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Zakir Naik Draws Ire With Karbala Comments

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Zakir NaikPopularized among Muslims around the world via YouTube and other video-sharing websites, Dr. Zakir Naik is an Indian Muslim speaker who is famous for his television programs and public appearances, where he talks about and answers questions regarding Islam and religious issues of all sorts.  Recently, however, Naik made some rather controversial and inflammatory remarks, resulting in a 2-minute video clip that has begun circulating widely among discussion boards and chain emails around the Internet.

In response to a question about the Battle of Karbala at an Islamic peace conference in Sion, India, Naik said that there were "differences of opinion" among the Companions of the Prophet, and that the Battle of Karbala was a "political event". Mentioning Yazeed's name, Naik went even further and added "May God be pleased with him", an invocation reserved for close Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny).  

Naik's comments have created a firestorm in India and around the world. Both Shi'a and Sunni scholars have condemned his comments as inaccurate, inappropriate, and hurtful. 

Safdar Karmali of the Mumbai Khoja Shia Ithna Ashari Jama'at commented that Naik had cheapened the message of Imam Hussain's (peace be upon him) martyrdom by suggesting that he fought for political reasons.  Other South Asian  and international scholars, both Shia and Sunni, have also condemned his comments, saying that they come at a sensitive time for Shia-Sunni unity.  

Meanwhile on the Internet, Naik's comment spread like wildfire through chain emails and discussion boards.  An email originating from Minnesota commented that while Naik has always urged people to do their research on Islam before making up their minds about it, he himself had failed to do so in this situation. 

"The truth is that Dr. Naik and many such so-called Islamic scholars, who are not guided by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Ahlul Bait (peace be upon them) can be misled and can mislead others due to the lack of knowledge, prejudice, evil self (Nafsil Ammarah), evil deeds and whispering of Satan," the email concluded. 

Most Sunni scholars and jurists, including Ibn Kathir, Ibn Taymiyya, and Ahmad bin Hanbal, have condemned Yazid and deemed it permissible to curse him.  

Naik does not appear to have commented on the fiasco so far.

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Servant: Outrageous
This is outrageous. People like this actually exist? If the wahhabis were bad, what is this? Because I thought the wahhabis base their opinions on Ibn Taymiyya and this article says that Ibn Taymiyya condemned Yazid and deemed it permissible to curse him!
1

January 26, 2008
Mohammed Rizvi: ...
How stupid can this bloke get? Where is the controversy? The Honb'le Khalifas Abu Bakr and Umar were in Saqifa Bani Sadaat and did not attend the Prophet's funeral. Is there a controversy about that? These two luminaries took away fidak from Fatima? Is there a controversy about that? Abu Bakr lied through his teeth and quoted wrong Hadees from the Prophet to Fatima, saying "We the Prophets do not leave inheritance," Is there a controversy about that? Yazid the Pig, killed Men Women & Children from the Prophet's Household - 72 in all at Kerbala. Was it Political?
Dr Naik, You have become too big for your Shoes! Go and say Istighfar, before....
Rgds
Mohammed Rizvi
2

January 28, 2008
Amir: *sigh*
This is such an incredible disappointment, really, because I have looked up to Dr. Zakir Naik for quite some time, he's amazing! Except of course something retarded like this... May Allah set his vision right insha'Allah

--Amir
3

January 31, 2008
ARIF HAIDER ZAIDI: JHUTE PAR ALLAH KI LANAT
SHAME ON U DR ZAKIR NAIK
4

February 02, 2008
zaib: *shocked*
being a shia of the prophet and his progeny i am ofcourse deeply disappointed by what mr naik has gone on to say.
Also what makes it wayy shocking for me is that i used to deeply respect the guy and his efforts specially his debates! BUT there is this line that he has crossed and exposed his true faith!
MAY ALLAH S CURSE BE ON HIM!
5

February 08, 2008
Arslan: Shame on you
well this is really disappointing
-Pakistan
6

February 10, 2008
Irfan Ali: Dr Na-Layak More like
Clearly, true colours have come out. Dr saab has identyfied his link to wahabiism whilst pretending to be a follower of ahly-sunnah. Shiites and sunnis alike have been united on this point, how great is the sacrifice of Imam Hussain. Islam needs to be cleansed of these evil minded munafiqs. Islam was a more peaceful system when occupied with the 5 main fiqhs, hanfi,shafi,maliki,hanbal and jafferiya. Wahabiism is spreading like cancer and destroying our religion from the inside.
7

February 10, 2008
Mohammad: Allah Knows the truth.
Allah knows the truth.Neither you nor me nor Dr zakir...
8

February 15, 2008
shahid rasool: ...
shame on you all for attaking each other if Dr Zakir has made a comment you dislike you should remain silent and address him with this issue and if you are still dissatisfied then pray for him and thank Allah swt for blessing us with dr zakir and all the wonderful work he has done for islam. no wonder muslims all around the world are suffering ,its because of people like you guys who only point out the bad and ignore all the good that one may do. what have you done for islam except for stir up more fitna in the umma have some shame, respect each other and fear Allah swt .... my love to all the umma...
9

February 18, 2008
Arsalan Rizvi: Re:
Br. Shahid Assalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatahu

Regarding your comments:

1. "you should remain silent": a true believer is encouraged by Qur'an and the teachings of Islam to always speak up for the Truth. So, to tell us to remain silent may be your opinion, but certainly not that of the Qur'an!

2. "address him with this issue": numerous scholars and individuals have called on him to explain himself, but he has refused to issue any sort of explanation, retraction or apology for his comments.

3. "all the wonderful work he has done for islam": yes, he has been very vocal in explaining Islam to many people, but he has also unjustly and unfairly attacked the teachings of other religions. Just because we might not agree with what others believe does not give us the right to brazenly spew hate about their beliefs. Furthermore, Dr. Naik has issued several laudatory statements regarding Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, and I am not sure how that falls within serving Islam.

4. "what have you done for islam except for stir up more fitna in the umma": Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) is not a Shia hero. Sunni narrators record the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) as having said: "Hassan and Hussain are the leaders of the youth of paradise." In addition, the Prophet on numerous occasions has said: "Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain." The killers of Hussain should be condemned, because they brutally slaughtered the grandson of the Holy Prophet and his family. In addition, Yazid was a drunkard, an adulterer, and a Fasiq (an open sinner) as recorded by Sunni historians, including Tabari. To speak of Yazid in praiseworthy terms is speaking in praiseworthy terms of a Fasiq. This is against the core values of "upholding the Truth" that Islam teaches, and any individual who commits such an act should be openly denounced and condemned.

Wassalam Alaikum.
10

February 18, 2008
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