar I am sure 99.9% scholars in UK will say that the women should not remove Hijaab. Now one out of the way, goes and says that Hijaab should be removed, they put him in frontline, this is the devilish act of the media. Fine, you ask any Muslim.. ah… what’s the problem why the Hijaab should be removed? So what the media does? Media picks up such people and they present as though that it is the view of the Shariah… Hijaab should be removed, Why should the Hoijaab be remobved? Unless you want to be molested, so if the person out there wants his daughter to be molested and raped ‘Ahlan wa Sahlan’ we don’t want that… So we have to be careful how the media represents and we are going to have black sheeps in our community. So therefore we should know how to reply but natural, this situation why should the Hijaab be removed? We want the women to be respected, we want them to be revered, we want the modesty to be maintained and even in this situation, MashaAllah, all the more they should maintain their Hijaab, maintained their identity and follow Islam to the best of their ability. Hope that answers the question.

Chairman: There’s a question from the center.

Questioner: My question is just a general question. What does the Qur’an say about Isa coming back and Imam Mehdi? And if he is to come back now please think about it. Will he be a Sunni, Shia or any other?

Dr. Zakir: Brother’s asked a question that is Isa (a.s.) going to come, is Mehdi (a.s.) going to come and if he’ll come will he be a Shia, Sunni what will he be? Yes there are various Ahadith talking about the coming of Mehdi (a.s.) The Qur’an speaks and says that the sings of Qiyaama would be Isa (a.s.) will come, amongst the signs of Qiyama is the coming of Isa (a.s.)

It’s also mentioned in Surah Maidah ch. No 5 verse no. 116 that Isa (a.s.) says to Allah (Barik ta’ala) that you be my witness I never told them to worship me but I said U’ budullah, worship Allah, Rabbi wa Rabbakum, who is my Lord and your Lord. So Isa (a.s.) is going to come. There are no less than 70 sahih Ahadith saying that Isa (a.s.)is going to come again. Similarly Mehdi (a.s.) So before the Qiyama they are going to come.

Regarding will they be Shia, will they be Sunni what will they be. They will be Muslims.

I had given a talk on ‘Unity in the Muslim Ummah’ in Manchester, I don’t intend repeating here it’s a long talk.

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Ale Imran ch. No. 3 verse 67 Abraham (a.s.)was not a Jew or a Christian, he was a Muslim. Qur’an says in Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse Isa (a.s.)was a Muslim. Qur’an says in Surah Hajj ch. 22 verse no. 78 that “Allah has called you, means us, as Muslims.”

Allah says in Surah Ale Imran Ch. 3 verse 64

“Faqoolosh hadoo bi-anna Muslimoon”

“Say Ye bear witness that we are Muslims.”

Allah says in Surah Fussilat ch. No. 41 verse no. 33

“Qala innanee minal Muslimeen”

“Say that you are a Muslim.” Muslim, Muslim, Muslim no less than 37 times Allah uses the word Muslim, Muslim, Muslim. 22 times as Muslimoon and 15 times as Muslimeen.

So the best is, the best label which Allah has given us that is Muslim. And Isa (a.s.)also and Mahdi (a.s.) InshaAllah they will come as Muslims.

Chairman: We’ll take a question from a Non Muslim.

Questioner: My name is Keith Mansion. I’d like to know if you want to know more about Islam which would be the best book to read? Just obviously in English.

Dr. Zakir: I would like to congratulate the brother MashaAllah. MashaAllah he came upon the microphone and asked the question, his question is that which is the best book if he wants knowledge about Islam in English. The best book brother is, in English, would be the translation of the glorious Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an, if there’s something like the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Glorious Qur’an is the Last Testament of All Mighty God. If the Christian believe in the Old Testament and the New Testament Glorious Qur’an is the Final Testament of All Mighty God. The best book you can read is the translation of the Glorious Qur’an and there are various translations available. One of the good one is the Sahih International written by three American ladies and I am sure Islam Bradford has a copy of that and I had gone to the centre and I’d request that if its available here to give a gift of the copy…. Copy of the translation of the Glorious Qur’an.

This word of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala), the Glorious Qur’an it is the most positive book in the world, It is a proclamation to humanity, It is a fountain of mercy and wisdom, a warning to the heedless. It is an assurance to those in doubt, It is a solace to the suffering and a hope to those in despair. So the best book brother is this. And there are other books also, various books depending what is your field of interest. Normally I prefer because there are various aspects… I prefer when I speak to the Non Muslims depending upon his field of interest. If he likes science I’d give him a book on Qur’an and Science depending upon what is his interest. In that way… So the best book is the Qur’an along with the Qur’an there are other books for example ‘Understanding Islam’ written by I.I. Ibraheem. Which I feel even that’s available in the centre in Islam Bradford. Surely I would request the organization to give you a few of the booklets and the best guide is the Qur’an. And the Qur’an also has a index.

One way of reading the Qur’an is reading from first page to last page. Second is that you want to know what does the Qur’an speak about Jesus (pbuh) then you open the index, you come to ‘J’. it will be mentioned there. His birth, Surah Ale Imran ch. No. 3 verse 42, 43, 44

“Wa iz qaalati almala-ikatu ya maryamu inna Allaha istafaki watahharaki waistafaki ala nisa-i al’alameena.” That

“Behold!” The angel said “O Mary…”

And this is a good index, you want to know what the Qur’an speaks about women, look up in ‘W’. So in this way depending upon the subject you want you come to know what is mentioned in the last and final revelation and I would request you to read one of my booklets which is ‘Similarities between Islam and Christianity’ and there is a video cassette also on that topic. The tape would be preferable where I have tried and pointed out that leave aside the differences what differences we have is separate at least let us agree to follow what is common in the Bible and the Qur’an. If you read the bible and the Qur’an both the Bible and the Qur’an both say that you should believe in one God and I have given all the references from the Bible, from the Qur’an. It’s a long talk both the Bible and the Qur’an say that you should believe in the last and final messenger.

There are various Prophesies of Muhammad

(Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) given in the Bible.

In the Book of Deuteronomy ch. No. 18 verse no. 18,

in the Book of Isaiah ch. No. 29 verse no. 12,

in the song of Solomon ch. No. 5 verse no. 16,

in the Gospel of John ch . no. 14 verse no. 16,

in the Gospel of John ch. No. 15 verse no. 26

there are various prophesies and you can give a talk only on Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) in the Bible, you can give a talk on concept of God in Christianity. So in this way InshaAllah when you read the Qur’an and you read these booklets InshaAllah. May Allah give you hidaaya. Hope that answers the question brother.

Chairman: If anybody wants any literature from Islam Bradford then please come and speak to me afterwards. Ah… We’d take a question from the sisters. It is said that more women will go to hell than men. Does this make the statement ‘women are the source of evil’ correct?

Dr. Zakir: The sister’s asked a question that more women will go to hell. It’s a Hadith. Does it mean that women are the source of evil? That’s half of the Hadith the complete Hadith is that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that more women will be in hell because the women they gossip, thats is one of the reasons. but logically just to cut the answer short as in the world there are more women than men so but natural even in… hope that answers the question.

Chairman: A question from the center?

Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum! This is Umar from Leeds. As you know that the Muslims of the years have declined in the areas of science, technology and all the fields. Now why have we declined recently? And why are the Muslim nations bowing to western countries for technological help and other help?

Dr. Zakir: Brother’s asked a very good question that why have the Muslims declined in terms of science and technology. Why do you look up to the western world etc. if you read history from the 8th to the 12th centuries the Europeans they called it as the dark ages dark for whom? Dark for the Europeans. The amount of advances the Muslim Arabs made is phenomenal, It was a golden age and if you read history as I told you earlier the person who drew the first world map was Al Idrussi, 1154. In mathematics the Indians had known about the ‘Zero’. The Arabs came; they got that and invented to put the decimal point. So therefore reason what we call the numerals as Arabic numerals. That 1, 2, 3, 4 the right word for that is ‘Arabic Numerals’ 1, 2, 3, 4 it is by the Arabs.

In Trigonometry if you know the person who was the expert his name was Al-Buruni, was an expert. The Pythagorean Theorem The square of the opposite side is equal to the sum of the other two sides of the triangle, It was Al Ipthusi. So when we read history Muslims were on top of the world, The father of chemistry, who is he? We read in the book Gabber, Gabber. It is Jaabir, Jaabir ibn Hayaan they want to westernize his name, Gabber, Gabber. Sounds like a westerner. It is Jaabir ibn Hayaan… Gabber.

We read in school the person who discovered the blood circulation is William Harvey and 400 years before William Harvey it was Ibn Nafees, Ibn Nafees was the first person to discover blood circulation but in the books we read about William Harvey no one knows about Ibn Nafees.

In medicine Razi, Mohammad, Shakir they were experts in chemistry, in medicine, in small pox we know the Aristotle of the east, Aristotle of the east, Avicina, Avicina, Ali ibn Sina. Avicina, Avicina. So in science we think it’s a westerner Avicina. It is Ali ibn Sina. I can give hundreds of names of Muslim scientists but I agree with you, I agree with you now the Muslims have declined we Muslims were on top of the world.

The reason today Muslims have declined and we are on the receiving end is because that time we were close to our religion, now Muslims have gone away from our religion away from Qur’an and Sahih Ahadith. The westerners have advanced because they too have gone away from their religion. We have declined because we have gone away from our religion, the westerners have advanced because they have too have gone away from their religion. Their religion is not Haqq, our religion is Haqq. The reason we have gone away from Qur’an and Sunnah that’s the reason we are in this situation. If we go back to Qur’an and the Sahih hadith and implement the guidance given by Allah and his Rasool, InshaAllah once again we’ll be on top of the world. I hope that answers the question.

Chairman: Ah.. Question from the sister’s that as Muslims should we be living in a Non Muslim country?

Dr. Zakir: Sister asked the question as Muslims should we be living In a Non Muslim country? Depending on what is your intention and what is your activity. If you are born there then fine, no problem, If you live, live as a Muslim If you live as a Muslim in a Non Muslim country no problem but if you live as a Non Muslim in a Non Muslim country then there is a problem. So if you live as a Muslim and implement o the Qur’an and the Shariah there is no problem at all, you can live there is no problem If you are born there then you have to live.

Regarding migrating there are different views of scholars. Some scholars say yes, some scholars say no, if you migrate it can only be for knowledge, it can be for Da’wah, etc. not for money etc. different views. but if you have been born here fine but see to it that you live like a Muslim. Muslim means a person who submits his will to All Mighty God then there is no problem. Hope that answers the question.

Chairman: We’ll have a question from this side.

Questioner: My name is Aarif Suhail, I’m an engineer. I hope you can write a clarification around the misconception in the Qur’an a few verses where Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala)  says kill the Jews wherever you find them. What is the context behind that?

Dr. Zakir: Brother’s asked a question that can I give some clarification regarding the verse of the Qur’an which says kill the Jews wherever you find them. What the brother is referring to the verse of the Qur’an of Surah Tawbah ch. No. 9 verse no. 5 which says “Wherever you find a Kaafir, you kill him.” It is not Jew, it is Kaafir, the word is there.

The clarification is that many of the critics of Islam, they pick up these verses and they say Qur’an says wherever you find a Kaafir, Non Muslim you kill him and when you open the Qur’an it is there. they are quoting this verse out of context…they are quoting this verse out of context.

For the context if you read the first few verses of Surah Tawba ch. 9 it speaks about a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Mushriks of Makkah. This peace treaty was unilaterally broken by the Mushriks of Makkah by the time Allah SWT reaches verse no. 5 He gives an ultimatum to the Mushriks of Makkah to put things straight in 4 months time otherwise a declaration of war and in the battle field Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says that Muslims don’t get scared wherever you find a Kaafir, you kill this is in the battlefield.

Now any army general to boost up the morale of his soldiers he will but naturally say that wherever you find an enemy you kill. He’ll not say wherever you find an enemy you run away. Imagine if there is a war between USA and Vietnam and the American President says that wherever you find a Vietnami, kill him and today if I quote him out of context that today American President said wherever you find a Vietnami kill him, I will make him sound like a butcher. So it is in context in the battlefield and many people quote this verse including one of the famous critics of Islam in India Arun Shori he wrote a book by the name of ‘The world of Fatwas’.  He quotes this Surah Tawbah Ch 9 verse no.  5 & from verse no. 5 he jumps to verse no. 7 you know why? Verse no. 6 has the reply. Verse no. 6 of Surah Tawbah Ch 9 says that

“If the enemy, if the Mushriks, if the Kafir seek asylum, seek peace don’t just give it to them, escort them to a place of security so that they may hear a word of Allah.”

Today, the most merciful army general will say if the enemy wants peace let him go, here the Qur’an says don’t just let him go escort him to a place of security. See all the verses, almost all the verses in the Qur’an which speak about fighting, the next verse speaks about peace even Surah Anfal ch. 8 verse no. 60 which I quote that “cause terror in the hearts of those who reject the truth” but the next verse says if they want peace give them peace almost all the verses that talk about fighting the next verse speaks about peace because Islam is the religion of peace.

Unfortunately they pick it out of context and they just quote that and that’s the reason all this confusion is there. Hope that answers the question.

Chairman: Question from the sisters to prove rape are 3 or 4 witnesses required to prove rape?

Dr. Zakir: The sister’s asked a question ‘are 3 or 4 witnesses required to prove rape?’ It’s not necessary. If its there Alhumdulillah, what is required for adultery if you lay an allegation that so and so man or so and so woman is involved in adultery i.e. Zina then minimum 4 witnesses are required and if you cannot get 4 witnesses the person who lays an allegation according to Surah Nur ch. No. 24 verse no. 4, they get 80 lashes that’s for adultery, for rape if the witnesses is there fine. Even if the witness is not there, if there are circumstantial evidences, if it is proved because in rape it’s not necessary you’ll find 4 witnesses or 3 witnesses. So in rape the circumstantial evidences, whoever is accused if found guilty by whatever method, today there are many scientific methods, there is you can test the even semen etc. and come to know everything any circumstantial evidences to show undoubtedly that person has committed rape then he gets a capital punishment. Witness is not a must if witness is there that is an additional help. Hope that answers the question.

Chairman: We are coming close to the time limit. We’ll take can take other question from the middle.

Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum! My question is that British government and the media in this country they want to separate Muslim community into 2 by saying that there are some Muslims who are extremists and there are some Muslims who are moderate. The extremists are those who speak about Iraq and Afghanistan like you said and they criticize the foreign policy and… So… my question is how Muslims should we show a united fund and what kind of things can we discuss and respond that to show that we are united on this?

Dr. Zakir: Brother asked a question that the government has said that Muslims who are extremist, there are some Muslims who are moderate. A Muslim is a Muslim.

Allah says in the Qur’an ch. 2 verse no. 208

“Udkhuloo fis Silmi  Kaaffa”

“Enter into Islam wholeheartedly”

If you are a Muslim you enter Islam wholeheartedly otherwise you are a sudo Muslim. So I call either Muslim or sudo-Mslim. Nothing like an extremist Muslim or a moderate Muslim, either you are a Muslim or a sudo Muslim, you’re a good practicing Muslim or not a good practicing Muslim there’s nothing like extremist. If you have to have to be a Muslim Allah says Udkhuloo fis Silmi  Kaaffa You can’t say I want to follow this part of the Qur’an, that part you don’t want to follow. I want to take this Hadith and that Hadith, if it’s a Hadith, its Sahih, you have to take. If its not Sahih and you reject it that is good but if it’s a Sahih Hadith you have to take it.

So there is nothing like extremist and moderate. A Muslim is Muslim if he follows the Qur’an and Sunnah. If the government says those people who speak about Afghanistan and Iraq they are called as extremist Muslim, I said yes. I am extremely kind so my heart does bleed for the people who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, my heart does bleed. If the government has a problem because I am extremely kind then that’s their problem it’s not my problem, It’s my Haqq. I am a human being, any other human being who is a innocent human being who is terrorized, who is killed I will speak on this behalf because I am an human being first before a British, I am a human being. I am not a British at all, I am saying what you have to reply. I am a tourist, I am an Indian.

You have to realize that yes if the government is saying that we are speaking something if we are supporting those people who are terrorizing innocent people then its wrong. We are surely not supporting any human being who is terrorizing innocent human beings but those people who are terrorizing innocent human being if we speak against them yes we do that but we aren’t speaking in favour of them so irrespective whether he is an American or British or whoever he is whether Muslim or Non Muslim so it is the duty of every Muslim as our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said.

“If you see any evil, you stop it with your hand if you can, if you can’t stop it with your hand, stop it with your tongue, if you can’t stop it with your tongue, the least you can do is curse in your heart and if you do that you are the lowest level of Momin” lowest category.

So if you feel you can stop it with your hand, stop it, any evil. If Allah has given you the power to speak and if you do not speak, Allah will take away your power to speak. If you feel that fine, if you speak and you have a problem and you don’t have that guts at least curse in your heart. If you do that you are the lowest level but we should know hoe to convey the message. What happens many a times Muslims foolishly make statements MashaAllah I give statement you know in India, believe me to do Da’wah in Bombay is one of the most difficult place to do Da’wah. I don’t know whether you are aware of Bombay, Bombay, you know, it’s difficult It’s very easy here. In spite of that with Allah’s help, Alhumdulillah, Suma Alhumdulillah since the past 8 years we are showing our Da’wah, hardcore Da’wah programmes everyday in morning in the cable TV to more than 1.5 million homes, I speak about the Veda openly I speak about the government but with Hiqma following the guidance of Qur’an, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala)

and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam)

So you should speak with Hiqma, I am very vocal but how you do it is very important.

You the incidence that took place about the destruction of the statue of Buddha.. Buddha statue was destroyed by the Talibans. It was shameful that all the people came on the media all the so called Islamic scholars all of them condemned that what they broke the statue is wrong, is wrong, is wrong. When I came on the media I said that if the Muslim scholars feel that speaking in favour of the people who have destroyed the Buddha statue is going to cause problem to the Muslim Ummah the least they can do is keep their mouth shut, least.

So a question asked to me by a Hindu that just because the Afghanis they were in power they destroyed the statue, in India it will never happen, no one will destroy statue so how does Islam permit this?

I told them that in Bombay city outside the domestic airport in Santacruz there was a bid statue of Mahavir. The Jains, they believe in Mahavir. It was unclothed statue. So people took objection, so the government was forced to put a wall on the private part of the statue after a few months they remove the statue so the same people who object on the statue being there today are condemning those people who destroyed the Buddha statue. There are more Jains living in Bombay and India than Buddhist living in Afghanistan, I as a student of comparative religion I said what happened I don’t know but one thing I know for sure that the Afghanis they are educating the Buddhists because Buddha never said make a statue of me. Buddha never said you should do idol worship I am a student of comparative religion, I have read Dharmapadha so these Talibans of Afghanis they are educating the Buddhist that Buddha never said that make a statue of me. He never said do idol worship so they are educating them.  So one press reporter asked me that “Brother Zakir, don’t you think that it hurt the feelings of millions of Buddhist? Does Islam give permission to hurt the feelings of human Being?” I said under normal circumstances ‘no’ but sometimes the father is cruel to be kind.

I asked him a question that suppose the Indian government catches a hall of drugs worth about 5 million pounds, 10 crore rupees, whatever it is what does the government do? So the reporter told me the government will burn the drugs. I said do you know millions of human beings for them drug is their god so when the government burns the drug, won’t it hurt the millions of drug addicts? He said yes’. So are you for the government or against the government? I am for the Indian government. I am for the Indian government because the Indian government though it is hurting the feeling of millions of drug addicts they know that see because it will cause harm to them, it will cause health problem so as far as Aakhira is concerned we Muslims know about Aakhira InshaAllah so there they know that it is beneficial for the Buddhists.

And I asked the question to the Hindu that suppose you buy a house and if there is a carving of the Kaaba in your house what will you do? I said won’t you destroy it? He was scared to say ‘I will take it out’ won’t you destroy it? Won’t you remove it out of the house? He said ‘yes’ because you own the house. So when the Afghanis are owning that country the statue belongs to them, who are you to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ are they coming to your country and destroying it?

And all the scholars who said Ud`u ‘Ila Sabili Rabbika Bil-Hikmah it is not Hiqma, it is not Hiqma they don’t know the context.

The context of the verse of Surah Nahl ch. 16 verse 125

“Ud`u ‘Ila Sabili Rabbika Bil-Hikmah if first few verses where the Ruku starts it says that in the lifestyle of Prophet Abraham is a beautiful example. What did Prophet Abraham do (pbuh)? He broke the statue. So Ud`u ‘Ila Sabili Rabbika Bil-Hikmah doesn’t mean speaking soft. Hiqma means conveying the message. Whether you do it softly or you do it harshly, Hiqma is wisdom.

It doesn’t mean only soft, many a times softer Hiqma, sometimes harsher Hiqma.

So if we analyze Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) when he came to power, when he came back to Makkah and he broke all the idols in the Kabah and he said with the verse of the Qur’an

“Wa Qul Jaa’al Haqq Wa Zahkal Baatil. Innala Baatila Kana Zahuka”

“When Truth is hurled against falsehood, the falsehood perishes because falsehood by its nature bound to perish.”

See if we don’t have the power, suppose in India, to do it, no problem it’s not Fard, it is not Fard. When they have the power, they are doing an act which is Musthab so what’s your problem. But in replying you should know how to reply giving examples of the government, when you give. So therefore when you speak unfortunately many of us Muslims out of emotion we say things and then we land ourselves into trouble. So if you say with Hiqma giving examples like today I gave examples of India terrorist and freedom fighters, America, America and British. Where are we? They both are having problems.

See history, Benjamin Franklin, terrorist. George Washington, Terrorist. So when we give examples it opens up the vision….If not of the government at least the Britishers. See the Non-Muslims aren’t fools; the westerners aren’t fools whatever the government policies speak, be vocal but speak with Hiqma so that we can convey the message of peace to the world. Hope that answers the questions.

Chairman: Ah.. Final question from the sisters because Maghrib is upon us. Is a woman allowed to go out on Jihaad?

Dr. Zakir: Question posed is that can a woman go to Jihaad? Jihaad means to strive and to struggle. She’s supposed to do Jihaad everyday of her life, Jihaad means to strive, to struggle. The best form of Jihaad is to convey message of Islam to the Non Muslims. I know what the sister is mainly referring to. Is referring to can she go for war, that form of Jihaad.

There’s a Hadith of Sahih Bukhari Vol no. 4, Hadith no. 2784 when the wife of the Prophet Hazrat Aaisha, may Allah be pleased with her, she asked the Prophet that “should we go for Jihaad” The Prophet said: “the best Jihaad for you is perfect Hajj”.

So he told his wife the best Jihaad for you is to perform perfect Hajj depending upon the situation if the women they feel they can nurse, they can do fostering and they can provide water… there is a full chapter in Sahih Al Bukhari that woman did take part in battlefield providing water, providing first aid etc. there are chapters but depending upon the situation but once the Prophet told his wife the best Jihaad for you is to perform perfect Hajj. So it depends on the situation but the best Jihaad is Jihaad against your own inclination, Jihaad to make the society better which every Muslim whether man or woman should continue doing and even the woman should continue doing. Hope that answers the question.

Wa Aakhiru Da’waana Anil Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil Alameen!