Dr. Zakir Naik’s visit to Pakistan is a source of pride for us Pakistanis. He is a courageous, practicing Muslim and a treasure trove of religious knowledge, respected throughout the Islamic world. He is a strong advocate for unity among all Muslim sects and travels extensively to promote Islamic teachings and foster unity among Muslims. Unfortunately, Islamophobia has become widespread in Western countries.
In most societies, insulting any religion is considered disgraceful, and the United Nations also forbids it. However, it is regrettable that certain misguided individuals in Europe show no respect for their own religions, let alone others. What is even more concerning is that the governments of these countries do not pay adequate attention to these actions, and their leniency has only allowed this issue to escalate. Although European countries are often regarded as highly civilized and developed, incidents involving religious disrespect continue to occur in countries like Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands. Often, the police are present but instead of preventing these incidents, they protect the offenders. In some cases, such offensive actions have even been sanctioned by the courts.
While Western countries place a high value on human rights, the culture that has emerged under the banner of freedom of expression has shown its drawbacks. In India, for instance, atrocities against minorities continue unabated. Since the RSS’s political wing, the BJP, came to power, a full-fledged campaign against Muslims has been underway. Mosques are being demolished, and Muslims in India face unprecedented oppression. This so-called secular country restricts Muslims from establishing religious schools for their children and even building mosques without government approval.
Due to the lack of religious education among Muslims, Dr. Zakir Naik began delivering lectures in India with the aim of providing Muslims with knowledge about their faith and clearing up misconceptions about Islam held by followers of other religions. His gatherings drew large audiences, including non-Muslims, and he also established Peace TV, a channel dedicated to promoting Islamic teachings.
Dr. Zakir Naik was born in 1965 in Mumbai and is a medical doctor by profession. His father, Abdul Karim Naik, was also a proud Muslim. Dr. Zakir Naik has devoted himself to educating Indian Muslims about Islamic teachings, history, and values to counter the influence of Hindutva. He is well-versed not only in the Quran and Hadith but also in the scriptures of Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism. Starting in 1994, he organized events through his organization, the Islamic Research Foundation, which became so popular that attendees came from all over India and even abroad. Thousands of Hindus have embraced Islam through his efforts. However, the Hindu nationalist government led by Narendra Modi could not tolerate this, and, after resorting to intimidation failed, banned these gatherings and filed various charges against him, including a money-laundering case.
Due to BJP’s oppressive measures, Dr. Naik eventually left India and settled in Malaysia. Today, he continues his mission of propagating Islam worldwide. His recent visit to Pakistan was a resounding success. The Indian government criticized his visit, but Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry responded strongly. At present, Dr. Zakir Naik is one of Islam’s leading advocates, and it is our duty to protect him from his adversaries. Sindh’s Governor Kamran Tessori not only extended warm hospitality to him but also reaffirmed his commitment to serving Islam.