Open Question & Answer Session
(Duration – 1 hour and 8 minutes)
Ather Khan: JazakAllah Khair. Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu, May peace mercy and blessings of Allah (swt) be on all of you. Now we enter into the next part of our programme which is the open question and answer session which is the most interesting part of Dr. Zakir Naik’s programme and it’s also very interactive and the audience will get the chance to interact with the speaker and ask questions on what Dr. Zakir Naik has spoken in this talk.
To analyze today’s topic adequately for the audience present here today in the limited time available we would like the following guidelines to be followed during the question and answer session. Kindly state your name and profession before asking the question, you can ask the question on the topic as well as any question on Islam and comparative religion, for your second question you have to go back of the row and await your second chance to ask a question. Non-Muslims brothers and sisters present here in the audience will be given the first preference. Now I will request the volunteers who are on the mikes that please check up if there are any non-Muslim brothers and sisters in the queue then please give them first preference and give them the first chance to ask the question.
We have 2 mikes here, one for the sisters on the right and one for the brothers on my left. May we have the first question from the brothers on mike no. 1?
Questioner: My name is Mohammad Kaba’an I’m an airline student… I know your fashionable specialty is in comparative religion. Now my question is gonna be on Christianity. A lot of Christians say that Jesus is God. Can you also say any evidence is in the bible to refute this claim... Ahm.. Thank you very much.
Dr. Zakir Naik: Brother asked the question that many Christians claim that Jesus Christ (pbuh) is God so can you refute this from the Bible. Before I give the answer I would like to make a few points clear that Islam is the only non-Christian faith which makes it an article of faith to believe in Jesus Christ (pbuh).
No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus Christ (pbuh).
We believe that he was one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (swt)
We believe that he was born miraculously without any male intervention which many modern day Christians today do not believe.
We believe that he was the Messiah translated Christ.
We believe that he gave life to the dead with God’s permission.
We believe that he healed those blind & lepers with God’s permission.
The Muslims & the Christians, we’re going together but there is parting of ways. There are many Christians or most of the Christians who say that Jesus Christ (pbuh), he claimed divinity. But if we read the Bible, there is not a single unequivocal statement in the complete Bible where Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself says that “I am God” or where he says “worship me”. If anyone, if any Christian can point out to me any single unequivocal statement from any where in the Bible, from any version where Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself says unambiguously, unequivocally that “I am God” or where he says “worship me”, I’m ready to accept Christianity today. When we read the Bible we come to know that Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself said it’s mentioned in the
Gospel of John ch. 14 verse no. 28, Jesus Christ (pbuh) said:
“My Father is greater than I”
Gospel of John Ch no. 10 verse no. 29
“My Father is greater than all”
Gospel of Mathew Ch. No. 12 verse no. 28
“I with the sprit of God, cast out Devil”
Gospel of Luke Ch no. 11 verse no. 20
“I with the Finger of God, cast out Devil”
Gospel of John Ch. No. 5 verse no. 30
“I can of my own self do nothing as I hear I judge and my judgment is just for I seek not my will but the will of my Father”
Anyone who says that I seek not my will but the will of All Mighty God he’s a Muslim. Jesus Christ (pbuh), he was a Muslim, he never claimed divinity. It’s clearly mentioned in the
Gospel of John ch. no. 14 verse no. 24, Jesus Christ (pbuh) said that
“The words that you hear are not mine but my Father’s who has sent me”
And its mentioned in the Book of Acts Ch. No. 2 verse no. 22
“Ye men of Israel listen to this, Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God amongst you by wonders & miracles and signs which God did by him and you were witnessed to it.”
A Man approved of God amongst you by wonders & miracles and signs which God did by him and you were witnessed to it. So here when we read the Bible you come to know that Jesus Christ (pbuh) he never claimed divinity, he never said he was God neither did he say that he was a begotten son of God but he was one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (swt). Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: Thank you very much.
Ather Khan: I have got many questions on the chits but Dr Zakir always prefers if people can come to the mike and ask questions and questions written on the papers or paper slips will be given second preference. So please come on the mike and ask question that would be preferable.
Questioner: Well my question was that Dr. Naik you live in a predominantly Hindu society, does it affect your work
Dr. Zakir: The brother asked the question that I live in a predominantly Hindu society, does it affect my work. Yes it does. It helps me to strive harder MashaAllah. It does effect, the place where I come from Bombay, it is suppose to be one of the most difficult places where you can do Da’wah. The Bombay city, if anyone knows, one of the most difficult places where a person can do Da’wah. The organizations, the political organization that are there, they are so much against the Muslims but Allah says in the Qur’an in
Surah Ale Imran ch. no. 3 verse no. 160
“If Allah helps you then none can overcome you, if Allah forsakes you who is there who can help you, so let the believers let the believers put their trust in Allah.”
So if Allah’s help is there, its very easy believe me, in Bombay while doing Da’wah even the life is in danger.
Questioner: Brother Bombay is the most prejudice place in India.. against Muslims.
Dr. Zakir: That’s what I am aware of it, that’s what I am telling you that’s what I am telling you, Bombay is the most difficult place where you can to Da’wah, its very difficult yet in spite of living in such a situation with Allah’s help, it is very easy. Imagine I give talks from the past 8 years on the cable TV network, we come on more than one million homes everyday, everyday and in that we do hardcore Da’wah quoting the Vedas, quoting Bhagvad Gita, quoting the Upanishads, Mahabharata, talking about their scriptures and Alhumdulillah when we give talks Hindus also come in large numbers and we train our people MashaAllah and the students that we have and my colleagues even they MashaAllah, can quote Qur’an, Hadith, Bible, Veda, Ramayana even our children in school, MashaAllah. If you see the young children in school in the 5th Std, 6th Std they can rattle off chapter no. verse no., MashaAllah, they are trained.
Questioner: Are you able to convert anyone to Islam?
Dr. Zakir: Brother! Normally you should realize we should follow the rules and the regulations of the question an answer session, it is not a discussion you are having between me and you, fine. You are an elderly person we wanted to get the mike to you ‘Ungli dehn toh pocha nahi pakadna chaaiye’ the thing they say that if someone gives you a finger you should not catch the hand there’s rules and regulations are there, there are at least 15 people standing in the queue there and one question. You could have asked all the three questions together while giving a talk if you interrupt in between this goes against the rules and regulations and a Muslim is suppose to follow the rules and regulations, if you are a Muslim.
Questioner: The questions are inter-related.
Dr. Zakir: So you should ask together.. yes you should ask together otherwise you should ask one question, go behind the queue and then ask. So you should wait for 15 people to finish and then you can ask otherwise it becomes a dialogue, not that I cannot answer, not I cannot answer. Regarding your last part, because you are an elderly person I am answering. Were we able to convert anyone? We don’t convert anyone, Allah gives Hidaaya. We cannot convert anyone. Allah says in the Qur’an in
Surah Ghaashiyah ch. no. 88 verse no. 21
“Fathakkir innama anta muthakkir”
Our job is to deliver the message. Its Allah who gives Hidaaya and Alhumdulillah, Allah has given Hidaaya to thousands of non-Muslims, MashaAllah through the IRF. We have been made the Zariya and if you see, and if you see our video tapes, MashaAllah. I have given a talk on similarities between Hinduism and Islam and MashaAllah when we have in Bombay, we only allow non-Muslims to ask questions. Nowadays, Muslims only listen because the Muslims are our people, they are not our guest, the non-Muslims are our guest so MashaAllah there are son many non-Muslims queuing up that even though we give 2 to 3 hours for question and answer session we can’t complete all the questions. and MashaAllah many of them accept Islam on stage and I was there yesterday in Birmingham, there was a Muslim who told me that there is a Hindu in Lester who is so much impressed with the talk that he wants me to come to Lester, he wants to call all the Hindus of that area, he will finance everything, he wants to keep my talk similarities between Hinduism and Islam and InshaAllah, Allah may give him Hidaaya very shortly so the thing is that we have to convey the message, Allah gives Hidaaya but we should not be afraid, we should be on lines of Qur’an and Sunnah and deliver the message. Hope that answers the question.
Ather Khan: May we have the next question from the little sister standing over there?
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum, My name is Maryam, my question is if someone does something really bad then what does Allah recommend in the Qur’an to give them a punishment?
Dr. Zakir: Sister asked a very good question that if someone does something bad what is the punishment recommended by Allah in the Qur’an. Depending upon the sin done we have to realize that Allah (swt) has got various ways of guiding the person one of them as you mentioned is that if someone does a sin then there is a punishment for it. On the other hand that if you don’t do that sin then there is a reward for you. so one of the aspects is if you don’t do this, if you don’t drink alcohol, there is a reward for you don’t rob, there is a reward for you and the reward will be here also in the Aakhira but the point to be noted depending upon the sin is the punishment given. But Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 48 and Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 116
That “Allah (swt) if he pleases, he may forgive any sin but the sin of Shirk He’ll never forgive” Shirk, associating partners with God, Allah (swt) will never forgive any other sin if He pleases, He may forgive. So we as Muslims, what we should do that if we see someone doing sin, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws) said that “if you see anything wrong, if you can stop it with your hand, stop it with your hand, If you cannot stop it with your hand then stop it with your tongue, If you can’t stop it with your tongue then least you can do is curse in your heart and then you will be the lowest level of Momin, believer.”
And Allah says that whenever you see something wrong
Allah says in Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse 110
“Tamuroona bil ma’roofi watanhawna anil munkar”
That
“Enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.”
So if we as Muslims see someone committing a sin we have to do Da’wah and Islah with that person and tell that person it’s a sin, he should not do it and try and convince him with Qur’an and Sunnah and with reason and logic. Hope that answers the question sister.
Ather Khan: I would again like to request the non-Muslim brothers and sisters sitting in the audience to please come up to the mike and clarify your doubts and whatever misconceptions you have about Islam. This is your opportunity so please, pleaser, please come to the mike and ask question and again the volunteers standing near the mikes, I would again request them to please check up the queue, if there are any non-Muslims standing in the queue bring them forward so that that they get the first chance to ask their question.
May we have the next question from the brother standing over there?
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum, Mr. Chairman, Br. Naik. I would explain who I am but first thank you very much for your talk and just to let you know that you and Ahmed Deedat are always in my prayers. I always make dua for you and when it comes to public speaking I always try to emulate you and Ahmed Deedat and it has helped ah… with the Da’wah.
My name Passan, I am a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company. I am also involved in the political process. I… I stood for parliament last year and InshaAllah I plan to go further in my carrier. My question is related to educating extremists, extremist youth. There is one organization headed by a well known scholar who branded myself as a Kaafir and other Muslims who got involved in politics as Kaafirs. They use a Qur’anic verse which says that if anyone legislates other than Allah then he becomes a Kaafir. They use these Qur’anic verses, they also glorify the 9/11 attacks. The question to you Dr. Naik is how do we educate these extremists who claim to follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah?
Dr. Zakir: Brother asked a question that there is an extremist head of an organization who has labeled him Kaafir. They even glorify the bombing even suicide bombing even 9/11 so how do you educate these extremists.
See if you are talking about Muslim extremists then brother I call myself a Muslims extremist. I am extremely kind, I am extremely honest, I am extremely just, I am extremely merciful. What’s wrong in being extremely kind? Qur’an says be extremely honest, I can’t be partly honest. So I am an extremist Muslim. We don’t have to go with the label the western media puts. When they ask me yes I say I am an extremist, extremely honest, extremely kind, extremely just, extremely merciful, extremely kind what’s wrong? And no Muslim can tell me that being extremely honest is wrong the other people are partly honest, partly just so what we have to do that if he is an extremist Muslim, every Muslim should be an extremist but extremist in the right direction, not is the wrong direction. We can’t be extremely unjust, extremely dishonest so if the media is telling that there are some Muslims who are extremists, I say every Muslim should be an extremist. Every Muslim should be a fundamentalist, if you are not a fundamentalist Muslim, then you are not a good Muslim, you are not a practicing Muslim. So what the media gives labels on us, we get apologetic “I am not a fundamentalist, I am not an extremist” So I am an extremist.
What you may be talking about is may be fanatics there’s a difference between a fanatic and an extremist. Now I don’t know who you are talking about whether XYZ so my answer may be applicable to that person, may not be but our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws) said that if any Muslim calls any other Muslim a Kaafir then that comes back to him that means he becomes a Kaafir. Who said? Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws). So if you are a Muslim and if someone calls you a Kaafir the person calling you a Kaafir becomes a Kaafir according to the Hadith of Muhammad (saws) unless you have done an act of Kufr which he can really prove it etc. otherwise the Kufr comes back to him.
Coming to the question that how can we educate those people who glorify these attacks, 9/11, London bombing etc.
Allah says in the Qur’an Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 32
“If anyone kills any other human being unless it be for murder or for creating mischief in the land, If any person Muslim or non-Muslim kills any other human being, Muslim or a non-Muslim unless it be for murder or for creating mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity and if any one saves any other human being it is as though he has saved the whole of humanity”
So killing any innocent human being is Haraam, its prohibited. We know that in 9/11, in the bombing of the New York twin towers more than 3,000 innocent people were killed. In London bombing more than 50 people were killed last year. Just last month in Bombay, 11th of July 2006 more than 200 people were killed. Killing innocent people is Haraam anyone having even little bit knowledge of Islam cannot condone, these acts should be condemned it’s Haraam in Islam. But, but there are many Muslims who have said this especially in England and US I have heard in front page but why you are putting a full stop there. We also have to condemn the thousands of people who have been killed in Afghanistan, the thousands of people who have been killed in Iraq the thousand of people who have been killed in Bosnia, in Gujrat, why do we stop there? When I asked a person in America that why are you putting a full stop? “But brother Zakir the situation is such that we can’t continue.” What’s the situation? Who are you afraid of? I live in Bombay MashaAllah, a city and a country which we know that the life is in danger but Allah is there, MashaAllah, to protect me. Alhumdulillah and why do you put a full stop where there is no full stop? Why? More people have been killed in Afghanistan than in London Bomb blasts, more people have been killed in Iraq. Weapons of mass destruction, did you find it? No! so why, so why are you keeping quite? Who are you afraid of? Why? In the same breath we have to condemn it? “No but the time is not right” what the time is not right? So we have to realize what is wrong have to be condemned what happened in Gujrat has to be condemned and if the people who are responsible for any evil act, if you catch that person and punish him, no problem. You can’t catch an innocent person. If someone has killed in Gujrat, you do a bomb blast in Bombay, why? because they are same community. Islam doesn’t permit that. Imagine those innocent people who have been killed in the bomb blast in Bombay or London or New York, those innocent people, their relatives, they will become permanent enemies of those people who have done this. Point to be noted, I am not telling you Muslims have done it, haan there’s is no proof; I have got no proof that Bin Laden has done it. Yet, yet the British government has not found out who did the London Bomb Blast. Yet no one knows who did the Bombay bomb blast, I am not telling you Muslims have done it anyone who has done it whether Muslim or non-Muslim, has to be condemned.
A true Muslim… A true Muslim…. who believes and submits his will to Allah will never do the act. If someone is caught with a Muslim name, he may be a pseudo Muslim may having a name Abdullah, Sultan, Zakir, Mohammad that’s a different question. If it happens to be whether he is a Muslim or a non-Muslim he has to be condemned. If suppose, imagine, if suppose certain Muslims think it is right, the relatives of these thousands of innocent people being killed they’ll become permanent enemies of Islam. How can we condone it? Its haraam what wrong have they done? What wrong have the people who were traveling in trains in Bombay have done? The people who were there in the market place on the tube where the bomb blast took place in London, what wrong did they do? If you really can catch the culprit and punish him, no problem, do it. If you can’t do it then don’t kill innocent people. Islam does not agree with that.
Similarly when I was asked the question, when I had gone to Australia that’s after 9/11, I think it was 2002, the council journal of America based in Perth, the talk was Jihad and Terrorism, he asked me “Do you consider Osama Bin Laden to be a terrorist?” I said see, I don’t know Osama Bin Laden, I haven’t met him, he is not my friend also, he’s not my enemy also. If I have to go with what the media says BBC and CNN,
the Qur’an says in Surah Hujuraat ch. 49 verse no. 6
Whenever you get a message check it up before you transfer it to the next person. I can’t believe what BBC and CNN is saying. So I don’t know whether Bin Laden is good or bad, I don’t know whether Al Qaeda exists or not. And I gave a talk ‘Is terrorism a Muslim Monopoly?’ in Birmingham, NEC and there I have told if you go to the US site, US department of Justice on info please, if you go on that site, there are many terrorist organization, more than 50% are Muslims out of which Ulfa, India had done 749 attacks in last 16 years, more than any other terrorist organization that organization is not mentioned there. Why? Al Qaeda is mentioned 28 attacks, all suspects! None proved. Ulfa 749 attacks, all proven that is not there on their site. I know for sure if I have to call who is the terrorist no. 1, I told that 4 years back that no. 1 terrorist is George Bush. We know for sure the thousands of people he killed in Afghanistan, the thousands of people killed in Iraq, we know that and that time it came in Headlines in Newspaper Australia ‘Dr. Zakir Naik calls himself a fundamentalist and calls George Bush terrorist no. 1’, headlines! Now it is common... Every Tom, Dick and Harry is calling George Bush a terrorist that time it was new. Now you read the papers every Tom, Dick and Harry… and there was a survey done just few months ago that they give three options:
No. 1 Osama bin Laden
No. 2 Saddam Husain
No. 3 George Bush
Who is terrorist no. 1?
And do you know the person who took everyone lock stock and barrel, maximum voting went to George Bush non-Muslims, Non-Muslims, non-Muslims. The survey was in different parts of the world and the least rating he got was 73%, highest he got was 78%. He won the elections of terrorists so now it is nothing great, now every Tom, Dick and Harry is calling because they have known. Even the non-Muslims, even the Americans, they realize everything is a gimmick. So who did it I don’t know but if you ask me the question whoever did it, some people say it its inside job. Whoever did it, whoever did these acts, these acts should be condemned; we cannot kill innocent people so you have to realize that whoever is telling that these acts are correct, they are totally against the Qur’an and Sunnah ask them for proof. No where does the Qur’an says… if the culprit is caught and if he is punished that’s fine but you can’t kill innocent people.
Questioner: Thank you very much.
Ather Khan: I’m still receiving many questions on the slips from the sister’s side. Let me remind them that if they want their question to be answered by Dr. Zakir then you have to come on the mike and ask these questions. Please sisters come on the mike and ask questions. Thank you. May we have the next question from the sister.
Questioner: Dear Brother Zakir, Assalamu Alaikum. I’m greatly honored today that I have got an opportunity directly asking you a question. Although till now I… I am only watching your DVD’s and I am a great fan of your topics. My question is directly related to the topic that is educating our children. My question is that in a proper Muslim education system should any importance be given in teaching our children about the national identity or emphasis should be only in religious identity. Don’t you think that by not teaching our children about their own country’s history that how it was formed and how we got freedom from the colonial powers? They will lack essential knowledge about history of their paternal roots and how IIS i.e. your school which have students from all parts of the world, you are coping with this side of education. Are you teaching only Islamic history or are equipping their minds with ample knowledge about their own respective countries as well? Thank you.
Dr. Zakir Naik: Sister asked the question that in an ideal Islamic School should we even teach about the country, about the national activity, about the national history, about the freedom fight and how are we coping in IIS. As far as the general answer is concerned that in an Islamic school we should even talk about the country, there is no problem at all. We can talk about they laws of the country, we can talk the rules and regulations of the country but.. but we have to realize that no. 1 our allegiance goes to Allah (swt), we should not go against the country unless the law of the country goes against Allah (swt). If the law of the country does not go against Allah (swt), we have to follow each and every law of the country.
As far as India is concerned, I am aware that there is not a single rule in the constitution of India which forces any Muslim to do any Haraam activity neither does it prohibit you from doing anything which is Fard. for example the Indian Government doesn’t say that drinking alcohol is Fard, optional. So they don’t force you to do anything which is Haraam neither do they prohibit you to do something which is Fard, Salaah is allowed, infact they have a separate Muslim personal law so I would say that among the non-Muslim countries in the world, I would put India to be amongst the top, one of the best countries that a Muslim can live. I may disagree with several policies so I say, I am a very good Muslim as well as a very good practicing Indian but if any law of any country whether it be India, whether it be UK, USA, Singapore, if it contradicts with the law of Allah (swt), our allegiance to Allah (swt) is more because He is our Creator, he has given us life. Our country has been beneficial to us, may have given us certain things, job etc. but nothing compared to our Creator, Allah (swt). So our allegiance to Allah (swt) is more so if they don’t contradict, we have to follow all the rules and regulations, if certain rules and regulations contradict that particular thing we need not follow. So we have to teach our children to be good citizens also, what’s wrong? You should be a good Muslim, so he should follow the rules and regulations as long as it doesn’t contradict Islam.
As far as history is concerned, of course. What we do that we see to it sometime, some history which is not relevant, we don’t teach. So then its at our liberty, we teach the history which is required, in our school, Islamic International School, we have children who are actually British nationals but they have parents, parents also British may be the grandparents are Indian, the origin is Indian so we have students from USA, from UK, from Saudi, from other parts of the world but basically all have got Indian origin, all of them so you can call them Indians, or you can call them, many are foreigners but.. but.. but we have selected the world history. We have option of taking Indian history or world History. The world history we felt has got more scope for us for doing Da’wah, it talks about the lifestyle of Muhammad (saws), about Jesus Christ (pbuh), about Moses (pbuh) so it’s 2 in 1. so we selected the world history. We have 2 options world history or Indian history. In world history, part of India also comes. So what is required we teach and as far as the government is concerned of that country, we should be very bold, what is right, we have to agree. We can’t say because it is a non-Muslim government, I am against it, for what? If the policy is against the policy of Allah, we’re against it, if its for, we have to agree even if they are enemies, no problem. We have to be bold, that’s what Allah says in
Surah Israa’ ch. 17 verse no. 81
“Waqul jaa alhaqqu wazahaqa albatilu inna albatila kana zahooqa”
When truth is hurled against falsehood, falsehood perishes for falsehood by its nature bound to perish. So we should to that in educating we have to give them world history, what’s happening in the world so that when they go out, they should be aware but something which may not be relevant like some things are taught which we feel will not be useful for them, they will never require it in their full life so that portion we delete. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: Thank you very much.
Ather Khan: Yes brother.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum Dr. Zakir Naik. My name is Ziaullah and I am a worker and I got 2 questions, first of all I gotta tell you that I love you cause the way you are speaking about Islam, its terrific, is very nice and my first question is the place where I am working is like half and half is like Halaal food is selling there and Haraam as well like khinzeer, pig these things. If I’m working there about relating over the money which I am receiving what do you think about that? Is that Halaal for me? Is there any sin on me?
The second question is because when I start to see your lecturing I worship in my heart that when I see you face to face I would like to give you a hug, can I come to stage and give you a hug?
Dr. Zakir Naik: Brother asked the question that he works in a place which serves food, part of it is Halaal, part is haraam and the thing to be noted that is it a business which sells food or are you working in a place, an office which serves food for their staff or employees. So is it a office?
Questioner: No, no It’s just a shop.
Dr. Zakir Naik: Yes if you are working is a shop which sells haraam food and Halaal food. If the haraam food is in a very small minority, you know may be the gross turnover, the haraam food may be 1% or 2% then there can be possibilities but if quite a large portion is haraam food then you should not work in that shop. Its haraam, You can’t work in an alcohol shop; you can’t work in a shop which sells pork. If you are working in a 5 Star hotel which has got lodging boarding everything and part… the food is a small portion of their income and in that food may be 50% is haraam then it may be fine working in a 5 star hotel which the main income is lodging boarding, part of it is food, in that part may be pork is haraam, alcohol is haraam etc. so in that case it will be permissible. But if you are working in a shop which sells only food and if majority of the food, more than 50% or even quite a large portion, 25% or 20% I mean there is no percentage per se… but if its selling haraam food and you’re involved in selling that then working in that shop becomes haraam brother.
Hope that answers the question. As soon as possible you change your profession, take a job, InshaAllah, Allah will give you, try and find a better job and that will be better for your rizk also and for your Aakhira also.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum, m name is Segal I’m in year 6 and my question is how can we start educating ourselves in the Deen so that we may educate others in the Ummah and what is the basic we should know?
Dr. Zakir Naik: Sister asked a question that how should we educate ourselves so that we educate others, what should we know basically. But natural knowledge is such a thing that it’s a big ocean but the best book for guidance is the Glorious Qur’an. I would ask you to read the translation of the Glorious Qur’an, that’s the best. This is the best book of guidance, it is a proclamation to humanity, it is the most positive book in the world, it is a fountain of mercy and wisdom, it is a warning to the heedless, It is a guide to the erring, it’s an assurance to those in doubt, It’s a solace to the suffering and a hope to those in despair, the best book that anyone can read for guidance, it’s the Glorious Qur’an.
Ather Khan: I have a question from a non-Muslim sister on the slip. Says “I’m a non-Muslim girl and I am considering to revert to Islam but would this mean my God in my religion will punish me?
Dr. Zakir Naik: MashaAllah there’s non-Muslim sister who is thinking of accepting Islam. May Allah give her Hidaaya and we welcome you to follow Islam, Alhumdulillah. Her main question is that once she accepts Islam will her God punish her. Sister, in all religions including Islam, God is only one. There is only one same God for all the human beings there is no different God for Muslim and Christian and Hindu and Sikh and Jews. There’s one same God and I have given a talk on concept of God in major world religions and all the religions say that God is one, He doesn’t have any images, He is not begotten, He is all powerful so the God is the same so if you accept Islam and all the religions say if you read most of the major religions, their scriptures say that there is a messenger to come whose name shall be Muhammad whether you read the Jewish scriptures or the Christian scriptures, the Hindu scriptures, I don’t know whether you are a Christian or a Jew or a Hindu but whichever religion you belong to, InshaAllah, most probably even in your religious book it will be mentioned God is one, it will be mentioned that there is a messenger to come whose name is Muhammad and he will guide you to the truth, peace be upon him. So even that God is the same God, there’s not different God, if you accept Islam, Islam means submitting your will to God. So InshaAllah that God will be very happy and He will reward you and InshaAllah in your next life He will give you Jannah.
Ather Khan: Yes brother…
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum, Qamran Kurshi, company director. Brother JazakAllah for coming today. Ah.. my question is that, MashaAllah, you have established a model Islamic school one that I wouldn’t visit in an Islamic state but MashaAllah you have established in today’s world. My question is unfortunately tens and millions of Muslim children will to be so fortunate to go to school like yours. Ah… what do you recommend for our children and all over the world the Muslims we cannot have these types of schools and also all your speeches and details of the school on your website. JazakAllah.
Dr. Zakir Naik: The brother asked a question that every one will not be fortunate in that school, how can people, millions of Muslims throughout the world, what should they do for children, how can they get a similar school and as far as information of our school, yes if you go to our website irf.net, in that website you’ll see a separate section for Islamic International School. You can go there and you can get the information.
As far as similar schools, there are two options; the first option is very easy that people can come see our school whatever co-operation they want, we can give, they can come and start in their city, a similar school. But the success is very difficult. Because everyone who says he wants to start a school, they may not have that same management skill, they may not have that same passion, all these differ and the main is Allah’s help. So if Allah helps you, InshaAllah its possible so one thing is that you can start a similar school which many people have but so far all those people who have started as I told you that close to about 5%, 6% of what I would consider. We also have franchise but our requirement for franchise is very difficult, very strict. We require land, we require all everything. It should be funded by the local people; the thing should be funded by the local people. Our criteria is very strict, if you want any part anywhere else in India, we want minimum 4 acres land if its on the surb of the city 2 acres, if it is in the heart of the city, we require half the construction cost, everything else we’ll do. Various rules and regulations in spite of that we have got hundreds of offers, we first thought we’ll open one school every year but then we decided that its difficult. So once we started the school we realized to manage was so difficult we have to fly in and out from Bombay to Chennai, we send our teachers for training, we send our councilors everything so we realized that it’s possible but it is difficult. So therefore we said that every 2-3 years we’ll start. We have plans next time to start in Dubai InshaAllah. There have been offers in Dubai where people said that we’ll give you land. There people even in UK who have told us. There was a person in Manchester who told me I can give you 5 acres land; we haven’t taken the offer yet. We scrutinize the person offering and everything and if we feel its feasible. It’s not a commercial venture.
Point no. 1 the person donating that land, we say you give it and forget it. Don’t think of getting a return, in the western countries everyone is thinking if I invest 1,000 pounds, how much will I get? See where ever I go, it’s only in the western countries, in USA, Canada and UK where there is tickets. There is nothing the concept of ticket for talk, how can I have a ticket for Islamic talk. So there is no concept of getting tickets. People call me, they say Dr. Zakir Naik how much will you charge to come? I mean they cannot afford me, believe me. If I am to tell my fees, they cannot afford me. MashaAllah, I come here free, maximum you can pay my air ticket, my crew everything has come absolutely, MashaAllah it was all paid by us, fine. Simple accommodation if you can, if not, we manage it, no problem. My time is more important. So this concept is different. There in the eastern part of the world, MashaAllah, it’s different. So what we do, it is not a commercial venture. So anyone interested if he gives he has to forget it he gives something for the land, for the school we control it, if we have a franchise, we have full control. We also tell in India, the person who donated, he donated a land someone donated a land which cost about 16 crore rupees, it will be how much? May be some million pounds worth of land but we told him no guarantee that your child will be admitted. You can give the land, you can start the school but no guarantee, if your child passes he’ll get admission. There has been cases that people have given us, may be a million dollar donation, one child was refused. I am very strict so our conditions are very… absolutely transparent.
So in such conditions where we scrutinize the person whose doing. When we have a franchise we see to that once our name is attached, if IRF’s name is attached, Finish. We see to it that we keep up to our name. I have a policy when we go anywhere else we tell them don’t put our name. We will come but don’t put my name, don’t put my name as organizer. The moment you put a name as organizer that means there surely is going to be problem for us. So when we go and support any other organization for any function, we support a lot, MashaAllah. But the only criteria of ours is, we’ll help you but don’t put our name because we know, we don’t have 100% control. Even 50% control, we don’t agree, 90% we don’t agree. Unless we have 100% control, we don’t agree putting our name as organizers or sub-organizers. The name comes that means… so if someone.. there are offers, MashaAllah, from different parts of the world for us to start such schools and one thing, when the name is attached, InshaAllah, we are doing to start in Dubai, we’ll keep the fees more than the British schools and American schools, InshaAllah. We’ll compete with them, we’ll keep higher fees than them there are people who can afford when Allah has given them. those who can’t afford we’ll give 25% people, we’ll give scholarship and Dubai InshaAllah is our next target where the fees, there is quite high of the British schools and American schools but InshaAllah we have plans to keep fees higher than them and InshaAllah there will be more people flocking to our school with Allah’s help and main thing is the quality. For other people you can start in your own capacity, whatever you have. I know that here MashaAllah the government funds schools also but we don’t normally take funding from the government because there is too much of interference, not a single penny. Here I don’t know if you can take and run the school, the way we are running, no problem or you start on your own. Start on your own, small way whatever you can, whatever ability you have got, start and make a beginning, whatever you can do at least catch the surface InshaAllah and InshaAllah, Allah will help you and you will InshaAllah be successful. Hope that answers the question.
Ather Khan: May we have the next question from the sister.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum. I have got a question from a non-Muslim sister. She’s asking a number of verses in the Qur’an are cancelled out by others. Can these not be viewed as inconsistency or contradictions? For e.g. Ch 4 verse 15 abrogated by ch. 24 verse. 2.
Dr. Zakir Naik: Sister has asked the question a non-Muslim sister that there are some verses of the Qur’an which are abrogating or contradicting, it’s cancelled so does it mean that… how can there be a contradiction. If you read the Qur’an, there are no two verses in the Qur’an which contradict. I challenge anyone to point out any 2 verses in the Qur’an which contradict. Allah says clearly in the Qur’an in
Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 82, Allah says
“Afala yatadabbaroona alqur-ana walaw kana min indi ghayri Allahi lawajadoo feehi ikhtilafan katheeran”
“Do they not consider the Qur’an with care, had it been from anyone besides Allah, there would have been many a contradictions”
Now in the Muslim Ummah, I am aware there is a concept of abrogation, theory of abrogation known as Mansook and Nask based on the verse of the Qur’an of
Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse no. 106 and
Surah Nahl ch. no. 16 verse no. 101
which says that “Allah (swt) does not cause any of His Aayats, any of his signs to be forgotten, He substitutes it with something better or similar.”
Now based on this verse there are many scholars who have propounded the theory of abrogation, Nask and Mansook. People may say what is Dr. Zakir Naik talking about that no verse can contradict. The Qur’an says the verse will not contradict, it will not contradict. Any scholar says anything, I am not bothered, Allah is the highest, No.1.
Now if you read the verse of the Qur’an, you can analyze the verse of the Qur’an in 2 ways. One way is that the Aayats talking in the Qur’an are referring to the early scriptures may be Taurah, may be Injeel so Allah says I do not cause any of the Aayats, the signs of Allah, the previous verses of the previous revelations to be forgotten but substitute it with something better or similar. Something better and similar is the Qur’an. Now if you agree that the aayat mentioned in the verse is aayat of the Qur’an then too I have an answer. It means that Allah (swt) has revealed one verse of the Qur’an what was relevant for that time and after that He revealed another verse but that verse is not contradicting, it is giving more information and the 2 verses given by the sister of
Surah Nisa Ch. 4 verse no. 15 & Surah Noor ch. no. 24 verse no. 2 though she hasn’t mentioned the translation and by Allah’s grace I know the translation of these verses not that I am Hafizul Qur’an, this is all training, its not Hafizul Qur’an, it is practice that I know what questions are going to come to me so we know the verses MashaAllah. It’s very easy, it’s not difficult. You tell the verses and even our children, MashaAllah, do the same, Alhumdulillah.
Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 15 says that
“If any one is caught in fornication, if any woman is caught in fornication then keep her in custody, in house arrest like. Seclude her until she dies or Allah ordains something else”
And then
Surah Noor ch. no. 24 verse no. 2 says that
“As for the fornicator, person who commits fornication, give them punishment of hundred lashes”
Now people will think is there a contradiction. If the first Qur’anic verse of Surah Nisa Ch. 4 verse 15 says that put the women in house arrest and a full stop then Surah Noor of hundred lashes would contradict. It says that keep them in house until they die or until Allah gives something else. Now for this, Allah has given 2 options, in the Qur’an for a fornicator there is hundred lashes and in the Hadith of Sahih Bukhari for an adulterer the punishment is stoning to death. So this verse of the Qur’an does say that Allah will give some other punishment later on, If that part wasn’t there would have been a contradiction. So there is no contradiction, it says that this punishment is temporary later on Allah will reveal something else.
Similarly there are scholars who have written that there are thousand verses contradicting, some scholars then came to 500 Suyooti I think came down to 22 another scholar came down to 5. I verified those 22 & 5 also I have answered those also Alhumdulillah and one of them is this. What we realize in Mansook and Nask what happens that Allah in some prohibitions he has brought in stages and the best example I gave is of alcohol. The first verse to be reveled regarding alcohol is
Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse 219 Where Allah says
“In intoxicants there is loss as well as profit, the loss is more than profit”
This verse of the Qur’an does not prohibit alcohol. It only says in intoxicants there is loss and profit, the loss is more than profit. The next verse to be reveled of prohibition was
Surah Nisa ch.4 verse 43 which says that
“Do not pray with your mind befogged”
When you are intoxicated, do not pray that means it is a higher degree now. Previously it did not say it was haraam, it only give you guidance.
“In intoxicants there is loss and profit, loss is more than profit.”
Next verse says “do not pray with your mind befogged”
When you are intoxicated, you can’t pray. Now since a Muslim has to pray 5 times a day indirectly he can’t have intoxicants the full day. In night option is there not its saying you should have. The final prohibition came in
Surah Maidah ch. 5 verse no. 90 which says
“Ya Ayyuhal lazeena Amanoo”
“O you have believe”
“Inna Mal Khamru Wal Maysiru”
“Most certainly intoxicants and gambling”
“Wal-ansabu Wal-azlamu”
“Dedications of stones, divination of arrows”
“Rijsun Min Amalish Shaytan”
“These are satan’s handiwork”
“Fajtaniboohu la’allakum Tuflihoon”
“Abstain from the handiwork that you may prosper”
Here the final prohibition came, now when this verse was reveled barrels of alcohol, intoxicants thrown on the streets of Madinah never to be filled again then the final Haraam came.
Now if you analyze, many people say that the last verse of Surah Maidah ch. 5 verse no. 90 has overruled Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse 219, its contradicting. Its not contradicting, it is giving more information. The first verse only told you there is loss and profit, loss is more even today the verse is applicable that verse is even correct today even in intoxicants today there is loss and profit. We as medical doctors know it has profit but the loss is more than profit. The next verse says don’t pray when you are intoxicated, even today that verse is applicable today you cannot pray when you are intoxicated but the last final prohibition does it contradict, it encompasses.
For example I say that I live in UK, fine then next day I say I live in London third day I say I live in Harrow. The moment I say Harrow, London and UK is understood but my first answer I live in UK was a general answer then more specific, I live in London, when I say I live in Harrow, it is more specific, it’s not contradicting my first answer. So the last prohibition that’s the alcohol is prohibited is not contradicting that in intoxicants there is loss and profit. It is yet there It’s is not contradicting Surah Nisa ch. 4 verse 43 that you cannot pray when your mind is befogged, when you are intoxicated.
So this means there is more information the last verse of the Qur’an, if you follow that, the earlier 2 is automatically followed, it’s understood. So therefore according to me and according to Allah (swt) there is not a single contradiction in the Qur’an. If there were any contradiction, this book cannot be the word of Allah (swt). So I disagree with anyone, let him be the greatest scholar in the world and I have challenged anyone whether Muslim or non-Muslim to point out a single contradiction in the Qur’an. They will never do it and never will be able to do it.
Ather Khan: Yes brother..
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Mehdi Ahmadi I am in research and history, political science and I am currently studying in computer science. My question is pertaining to Jadoo or magic or by whatever name you’d like to address it. I won’t go into specifics but certain family member recently found a peace of paper in which was supposedly some elements of negativity which they felt was of this nature and they themselves indulged in similar practices to obtain a remedy for it believing in that this is wrong. I was wondering if you could shed some light on this matter.
Dr. Zakir Naik: Brother asked a question that what we have to say about black magic and what is the remedy. As far as black magic is concerned, there is something like black magic the Qur’an mentions that in Surah Falaq, it’s mentioned in Surah Baqarah, there is black magic, it does exist but we should not involve in black magic, we should not do it, we should have faith in Allah (swt) and as far as the remedy is concerned the last two Surahs, the Mu’adathain, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas were reveled for this. These 2 Surahs are the remedy for black magic.
Now see one thing is there that normally whenever people think that something has possessed first thing is that Allah says ask the person who has knowledge
Surah Nahl Ch. 16 verse 43
Surah Ambiya ch. 21 verse no. 7
Go to a doctor, if the doctor doesn’t tell you the treatment or cannot treat the disease, go to a Physycatrist most of the people who claim to have black magic they can be cured by doctors and Physycatrist. There can be possibilities that actually a Jin may have come and black magic may have taken place in that case you can follow the guidance of Qur’an and Sunnah. You can go to a person who is an expert in this field but I am sorry to say most of the people who are experts in this field, who claim, more than 99% are fake, more than 99% according to me haan. It is my analysis more than 99% who claim that they can cure black magic, they are frauds. The moment you realize he is asking from you money that means he is trying to make a fast bug do this, do that, give me so much money 1000 pounds, 2000 pounds, he is trying to make a fast buck out of it.
So there are people who are experts in this fields, I know a couple of them in Saudi Arabia, MashaAllah, they are very knowledgeable. I don’t know of anyone else otherwise. So if he is knowledgeable we should realize that if he gives a treatment from Qur’an and Sunnah, it is right. if you go to a specialist who has specialized in this field, hope that answers the question.
Ather Khan: May we have the next question from the brothers over here.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum Dr. Zakir. My name is Shahid, I am a salesman. Like most people I love you as well. Ah.. just like to ask you a question could you define what Eemaan and Aqida is cause ultimately we’d like to die with this.. in this state and also how this can be attained is it only through Da’wah and if so through which method of Da’wah cause there are so many different efforts?
Dr. Zakir Naik: Brother asked the question what is the meaning if Eemaan, what is the meaning of Aqida and if Da’wah then which method of Da’wah. Eemaan means belief you can give a lecture on Eemaan for 5 hours or 10 hours. So what I don’t know do you want me to give a lecture on that, I don’t know. What do you mean Aqida means so you have Aqida in Allah (swt), everything. So you can give a lecture on Eemaan, you can give a lecture on Aqida…
Questioner: Now the reason is because some people seem to say that Prophet (saws) was more than what he was.
Dr. Zakir Naik: So ask the question na… you are asking what is Aqida… Aqida you can give for 10 hours without talking about Muhammad (saws) also. Some people think that Muhammad (saws) is?
Questioner: More than a man or…
Dr. Zakir Naik: Is more than a man? Yes he is more than a man. He is the best human being that we have in the world. He is more than a common man but.. but I know what your question is but he is not Allah (swt). He is a human being, he is far superior than any of us human beings but he is Bashar, he is Bashar, the Qur’an says, he is like a human being, he requires to eat, the required to sleep and he is dead, he was buried in Madinah but he was one of the best exemplary Muslims as Allah says in the Qur’an in
Surah Qalam ch. no. 68 verse no. 4 that
“Verily thou are standeth on the highest standard of character”
Qur’an says in Surah Ahzaab ch. 33 verse no. 21
“Verily in the Prophet you shall find the most beautiful pattern of conduct”
So as a human being, he is the best exemplary Muslim, Alhumdulillah but he was a Prophet of God when we worship we have to worship Allah (swt) directly we don’t have to go through anyone, we have to ask Him directly and no one else.
As far as how to do Da’wah, do Da’wah according to the Qur’an and Sunnah as per the guidelines laid down by the Qur’an and Sunnah and if you go to our website irf.net, you’ll find a lot of information on that. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: JazakAllah.
Ather Khan: I have a question from another non-Muslim brother. His name is Yoginder Singh Maine he seems to be a sikh and asks that can you please tell me the similarities between Sikhism and Islam?
Dr. Zakir Naik: I have a Sikh brother, has asked a very important question that what are the similarities between Sikhism and Islam and there are a lot. Time will not permit me to expand on all, I’ll just mention in brief a few things that Sikhism, it’s a religion of 10 Gurus for those who don’t know and it was founded by Guru Nanak Sahab in the late 15th Century in the land of Punjab, n the land of 5 rivers and Guru Nanak, he was very much influenced even by the Muslims, he was born in a Shatriya family, in a warrior class Hindu family who was influenced by the Muslims, many Muslims.
And the 5 ‘K’s that the Sikh always maintain is the Kesh that’s the uncut hair,
it’s the Kanga, it’s the comb to keep the hair clean.
It is the Kada that’s the bracelet
The fourth is the Kacha, the long under draws and
the fifth, it is the Kirpaan, it is the dragger.
This is the identity in short. This was a brief about a Sikh so moment MashaAllah you see a person wearing a turban he’s identified. Therefore I always appreciate that the people who keep the label without any fear are the Sikhs. Therefore if you hear my talk on ‘If the label shows your intent’ I tell the the Muslims that MashaAllah the Sikh, he is proud to be a Sikh and even fought with the Canadian government. In the Army, they said you shave off your head, he said no I will not and he fought the case and they won. When I went to Canada the first time in 1996, it came as headlines that a Sikh fights a case with the Canadian Army and he wins the case. But we Muslims, many of us someone tells something, we shave off the beard, why?
Now coming to the similarities between Sikhism and Islam the sacred book of the Sikhs is the Guru Granth or known as Adi Granth and if you read the first chapter of this Adi Granth first Vol. first Ch. first verse is called as Japuji and it says that All Mighty God, He’s called a the true, He is the true, not created, the fearless, He is not begotten and He is free from fear and want. If you analyze He is one, He is not begotten, He is the Creator it is similar to our
Surah Ikhlas ch. no. 112 verse no. 1 to 4 which says
“Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”,
“Say: He is Allah, One and Only”
“Allahus Samad”
“Allah, the Absolute and Eternal”
“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad”
“He begetteth not, nor is He begotten”
“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad”
“There is nothing like Him”
And in Sikhism, Sikhism does not believe in Avtarvada meaning that God has got Avtar, it’s a monotheistic religion. God in the unmanifest form is called as Ek Omkara and manifest form as Omkara and there are various attributes of All Mighty God given in the Guru Granth amongst them is, He is called as Kartar i.e. the Creator same in Arabic as Khaliq, He is called as Parvardigar, the Cherisher same as us Rabb. He is called as Lord, as Rabb. He is also called as Kareem, the Benevolent. He is called as Raheem, Beneficient. He is called as Wahe Guru, one God.
So if we analyze there are many similarities between the concept of God in Sihkism therefore Sikhism doesn’t believe in idol worship, doesn’t believe in Avtarvada, it’s a monotheistic religion. And if we analyze Guru Nanak was very much influenced even by Sant Kabir and you find in the Granth many couplets also of Sant Kabir one of them is
"Dukh mein sumirana sabh karein
Sukh mein karein na koya
Jo sukh mein sumirana karein
To dukh kaye hoye?"
Which means
“In times of trouble, everyone remembers God, in times of happiness no one remembers God, if you remember God in times of happiness, why should trouble touch you?”
Same as Allah says in Surah Room ch no. 30 verse no. 33 that
"When some trouble toucheth man, He cries out Allah (swt), But once when the trouble goes away he associates partners with Allah (swt)”
So if you realize that Sikhism is also a religion of one God, it’s a monotheistic religion, does not believe in idol worship though scholars say its an amalgamation of Hinduism and Islam and we realize that in the concept of God, it is quite similar to Islam and for more details you can refer to my video cassette concept of God in major world religions where I have spoken more details on it you can refer to my video cassette Concept of God in major world religions where I have spoken more details on that. Hope that answers the question.
Ather Khan: InshaAllah we’ll just have the last 2 questions ah.. due to lack of time, we can’t continue. May we have the next question from the brother over here?
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Fahad, I work as a computer programmer…. my question is related to Islamic banking. What is meant when certain Islamic bank says that they’re gonna offer a loan and X% APR, is that not interest, is that not interest?
Dr. Zakir Naik: Brother asked a question that, he wants to know about Islamic banking, Islamic Bank offers loan and they add a X%, they call it service charge, whatever it is, is it not interest? See basically interest is haraam in Islam there are no less than 8 different places in Allah says interest is Haraam. Allah clearly says in
Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 278 to 279 that
“If you give up not your demands for interest take a notice of a war from Allah and His Rasool”
So interest is Haraam. Now as far as Islamic Banking is concerned as you mentioned many Islamic Banks which give loan, point to be noted that most of the Islamic banks that are there, I don’t know of any Islamic bank which is 100% Islamic. I don’t know, may be, I don’t know.
In fact one of my interest is Islamic Banking but there are many which are MashaAllah quite a lot Islamic. There are many which are frauds also, fine, only namesake Islamic. What we have to note that we as layman if we can check up, check up, if you analyze there is Islamic system of Musharika, profit and loss sharing which is the best, safest. Musharika means you become a partner in it. Now other aspects are there, Mudariba is there i.e. cost plus. In cost plus many a times people falter and many a times its nothing but catching the nose long cut, you know. Aisa nose pakadne ka. You say it is nothing but trying to make a gimmick so we have to analyze and many Fatwas are given on this is allowed, that is allowed which many, which I don’t agree with also.
So when an Islamic bank comes we have to scrutinize, who is on the Shariah board, just by name please don’t go that’s not important what they do etc. so many of the Islamic banks, I wouldn’t call then Islamic, there may be a very small percentage Islamic. Now in the Islamic bank most of them do Mudariba, in Mudariba there is a problem, cost plus which comes. Sometimes it’s possible, Ijara is there i.e. higher purchaces is there which is Islamic; Musharika is safe, safe means if they are following Islamic principals haan… In other parts we have to check up and what we analyze that most of the banks, they falter and because they compete with the normal conventional bank, they keep the same interest, only name is different. Naam ka farak hai, label is different but it’s the same. So we have to be` careful while taking loan but as a layman. If suppose you think it is Islamic and you take it and if they are doing something wrong out of ignorance you have gone so the blame will come on them, not on you. if you know they are haraam and then you go then the blame will come on you. So it is the owners of the people running Islamic banks to check up whether they are following… What happens there are many fatwas in this and Fatwa shopping is very easy. You know what Fatwa you want, you’ll get. So they go and whether in Egypt or Pakistan or India so they take Fatwa which is convenient for them and then they sanction it. So you have to be careful while Islamic banking is there, not that its not possible… possible, very difficult. There are some banks I know which are MashaAllah good yet not 100% and they know its not 100% because unless you don’t have a central system of Islamic, you can’t be 100%. So the thing that there are many Islamic banks coming up, so we have to check up whether it is Islamic or not If it is there but there is a system in which you can do. So you have to check up the functioning how they do and then you have to decide whether right or wrong. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: JazakAllah..
Ather Khan: InshaAllah we’ll have the last question from the sister.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum Brother. My question and there is a small comment after it. Should British Muslims develop a body for speaking to the media on Muslim issues? and I asked this question because currently in this environment the media talking about the basic believes in our Deen and they call upon different people who don’t represent any of our views about why we are Muslims, they are talking because we are going to the Mosques and we are teaching our children they think this is an extremist and when they ask the brothers…. the Muslim brothers and sisters who attend on TV these Muslim brothers say that we are moderate Muslims. I am not a moderate Muslim, I am neither an extremist, I am a Muslim and I would like that view that with one voice by the Muslim community not a fragmented voice that’s being confrontment to the norms of the society.
Dr. Zakir Naik: Sister asked a question that should the Muslims have a common body to represent the Muslims of British. Yes they should have a common body for British Muslims, for American Muslims, for Indian Muslims, all the countries and as well as one international Muslim body also, one international which we don’t have. So we should have a voice of our own. Better have one good united force and I believe that you already have in Britain known as MCB, Muslim Council of Britain and I think they are doing a good job. Not in the media?
Questioner: Sorry… I am aware of the Muslim Council of Britain but as you know media is manipulation. They dont talk at the Muslim council of Britain, they individually talk at different Muslims to represent Muslims.
Dr. Zakir Naik: The sister said that the Muslim council of Britain is there but the media doesn’t talk. So you create your own media.
Questioner: That’s what I am saying.
Dr. Zakir Naik: Media will run after you. You know for me in Bombay the BBC ask me to give comments, the CNN; I don’t give for my own reasons. The BBC, the CNN, the NDTV see when someone throws stones on you raise yourself so high the stone should not reach you. They want what Dr. Zakir Naik has to comment but I stay away from it for my own reasons but you should come on the media; I stay away because already Alhumdulillah my programmes are coming in so many satellite channels, MashaAllah. Every day 1 hour, 2 hours, twice a day, thrice a day now I am afraid that when these people take my interview of 5 minutes they may make it short and may change my view that’s the reason I stay away and what I want to say, we have got so many channels showing our programmes, MashaAllah, no problem. So what we realize that we should have our own media not only a body to represent media, we should have our own media, own media and that media should be powerful. So that’s the reason MashaAllah we have launched a satellite channel, if you see this, Peace TV about 7 months back, in the month of January 2006 on 21st of January we launched our own satellite channel by the name of Peace TV.
Peace TV at present MashaAllah it is reaching more than a hundred and twenty five countries in the world, it is covering all the countries in Asia, in Middle East as well as Africa and parts of Australia. The Beam is seen in Europe but it is very weak, you require a big dish, InshaAllah we have plans to come on B Sky B also. InshaAllah within the next few months, InshaAllah we’ll come on B Sky B, it will be a free to air channel. It is a… it’s a first of its kind in the way it’s a English channel which is an international channel. It is not a localized channel talking only about one country. We have speakers MashaAllah from America, from Canada, from UK, from Malaysia, from Saudi, from India, from Pakistan, MashaAllah. Its not a local channel, its an international channel talking about comparative religion, we have programmes of children, we have programmes for family MashaAllah. Interviews, debates, TV Talks and here it is that the channel should be on Qur’an and Sunnah.
When I started the channel, the first thing I said I pray to Allah (swt), it was a dream and finally we launched it MashaAllah and I said that please don’t let me do anything Haraam. If I am forced to do something haraam, I better shut down the channel than run it in a haraam way. Many people start a channel, they are good but then they compromise, you know, compromise. First there is no ladies then ladies come with Naqab then without Naqab then without Hijaab then low neck and everything. So we want channels which are… why should we, see we should not run after money, no add will not come. We care a hang for adds… See you should not run after money, money should run after you. You give quality, you should have faith in Allah. Do you want Allah’s help or do you want the money and the pounds and the dollars? What do you want? See Allah is sufficient. Problem is that we have more faith in other things than in Allah (swt). Our channel MashaAllah, to the core, no music, we have sound effects, MashaAllah, Halal sound effects, we have duff, we have natural sound effects and if you see it, it has a great impact MashaAllah. We have graphics but Halaal… We have our own committee and we produce high quality, You see these cameras, we have got 6 cameras from Bombay, normally in Bombay when we shoot with 9 cameras with 50 staff, here we have got only 12 staff, 10 actually, of the camera crew. We have limitation, we have the best of people, best of equipment Alhumdulillah. Now this is the digital Beta Cam, we have got High Definition, High Definition hasn’t started yet. There is no channel in the world which is shooting on High Definition now so we don’t compete with Muslims channels, we compete with international non-Muslim channels and the best so far in religious channels is the God TV, they are on 15 satellites, they are reaching more than 225 countries, 275 million people and we are programming in such a way that it is a spiritual edutainment channel. InshaAllah the next plan is to have a separate channel in different languages English and Urdu and then have even News Channel, InshaAllah but it will be international news, not local news. Not only of Bombay, not only of London international news so that we can voice. How many international media do we have? Do we have any international newspaper of our own? Do we have an international news magazine like the Time magazine, News week, where do we have? We have some magazines taken out by Muslims which only Muslims read either in Urdu or in Arabic or in English only read by Muslims. What we want is that non-Muslims should watch it. So we can at least say that Alhumdulillah, our channel MashaAllah even the programmes that we have that 25% at least MashaAllah of the programmes that I give whether in India or in other parts, MashaAllah. Here I feel more non-Muslims should come. Why, I don’t know so many. Who is to blame? that the publicity should be towards, towards the non-Muslims, MashaAllah.
So even the channel that we have sister we should have our own media, own news papers, own magazines own satellite channels which convey the true picture of Islam so that we can present our view to the world and the Haqq of Islam. Hope that answers the question.
Wa Aakhiru Da’waana Anil Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil Alameen!
Ather Khan: I invite brother Yusuf Chambers to give a vote of thanks.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair for Dr. Zakir Naik coming tonight and all of you coming tonight, contributing tonight. Remember the educating the educators, it doesn’t stop after tonight’s event. Dr. Zakir Naik will be encraden with us but he never finishes answering the questions, he’s always got the answers, MashaAllah, Alhumdulillah. And I think you should make the biggest Takbeer and all go home. TAKBEER!
Audience: ALLAHU AKBAR!
Yusuf Chambers: TAKBEER!
Audience: ALLAHU AKBAR!
Yusuf Chambers: And a third one… TAKBEER!
Audience: ALLAHU AKBAR!
