Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is presently feeling the heat after a terrorist involved in the Dhaka attack was allegedly inspired by his speeches. On expected lines, the self-appointed authority on the dos and don’ts for Muslims, has demanded proof on allegations that he is promoting terrorism. It’s true there aren’t any investigating agencies after him. In search of proof, one needs to analyse his speeches and read between the lines to understand his motive.
What does Zakir Naik do? He is a preacher, one who seems to have exceptional memory of not just the Quranic verses but other religious texts as well. He quotes from multiple texts at will, down to the precise page, chapter and verse, much to the delight of the fawning crowd of Muslims. When people in the crowd critically question him on Islam or the politics surrounding the religion, Zakir Naik often compares religious texts and tries to convince them that Islam has the best answer, and they should convert to the religion.
The controversial preacher reportedly has over 100 million viewers for his Peace TV channel and around 14 million likes on Facebook, globally. Seems like any other televangelist out to propagate his own religion, but read between the lines and one understands why his words could incite violence against certain sections of people. Here are six instances in which he has made controversial statements.
1. ‘Allah will never forgive Muslim girls who marry Hindu boys’
A woman tells the story of her friend who married a Hindu boy whom she had loved. She asks Naik whether Islam permits it or not? Naik comes straight to the point and says that Islam does not allow marriage to a non-Muslim man. He draws a strange analogy: “If you have a vehicle where one tyre is of a cycle and the other is of a truck, then the vehicle will not run,” he says. Radically, he even goes on to say that “Allah will never forgive her” and that she must issue an ultimatum to her husband to accept Islam.
2. ’Darwin’s theory of evolution is just a theory, I believe in theory of creation’
An atheist asks Zakir Naik why Islam does not believe in the scientific theory of evolution. Naik rubbishes Darwin’s theory, saying that it is just a “theory” and not a fact. Though Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is backed by evidence of transitions seen through the fossil records, Naik may be entitled to believe what he wants. But he hypocritically goes on to say that Islam only believes in the theory of creation. “Just another theory too, and not fact,” a young boy tries to tell him, using Zakir Naik’s own words of moments ago, and the preacher shuts him down, bellowing, “I am a doctor and I do not want to argue with fools.”
3. ‘The United States is behind the 9/11 attacks’
Though Zakir Naik claims he does not prefer theories to facts, he goes around the world giving speeches supporting conspiracy theories and believes that the United States is behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre’s twin towers in Manhattan. Naik also goes on to say, “if (Osama) Bin Laden is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him. If he is terrorising America, the biggest terrorist, I am with him.” He also suggests that every Muslim should be a terrorist and that they should “terrorise the terrorists”. And by that he means the “enemies of Islam”. Even if Naik claims he is being misquoted, and that he is against the killing of innocent people, going by his speeches, the ones he mentions as one as enemies of Islam are the non-believers, Bollywood actors and women who don’t wear the hijab. As far as he is concerned, they don’t belong to the group of “innocent people”, and thus he is seen as giving legitimacy to people to terrorise them.
4. ‘LGBT people are sinners’
While we could see some positivity for the LGBT community from the Pope, it is a known fact that several religions and even the Indian constitution discriminates against this minority. Zakir Naik’s views on them are expectedly conservative and controversial. He said, “They (LGBT) are sinful patients suffering from a mental problem”. What’s worse is him openly calling for the death penalty for anyone engaging in homosexual acts.
5. ‘You can have sex with your wife and whatever your right hand possesses’
ISIS has gained a lot of disrepute over enslaving hundreds of young Yazidi women to use as sex slaves. Zakir Naik seems to have a similar view as the barbaric terrorist organisation. He cites the Quran and says, “You are allowed to have sex with your wife and with whatever your right hand possesses.” Naik also suggests that girls shouldn’t be sent to schools because they may lose their virginity by the time they graduate. He even slammed Sania Mirza for her tennis attire and said she should cover up as prescribed by Islam.
6. ‘Other religions and their gods are wrong’
The 50-year-old televangelist who holds a doctorate in comparative religion, is against all other religions. He seeks Islamic supremacy and says there is no place for any other religion in an Islamic state, because he believes that all other religions their ways of worship are ‘wrong’.