Yasir Qadhi – A Reflection on the Current Crisis
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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused confusion among many people, with the rise of Islam in the western world and the shift towards digitalism leading to "we" to make people feel better. The speakers emphasize the importance of avoiding "we" and being "we" to make people feel better. They also discuss the use of social media and the potential for political influence on the country. The importance of science and reason in addressing issues of agnosticism and minor health is emphasized, along with the importance of praying for a good night.
AI: Summary ©
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salam Wa alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh Alhamdulillah we thank Allah subhana wa Tada for every single blessing that he has given us, we ask Allah subhana wa Tada to send his Sadat and set up upon our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and we thank Allah subhanho wa Taala for the blessings of technology, because one of the most interesting and amazing things that Hamdulillah we thank Allah that here I am in America and I have a very dear mentor and friend of mine, Dr. Zakir Naik all the way in Malaysia. And we are arranging a teleconference a live conference call or a video conference, where we will be discussing and chatting and Dr. Zack and Alex and I will be going out to LA Welcome
to our first episode
while it will Salama deliver because it's my pleasure to be with you Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah so Masha Allah so this is our first time attempting this. And we asked our audience to excuse us if there is any lag in timing because there is obviously a lot of technology involved. So bear with us in sha Allah to Allah and let's see what we can benefit from. First and foremost drops up thank you very much for spending some of your precious time and agreeing to this conversation. I want to ask how are you? How are you doing? How's the family I know that things have been very tense for you. And I know that a lot of people really they just want to get an update about what's going on. And
you know, we know you've been in self imposed exile. So we want to know from you like how's everything going so Bismillah
Alhamdulillah Allah subhanaw taala Allah has been very kind have been very merciful has been very helpful. Do you might have heard about what happened in the last
three years that the government of my country you know, because of the allegations are forced to shift out and to Hijra within the Sunnah of the Prophet Alhamdulillah and with all these things are humbled and loved by the grief of Allah subhanaw taala but national my lifestyle and everything has changed. Have you ever in Bombay, we had one of the largest mashallah private organizations in the world. We've had more than 500 full time employees and now I want to employ so it's the big change and everything the way of working style you know, previously more involved in hardcore Dawa
based on comparative religion, so with all these things, mashallah, I feel that after shifting to Malaysia, you know, I've left my country for about more than three and a half years, you know, I feel that my mind has increased and I personally feel that my closeness to Allah subhanaw taala increased and the lifestyle has changed drastically and everything I feel it for the better. And I think Allah subhanaw taala looking at the situation of my country today, you know, my country planned what they plan to do to India, and one of the plan was to take me out of the country. I feel a lot planned better Avila young growing our local mockery. And for him ranch our country was number
54. Allah planned much better for me. My My brother has increased my Eman and increase my closeness to allow the increase the researcher has increased. I'm gonna lie I'm sleeping about half an hour more than what I used to sleep in mamby pamby was about 3343 an hour faster for us. And
I feel overall with all the problems etc. I think the positive point is much more
hamdulillah so Allah subhanaw taala reminds us in the Quran woman you hydrography Sevilla Yeah, just for LD Moodle, him and Catherine WISA whoever migrates for the sake of Allah subhana wa Taala that he will find the earth very fertile and a lot of benefits and will come and as we know, ducks up that Hijra has been the Sunnah of the Gambia, Ibrahim Ali Hassan was the first to make hijra, and our Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself made the Hijra. So you are following very noble footsteps. And we know that every Hijra that they made, it brought them much, much good for themselves and for the religion of Islam. So I pray that Allah Subhana Allah, Allah blesses you in
this hijra, and I pray that all of those blessings that the Quran mentions that will happen to those who emigrate for the sake of Allah, and all the blessings of the muhajir because the more hygiene are of a higher status because of their hijra, I pray that those blessings also come to you for your hedger and Allah brings comfort and peace to your family. But the question that arises arcserve is why Why choose Malaysia? Because even I, when I heard I was like my show that there's so many countries and I love Malaysia, but again, there must be some reason so what what is the reason that you chose the country of Malaysia? The problem started in India, about three and a half years back
in July 2016. Within a couple of months, mashallah there were about you know, 13 to 15 countries that they offered me that I can come in
Stay there and we'll take care of we will protect you from the Lilla. Seeing the pros and cons, I shortlisted about three countries out of which I felt Malaysia was the best. And the point to me today, after they get the division, I feel that you know, almost all the countries on the Muslim countries in the world are having problems. So I think Malaysia is the best of the worst among the Muslim country, or the best available Muslim country for positive living. And maybe even the number one, that Malaysia is away from the war zone, you know, many of the Muslim countries in the world, like Yemen, and the Gulf countries and Egypt, Iraq, and it's away from the water, the number one,
number two, being in the Southeast Asia, it is away from the direct influence, and direct bully of the western country.
And number three, that
Malaysia is the strongest Muslim passport in the world, the country which has the strongest Muslim passport, you can travel to 185 countries without any visa, USC maybe I think two countries but that's it. For Malaysia one if I can do they can travel without any visa element in law. And lastly, amongst the non Arab countries, among the non Arab Muslim countries, I feel the practice of the Malaysian Muslim on average is higher than an average Muslim in India, or average Muslim in Pakistan or Bangladesh on average, I feel that you will find more number of percentage of Muslims offering the Salah in congregation in the mosque and practicing the deen. So all these factors put together
FL and militia again.
Why number five is very economical. Compared to other country like girls * are not much more cheaper. The cost of living is somewhat similar to India. And lastly, point number six. It's a very it's a very beautiful country, in terms of scenery, and even everything else much, much more economical, and even traveling that you find that a large number of tourists come to Malaysia. So these seven factors put together and especially Patricia, I will put through there one of the best Muslim cities in the world for a Muslim to live in. Mashallah, all they know, is the nightlife. There's no dance clubs. And you know, the lookbook for all this put together I felt was one of the
best cities in the world where the Muslim can live practice on the national Alhamdulillah. So I just visited Malaysia of Sapa. When we met each other a few months ago, we had no idea this lockdown would happen. handled. I've been to Malaysia three or four times. And may I add here that I have found also the Malay people to be very humble, very sweet, very good. And subhanAllah and one of the things that I said when I went to Malaysia is that in most Muslim countries in the world, the the the the armies of Islam came and then Islam spread after that, but Malaysia is one of the few places that Islam spread organically and the majority of its inhabitants are Muslim, despite the fact that
you know, there was no Hustla you know, from the time of the Ummah years or the sahaba. So, this is inshallah something that they can use to their advantage. So and for the listeners as well. Putrajaya is a new city that is around an hour, 40 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur. It's hard for half an hour, half an hour or whatever it is. It's what on average, some on average
and depends on the traffic as well, because Malaysia does have some traffic, you know, but with Regina is a purpose built city that was meant to be a capital for the where they can run the country from.
Yes, is the administrative capital. Yeah. And it's a beautiful city, my shoulders as duxtop said that just so many pros over there. Hamdulillah. So Drax up I mentioned we met recently, I think was just three months ago seems like so long ago, that we had a very nice conversation. We spent the day together. And I just made a post with your permission about our conversation. And I mentioned in it that you know, the the BJP government offered you
security if you're going to change your tone, and if you were to praise them, and I just mentioned it as a part of many points, and I had no idea that that post would actually become a political incident and the media would would, you know, jump on it. And it actually became much bigger than what it was just a post about our nice meeting and great time. And one of the things just one point was this issue of the BJP government making you an offer so it's interesting how that post went viral and how it be created a media Sandstorm and sensation. What are your thoughts about that? Did you have anything to add about the the BJP controversy with you in particular before we get to the
broader issue,
actually was mentioned in the post and and in my short clarification for about five minutes that
you
The Prime Minister of
India, Narendra Modi, and the Home Minister of India, they had sent an envoy under the direct instruction to meet me in the last week of September. And they told me that, you know, we would like to give you a safe passage to India and we will see to it that of all the problem is solved. And as the what do you want. And, as I said, as long as you don't ask me do anything against the Quran, against the Sunnah, and I don't want your money, and if it benefits the Muslim ummah, I've got no problem cooperating with you. But I realized that the one we wanted me to support them in the issue of the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir if they want me to support them about the NSC act, and
various things which, but naturally declined. And this wasn't made public. And I spoke to a few people, one of them with you. And when you sit down, I mentioned I said, I didn't have intention of making it public, but no problem. And when your post came, there was only one newspaper that reported it. But what clicked the thing is that the Indian authorities forced me to say that deny what she Africa DC,
say cannot do. So when the pressure increased on me. Then I gave a press release, as well as the short video of five minutes clarifying the issue. And saying about the background, which went viral. And and it really counted more than 100, newspapers, media and media outlets, mainly in India and all over the world. We covered this segment, and it went viral. And even the short video has more than a million views and
SubhanAllah. So I want the viewers to understand how precarious the situation is that it wasn't even meant to cause any issue. I'm just reporting on our conversation with Dr. SOS permission, and the government double down and wanted him to withdraw and say that that never happened. And it must be said here it's so it betrays the reality of this organization and this entity that is ruling the country in a way that is so clear, they know Dr. Saab that you are not a terrorist, they know that you are not an actual threat. And they're willing for you to come back into the country give you all your assets back give you your citizenship rights back if you praise them and you sing their tune.
And again, it's not nice to praise somebody in front of their face but I asked you forgiveness when I tell the audience that insha Allah this is the sign of a true Iman and courage that one year offered the dunya when you're offered a magnificent platter full of goods and you're asked to compromise on your DNA, you say no thank you, I cannot do that for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala then in sha Allah, Allah will give you much more than what has been taken away from you know, our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, Whoever gives up what he wants for the sake of Allah, Allah will give him more than what he gave up. So we firmly believe drugs, I'm gonna make dua in
front of all of our viewers and make dua that ALLAH SubhanA wa Taala blesses you infinitely more than what you have had to give up. And I know ducks up that right now you are having
some issues as well, politically. So to just to clarify your citizenship wise, you don't have any other citizenship Correct. As of yet the military that offered me and I can take when I want. Okay, but so far I've not beaten. Exactly. So this makes it even more difficult that the one citizenship that you have, the government is willing that you come back, you get it renewed, because right now, the passport will not be renewed as it stands as it is. So the fact that you turn them down Insha Allah, it speaks volumes about your own sincerity and ask Allah to give you an MI sincerity and to bless an excerpt from us Alhamdulillah. I also want to say drugs, that we're having a conversation a
few days ago, and you mentioned that after our meeting, you formed a catalyst or it acted as a catalyst to that you became more active on Facebook. Can you clarify to the viewership about that small issue as well? No, actually, normally, if you know in the past, I doubt anyone has rarely seen me on a live program on the social media like what we're having now. The reason was that I've been receiving many invitations for live talks or shows or conferences on the Internet. The reason is that I myself in the year 2016, there were more than 5000 invitations pending only for physical life lectures from outside India, more than 5000 which I could not attend those, which I did not attend
and every year it was increasing, because every day we receive a free invitation and it cannot entertain all. So that is the reason of the policy. We we are the policy that we I will not have any programs on the internet because if I start there will be 10s of 1000s of requests, whether policy and this I remember maybe in my full life in my full life of about more than 25 years Odawa
Oh, and was the 20 years that I, I may have spoken maybe four times, or maybe five times on Linden labs, only four or five times.
And this is maybe the sixth time. I'm talking about life program as interview. Yeah, if my live lectures Metallica, they're different. And the reason was that once you've opened the Pandora's box, it is difficult. And that's what exactly happened the moment I gave a green signal to you, maybe about two three weeks back every day I started receiving requests,
new ideas to you. So then I only agreed with two more and then I put a stop I thought I go back to gold policy because my staff was after me since many years and even now that on my Facebook mashallah, when there are more than 22 million followers, why don't I do live shows weekly? And because of my busy schedule and other you know,
other commitments and I'm keeping hardly three and a half hours a day. So then when I told yes to you then my wife caught me and she thought okay, now now we have to get commitment and she forced me to give a commitment of uploading twice a week from that and that's So yesterday we sent a post that inshallah will come on my Facebook Live or one and a half hours, inshallah twice a week
in the month of Ramadan, on Tuesdays and Saturdays and after Ramadan Inshallah, I will continue once a week on Saturday, maybe for two hours a week inshallah. Mashallah, we thank you.
I'd like to thank Allah for you for two things. One thing for the CIO, what happened three months back, and even this that, you know, may Allah bless you that it was pending since a long time and because of you, you're the catalyst and hunger because eventually you will get the swab the Giardia for both inshallah Hamid
but all of this is from Allah subhana wa Tada. And also we have
we have Bobby mashallah, because she's the one who requested it. And also, this is a message to all of the husbands out there that even talk to Zack and Nick and myself when when our message says something somewhere and how we obeyed them, that is the sign of a happy marriage or competent in law.
In that
100
Alhamdulillah so doxa what's so as you know, I mean, we have our viewership also knows this, that we've had a good relationship for almost, I think 15 years now. The Peace TV peace conferences I used to attend back in mid 2000s I think I came 371 The first time we went to the assembly metaphysically the first time Yes, 14, approximately 14 years, 14 years exactly. And Alhamdulillah live Erica recorded the whole Sierra and other programs as well. But what is the status of Peace TV now? And what is the future plans that Peace TV has and also your personal future plans and now that we don't you know, you're you're disconnected from India and you're based in Mumbai. So what's your
future plans?
As you will recall, Hamdulillah that piece TV mashallah was the largest religious washed satellite channel in the world, not only Sami channel, but a satellite channel. And according to the survey that we did the estimated viewership of pitch TV network, as you have with the pitch TV network has got satellites in four different languages, English, Urdu, Bangla and Chinese English in the year 2016. It was broadcast on 15 different satellites Mashallah. Having potential viewership of about one and a half to 2 billion people. Potential viewership means it is entering the home, the house, they may or may not watch. But the actual viewership of Peace TV English approximately 100 million
PC we all do a word approximately 80,000,051 Our 50 million and Chinese about 20 million all put together was more than 200 million active viewers Hamdulillah you know that after the internet is getting more popular, the social media are getting more popular. And everyone asked me the question that you know, isn't social media hasn't social media overtaking
the satellite, and I told them in 2016 that not yet it will in the near future. As for the statistics of the end of January 2020, approximately 59.8% of the population of the world they use internet and about 49.8% Use social media. You know that's more than point 8 billion people use internet and about 3.8 billion people use social media. And number one is a social media in the Facebook, which has active monthly viewers of two and a half billion. It's number one in the world. Number two would be a YouTube, which has 2 billion
monthly active users
followed by followed by whatsapp which is 1.8 billion. Then you have the Instagram more than 1 billion and then you have the Twitter What 600 million and
Then you have the Tumblr, the Pinterest and snapshot on so forth. What has happened that 60 net I believe that the satellite was much higher than the social media. Now, the gap is decreasing. Now I feel that the reach of the social media is somewhat at par with the satellite. And what happened in India, you know that our base was in India actually, and our headquarters in India were in Bombay alone, we had mashallah more than 500 full time paid employees only in Bombay, then we had more than 100 and our staff outside India in other countries was another 3040 Mashallah, so all put together, we had more than 600 full time paid employees, and our main production studio acquisitive in Bombay
at 300 full time paid employees,
the volunteer mashallah of the organization for more than 10,000 alone. Mashallah. So now, because of the change in the scenario, you know, that there has been a financial crunch in the world, you know, with images of the 15 and 1617, and COVID-19, as you know, so all this put together the financial structure change. And after shifting to Bombay, what had happened in Bombay, because our main focus, my main focus was pitch TV. I used to on average, on my Facebook has to hardly give half an hour a month, that is six hours a year on social media put together as to spend about one hour a month for 12 hours a year, when I shifted to Malaysia, and I got settled in 2017. And then 18, I
started giving only for the social media, but five hours a day.
You know, hosting is cheap, and satellite became less because the production has induced. In the last two weeks, I've been giving about maybe 1516 hours a day for the social media.
Because we were only on basically three platforms and performed on Facebook, YouTube, and our website. Our website was we had to close our website because the duration of the organization. So for legal purposes, in 2016, we had to close our website website. At that time, the IDF. dotnet was the fourth largest visited Islamic website in the world, my company, but then we had to close it. Now we decided, okay, let's, let's finish that.
But the last two three weeks have been added and insha Allah Allah wills, they have to tomorrow. During Ramadan, first we'll be launching the website again. And it is completely different than what was before. It was much more informative. It was much more voluminous. That website wasn't that much, but yet it was popular. So inshallah we are looking forward to it. And once it is launched, the main structure would be ready. But every day we'll be uploading things like lecture script, videos. So all the activity put together. If you're on Facebook, everything will be on the website. If you're on on my videos will be on the website. Pinterest will be on the website. So we are giving
more time to the social media. So my focus has shifted more to social media. And just a week or two week before we launched Instagram, which is the second most famous in terms of after Facebook, in terms of posting on social media, and the second was not counting YouTube and WhatsApp. So we launched on Instagram, we are having problems because you know that there are already more than 50 fake accounts on Instagram, more than 100 200 fake accounts of mine on the Facebook on all the social media. So when we launched we are having a problem that our name is coming last because it is new and two other lacking lifestyle thought to be watching. So inshallah we'll catch up soon. And
so, we have shifted our focus more on the social media, the question of satellite has has gone down. And in India, it was mainly my activity I mean, I have given my life for the sake of Allah subhanaw taala it was more than 50 Personal hardcore competitive in the activity, shifting to Malaysia that competitive with us little bit has gone more to the other problems of the Muslim ummah, which are directly tied to Dawa and I'm in interaction with more scholars than what I was before the Islamic scholars, Islamic dots. So the whole type of activity has shifted. And my Alexa whatever we're doing, and I believe that whatever activity you're doing as long as you strive Allah, I believe that
what it was attributed we have achieved we cannot achieve our own at all everything 100% is because of Allah subhanaw taala I cannot imagine that a person who is to stand where there are such a large audience coming for my talk, it's not possible at all. It's impossible. It's a miracle. It's only because of the name of Allah subhanaw taala that people come for my talk on my Facebook. I wondered that How come 22 million followers. It is unbelievable. It's the dream possible. And you know that we 22 million followers if we make it commercialize it, you can earn millions of dollars in a year millions. But we have not made any offer
Social media commercial life, please a pitch TV because we believe that we want more syrup and a bigger reach. So now we are focusing more on the social media and the other aspects of the Muslim ummah
rather than what we used to do in Bombay and Alexa Baba efforts in 100 So Allah subhanaw taala reminds us in the Quran in the Latina Amen Well I'm just sorry I had to say ah Allah homearama would and what this means is that those who do good deeds and those who are righteous, ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada will write love for them. And our commentators say that one of the signs of sincerity and one of the science of piety is that love is written for the servants of Allah amongst the hearts of the servants of Allah. So we pray that Allah subhanaw taala grants all of us that sincerity, because with that sincerity comes the baraka, there is no Baraka, there is no blessings from Allah without
sincerity. So we make we ask Allah Subhan Allah to grant us sincerity, meet sincerity and all of our viewers sincerity and in sha Allah, it is a sign, the very fact that so many people admire and respect a Muslim, the righteous look up to this Insha Allah, it is a sign and we ask Allah to maintain all of us in that positive until we die and in the future as well. Insha Allah, Allah duxtop, I need to ask you a very difficult question, but it is troubling to many of our viewers. And that is the situation of Muslims in India. And as you know, drugs up that my grandparents are from India, I have Indian blood, I still have relatives in India. But even if we did it, we are all one
OMA and to see how the Muslims are being treated, and especially to see the current party making Islamophobia one of its core elements. And the most bizarre thing is to then claim that Muslims are behind this COVID crisis. And somehow, you know, Link Islam and Muslims with this COVID crisis. It's very worrying drug sub and I want to ask you as somebody future of Muslims in India and the reality of the BJP using Islam as linking it to the COVID crisis, what is your analysis of this insha Allah
number one, let me tell you that I generally believe that I have a whole the Hindus in India, and the non Muslims in India, they aren't against Muslims as a whole. I believe amongst the Hindu, maybe approximately 75 to 80% of the population of India.
I would say that before BJP government came to power, according to me,
maybe 5% of the Hindus would be against Muslims. And about 15% of the Hindus would go out of the way to help the Muslims. And the balanced 80% or neutral, have a good human being there were no problem with the Hindus and Muslims. But later on because of the political situation, they felt that we can use religion as a trump card to come to power. BJP, RSS started using that. And they started propagating animosity against the Muslims to come to power. And with that, maybe the percentage of the Hindus against Muslims may have increased to 10%.
But because of the fear psychosis, the people supporting Muslims has reduced to 5%.
And the neutral is 85%. As time is going on, because of the threat, they're giving on the social media, and open lynching of the of the Muslims, and giving a clear cut picture to the Hindus, that if you support Muslims, we will attack you. So they've been attacking those Hindus who are supporting Muslims, because of that, the people openly supporting Muslim as reduced, and those who are there who are neutral. So now I would feel that after they've come to power, the second time, the people against Muslims, maybe approximately 15% 5% in favor. And yet people say neutral, but people say neutral, they're afraid of showing that they're neutral, because they're afraid of the
government. So because when when the BJP came to power, the second or first time they came in 2014. And they came with an open agenda that they want to attack the Muslims, and to hide the negative factor that they have in India. They bring up the issue of war with Pakistan, or the Muslim issue, that about the Babri Masjid, about the Kashmir issue about the filter lock, what a strip is the law got to do with the economy of the country? Exactly. So they thought they're bringing these issues, to show to the non Muslims, that you know, these are the problematic areas. And you can solve the problem of every Muslim. Even now when the court gave a verdict in favor, they're not building the
temple, why they will do it close to the next election. Every time they want to make an issue. And now to I believe that the Muslim should be united, which we aren't, and we should understand this
addition, as far as the basic question that what is the response as far as the COVID-19 is concerned, now, they are using COVID-19 Also, as an issue to attack the Muslims, they are saying the major cause of COVID-19 to enter into India, or the Muslims. And there are many examples they are blaming, and they're seeing that the gathering that happened in Delhi 4000 People of the public Jamaat, you know, it one of the largest Sunni Muslim gathering that they fit throughout the world, without any publicity without any media, they gather large numbers of different parts of the world. So, according, according to the fact that when they had that gathering, they had all the police
permissions, so that gathering wasn't illegal at all. So it is wrong to blame them, because if they did not take permission, then you can hold them responsible. So complete the mod when they had that gathering in mind, they did not break any law. But what happened when the gathering of few days got over immediately, without any notice, the government announced that there's going to be an lockdown next day. For the people who are gathered from different parts of the country and outside India. They tried to go back home to the city, they could not. So many of them came back to the Merkel's. And when they came back to the Merkel's the government said, No, you're breaking the law, that big
lockdown, how can a few 100 people or 1000 people gathered there, which is totally wrong. I mean, they did not do it willingly. It was without any warning. Furthermore, what the news is saying that majority of the cases of the public demand from COVID-19 The fact is that there are other news available that majority the people, there was hardly anyone who was tested positive. So the news, the whole news media of India, the mainstream media, except for one channel NDTV the majority of the mainstream media has been purchased by the government either it's owned by the BJP government or they are friends of BJP government or the batoh by BJP government.
So much so that you will be shocked to know one of the biggest fake news of COVID-19 India was one of the leading popular channels of India Zee News, they give a breaking new thing. The main person responsible for spreading COVID 19 in India is Dr. Zakir Naik.
He picked up Malaysians who Matisse Malaysian history from public Jamaat and he put COVID-19 in them and told them to go to India.
A logical person in his wildest dream. So, this is the biggest fake news in India, that the main person responsible for spreading COVID-19 India in doctors archinect and by V News, which is one of the leading news channels in India. You see, it's it's it's very disheartening that you know, Muslims are there are many hospitals in India own menus, they said Muslim cannot be treated in hospital. Yes, I saw that. Then there are cases where like in Delhi and some cities in India, that Muslims aren't allowed to sell the stuff in the market. And when there was some Muslim vendors who sold the vegetables, these hooligans they came, and they forced the people who bought the vegetables
to give it back. And they hunted these Muslims out. So there are so many things, there's open lynching in the open, they fail to realize that Do you know that the company the medical pharmaceutical company, which has been disputed by the Indian government to prepare a vaccine for COVID-19 is owned by a Muslim superclass panela the second company which is doing his best to find treatment is
the person who gave one of the largest donation to India to fight COVID-19 Muslim.
So, if you really what do you realize that it is mainly a media hype? It is mainly it is promoted by the government such thing which is absolute, it is inhuman, it is against the Constitution and and what the thing I mean, I can keep on speaking for other people to do that, what they said it is Corona, jihad, stop for
Muslims. They are responsible for spreading the COVID 19 Coronavirus in India and they're saying Corona jihad. May Allah save us from all these fitna. That being mean, what doctors have said about India is actually applying around the world. And here in America, unfortunately, even our own President and members of the administration have also begun linking Islam or somehow bringing in Islam or using their far right agenda and linking it with Islam. So for example, three days ago, the President retweeted a very far right islamophobe saying that, you know, you're telling us to shut the churches down. I wonder are you going to do the same thing with the mess
Jews are not are you going to shut the mosques down or not? And of course, in America is 1% Muslim, that's a very small minority of us here is Muslim. And there is no issue and hamdulillah almost all of our messages have voluntarily shut down. So this is a false fear that is being created. The President retweeted this, that there is a double standard between churches and mosques, and there is no double standard. Yesterday, the President announced that because of the COVID crisis, we're going to ban all immigration. And of course, this is catering to his far right base, where this these xenophobic parties across the country in India, in Israel and America, in Brazil, you have the rise
of these nativist stick we call them parties parties that are mixing a hybrid of fanaticism and racism and their versions of religion, and they're using them to foment their own base to so that they become more popular, and in all of these countries and more Muslims and Islam becomes the target, we become the evil person that they're now creating and fomenting their own political ambitions via being against Muslims. And unfortunately, we're even seeing this across the country. I know that even in the Middle East, there are some issues taking place. In this regard, do you have any comments about that drug sub that the rise of Islamophobia and linking it to the COVID crisis,
they do agree with you that it is happening toward the world more than India, what happening in USA happening in UK, even the UK and as far as the Gulf country is concerned, you may be aware that all the guns country, the maximum Florida that are there in the country, that it seems
in all all this income, all this gulf country and out of the Indian that are there in the Gulf country, approximately 50% Are Muslims 50% non Muslim and for your information, the maximum revenue, the maximum foreign exchange that comes into India is from the Gulf country 50% Every month, more than $1 billion is transferred from UAE to India officially more than $1 billion dollar a month is transferred from you from only from Saudi Arabia to India officially unofficially the amount may be bigger
only from the Gulf countries in India every year $55 billion comes in
only from the expatriates. And that is about 50% of the of the foreign revenue of India comes from Gulf country and all Muslim can be put together it is more than 60%. The problem is that, according to me, there has been a negative comments by the non Muslims of India and the Gulf countries.
But in this COVID-19 it has epidemic levels. And you will find large scale people in all the Gulf countries, especially in UAE and Saudi and Kuwait, they have started speaking out against Muslims and criticizing them, abusing them. What had happened and the good thing after a long time, our brothers mashallah, in the Middle East, they woke up. And we have many people from the Gulf countries who are objecting to this Islamophobic attack, to the maligning of the Prophet of Islam of the Muslims. So my thought that my salah, you heard from the royal family in Sharjah in UAE, the princess in Kashmir, she objected. There were many other people from UAE objected from Kuwait, from
Qatar, you know, a very famous scholar Sheikh,
Sheikh Sarani, a very famous lawyer from from from COVID said that we should file case against these Indians living in the Gulf country who speak against Islam. And he said that all those who have information about non Muslims, Indian, in Gulf countries are attacking Islam, please let me know. When do I give them even to the extent of filing a case in general, in the
Wow, again this people, but I, I would like to give an advice that they should go a step further. There are many of the non Muslim Hindus from UAE who have been sent back to India and from other Gulf countries, I would like to add and request them that not only they should take into account all the non Muslim Indian living in the Gulf country attacking Islam, they should even keep a track record of all the non Muslim Indians in India, were attacking Islam and keep that data with them. Because most of these rich non Muslim Indian, they very often travel to the Gulf countries, many of them they travel to different Muslim countries of the world, and many Muslim countries of the world
or tourist spots within Malaysia, Turkey, Gulf countries to buy if they have a record with that, and if they know that they're criticizing the religion of Islam, and actually spreading venom and communal disharmony, it is by the law
In the country, Muslim countries you cannot do that. So, if they have a data and they make it very evident, that if these people who have openly criticize and spread communal disharmony, if they come to our country, we will arrest them, that would be a step further, so that the non Muslims in India, they know that they traveled to Western countries, and if they openly criticize in the not considered actually abused, abused the Prophet of Islam openly without any reason without any logic. So, if they make it very popular that although I see that we will have a record of these non Muslims who are openly abusing Islam, once they enter any Muslim country, they should be arrested. That
would be really a thing. What would cause a difference in the impact of Islamophobia and attack?
Subhan Allah Allah Subhana Allah tells us in the Quran wala to Cebu lady in a drone Amendola, Hefa Subala Duan, Bill Hader in Allah's commanding Muslims who do not believe in idolatry. We are very critical of idolatry. Allah says, Don't curse the false gods and their idols don't say vulgarities because in response, they're just going to utter vulgarities. You see, as you know, dogs up debating is allowed. You can have a good conversation. They're allowed to hold beliefs that are contrary to Islam. But bringing in vulgarities bring being mean and nasty simply being rude for the sake of being rude, so uttering evil things about Allah, His Messenger just to hurt other people's feelings.
This is not even in our religion, we are told, even if you don't believe in their gods don't curse their gods don't say vulgarities about their gods. And subhanAllah what you said is absolutely right. That there is no doubt that those who say vulgarities about our prophets of Allah, why do you say them? Why should they be coming to the lands where the prophets ism is respected? We're facing the demise of agnosticism. The rise of atheism is our final question Drax up, we're facing the rise of agnosticism and atheism amongst some segments of the Muslim ummah, especially here in America. I'd like to speak a little bit about that before we conclude, because I think it's very important
that people hear from the both of us, what do we think we should be doing? What advice can we give to the Muslims to make sure that we protect the Imam of the next generation, and to counter this rise of religiosity and agnosticism and atheism?
As far as the rise of atheism rising in the western country, I disagree with you. It is not only only Western countries throughout the world, it is everywhere in the world, including Gulf countries, you know, where I consider that, you know, the Gulf country, especially Saudi Arabia is the heart of for him. I was shocked. It was in 2014. They asked me to give a lecture on atheism Does God exist I was shot in Saudi Arabia in German dilemma when I consider one of the one of the one of the best Islamic universities to give a talk on atheism. And then I realized that the people told me that even in the Gulf countries, leave aside western country levers or duty whether America, India,
even there, there are and previously previously, according to me, when, when a person from Saudi Arabia or from the Gulf country, went to America or went to Western country, the chances that they would deviate from the deal would be maybe one or 2% exit.
But nowadays, the chances are more than 25%. Coming back to a question, I know that there is a race, and I've given a talk on this topic, does God exist? Where I've proved with with reason, logic and signs like this Allah subhanaw taala what I believe that
amongst the people who in the past, you know, there is a section of the of the guys who who disagree on answering any question which which I don't agree with them. This okay, this question, yes, a tiny toilet. This is a devil's question for describe this question cannot be asked, you know, so they disagree and answering questions when anyone does it against where I'm concerned, if I find a book, which is against the Quran, and a book in it in favor of Quran, I will first buy the book written against the Quran to know how are they attacking the Quran? If I don't know how the enemy is attacking the Quran, how are they can defend it. So, what we realized that many questions like which
our younger generation us, our older generation used to disagree replying, saying that this will take away from the deed which I disagree number one, we should stop saying do not answer questions which are, which are, you know, a status question. I said, No, you can answer any question. A question can be illogical fine. But you cannot say that if it's any question that someone said, Why don't you have Pope or anything? They ask any question, it cannot be questioned, which cannot be asked. That's a different question that everyone is not specialized in the field of answering the TSP. But one thing if you should encourage questions, let it be anything under
The sun, but everyone is not specialized in replying, because while if you're not specialized, you may falter and bring the principles of Islam while replying. I know many days while replying to the non Muslims, they go overboard, and they go against the principles of the Quran. They go against the Quran, they got into this unknowingly, unintentionally. So that's a big problem. Number two,
there were some dudes who fully like science, science, ultimately, science and on top of the world.
And they used to speak. Yes, we asked it. Many the same. Do you have to say don't speak about science?
Why went to extreme? Yes, you have to respect science. We agree with science, but not everything. Can you prove scientifically? So I believe that science is a very good tool. There are many guidances and should not be used with a disagree with them. Science is a very good tool for spreading the deen among the TSP because for the ETS, today, science and logic is the ultimate.
You could say ultimate yardstick. Yeah, so we cannot neglect science. What we should do that many of the things within the Muslim ummah, which because of preconceived, wrong ideas, we think about science, which is not going against the Quran, it's not going against the Hadith, it's not going into the Sharia, but we have a preconceived idea that this is against Sharia. And when someone says something against it, we defend it, right, rather, we should look at it that if Russia says so if we go to the extent of using logic, science and reasoning, inshallah I feel it is not difficult at all to consolidate here. As far as I'm concerned, Alhamdulillah have spoken to hundreds and 1000s of
atheists, mashallah, and if we stick to our rules, that Quran is ultimate, the Sharia is ultimate hamdulillah use reason and logic, and how can we convince them? So in my lecture god, does God exist in one section of us Quran in science to prove likeness, Allah subhanaw taala in the other section argues logic. And third section, what will happen if Allah is not there, God is not there. So using all these logic, I feel if an unbiased non Muslim girl this lecture or the convincing reply, I feel if we open minded and unbiased, we have to come to the truth of Islam.
So, adding to this as well, I just want to all of these points are great. I wanted to add some points as well that I think one of the things that doctors have said is very true. And that is that when our young come to us, when our youth come to us with deep questions, a lot of times we just shut them off. A lot of times we don't allow them to even verbalize those questions, that is a mistake, especially in the current climate that we live in. Now, if you are not qualified to answer go to somebody who is qualified to answer but if your son or daughter comes to you, and asks a very difficult question, maybe if you were a child and asked her maybe your mother or father would have
smacked you or said be quiet, how dare you? Okay, we cannot do that anymore. Because if you don't answer somebody else's gonna answer an incorrect way. So take your son or daughter to somebody who can answer also adding to this as well is that agnosticism and atheism is also a spiritual disease is not just as doctors have said, very valid point, logic and reason also, there is a spiritual element. And therefore, as you respond to these questions, perhaps, as well make sure you emphasize the spirituality that is needed to be a good holistic human being because science and reason only take you so far, the human soul also need some riba some dialogue with Allah subhanho wa taala. And
science can never give you that purpose in life, science and rationality can never give you the spiritual feeling of happiness that comes when you worship Allah subhanho wa taala, the fitrah that Allah created us upon it needs as well, some spirituality. So, in tackling these issues of agnosticism and atheism, we have multi pronged approaches we take science and rationality, we take logic and reason. We obviously take the Quran and Sunnah and we also bring in the element of spirituality and Insha Allah, those that are sincere and that's the big if if they are sincere, then inshallah they will definitely come back to the faith because you cannot be an atheist if you're
fully logical and rational, and also if you understand the needs of the soul, the the atheist is somebody who is insisting on that which you cannot insist on reason and logic, and the atheist as well is insisting on covering the needs of his or her own soul. Their soul is crying for some meaning for some life for some purpose for some very bad and the atheist is insisting No, I'm not going to answer to what is needed. And that is why the term cover actually means to cover up because the atheist has in fact forced the covering on his or her own soul. And that's why it's important that we deal with this in a holistic manner. Darkside Marcia
We spent an entire hour together JazakAllah khair. For your time any parting comments about Ramadan about any issues? What is the parting advice that you want to leave us with?
Right? Well, it would be that because of the different situation that we are in today, most of the parts of the world is in lockdown. My advice would we let this isolation get you closer to Allah subhanaw taala.
The other way that the common term used very often in the media and by the Muslims also is social distancing. I would consider that social distancing and Islamic haram, the right word and the more appropriate word is physical distancing, or even many of the day though, is not a requirement of social distancing. social distancing is a major sin. You cannot stay away from your loved one. Yes, the thing is physical distancing, if they're the requirement should be done. So not to use these words which are an Islamic and then this isolation gets you closer to Allah subhanaw taala. It will be in this time it's difficult ethical, because one of the reasons one of the requirements by take
over the mosque and most of the mosques are closed down. So let us when we isolated the home, let us come closer to Allah subhanaw taala. Let us
let us contemplate and let us do good deeds and let this month of Ramadan with you starting from from tomorrow in urine Malaysia there is hardly about
$20 less than 10 years left in Malaysia
for Ramadan and in your part of the world. There'll be more than a days left Shall we pray and we're looking forward to this Ramadan and let this Ramadan get us closer to Allah La Eman increase and let our pack also increase. Inshallah and again to
reiterate that point that this is potentially the best Ramadan we will ever have in our lives because we will be minimizing
our issues of going to different houses for Iftar traveling and traffic what not we're going to be in our houses quarantined up we have extra time for a bother extra time for Quran extra time for vicar extra time for contemplation. It is as if the whole month of Ramadan is a semi erotica if not a full article for
the whole month of Ramadan we are forcing ourselves to do some extra so it is potentially the best Ramadan we will ever have. Especially I remind myself and all of you that especially if we are under lockdown. Let's try to pray the Kiambu Laidler the Torah we are the Tahajjud prayer when it's supposed to be the ideal time which is the last third of the night we're not traveling to work most of us so maybe this Ramadan we can actually make sure that we pray the pm when it is the most appropriate time to prevent who is allowed to pray earlier but the ideal time and the most Baraka time is the last third of the night perhaps this Ramadan all of us can try to do that to come closer
to Allah subhana wa Tada Darkside This is the end of our program. I hope it's not the last time we're able to do this there were some minor technical glitches but inshallah we'll figure out how to make it even better and I hope that inshallah it was a benefit JazakAllah here for spending an entire hour of your time I ask Allah subhana wa Tada to protect you and your family and your loved ones and to protect all of us during this time. Ask Allah to increase the both of us and all of those according to Islam and all of us worshipping Allah in our class, in our Baraka in our hedaya in our Sadad I ask Allah to keep our hearts united in this time where enemies are trying to dis
unite enemies are trying to bring chaos and whatnot ask Allah to give all of our hearts united as one OMA ask Allah subhanaw taala that we live as good Muslims that we die as righteous means that we are resurrected in the company of the Gambia and the solder hen and the shahada with a great companionship they are physical military doctors up in shadow until next time, said Alikum warahmatu Allahi wa Barakatu while your fellow Marine venerable canto
salam Wa alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh. My dear brothers and sisters, this is your brother Imran Choudry. I am the president of East Berlin Islamic center on behalf of epic board, our scholarship and above all, our epic community. I want to sincerely thank Dr. Zakir Naik for such a beautiful program. This was his first time but I can assure you this will not be his last time inshallah we will have many many programs in the future with Dr. Zakir Naik.
Last but not the least. I want to thank our beloved resident scholar, Dr. Yasir qadhi for arranging the program for hosting the program and inshallah we are looking forward to having many such programs in the future with Dr. Zakir Naik and Dr. Justin Cody. Giacomo Lochhead. Inshallah See you soon slowly in
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