Islam forbids forced conversion, says Dr Zakir Naik

Globally renowned Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik has said forced conversion of religion is forbidden in Islam. He stated this while answering queries from participants after addressing a large gathering held at the Sindh Governor House in his honour on Thursday night.

Dr Naik told the audience, including noted religious leaders from Pakistan and diplomats of Islamic countries, that embracing Islam without any compulsion or oppression is the best act. He said there is a concept of preaching in Islam, and every non-Muslim has the right not to embrace Islam. He informed the audience that non-Muslims are the most secure community in an Islamic state.

He exhorted the participants of the gathering to read books of different religions to increase their understanding of other faiths in the world. He said the books of the Hindu faith unequivocally carry the message that there is one Bhagwan, while the books of Jews also present the concept of one God.

Dr Naik was of the view that fulfilment of the rights of other people is the best way to avoid confrontation in the name of religion. He said the Holy Quran does not mention any sect of Islam. He said a difference of opinion shouldn’t lead to a clash or division in society.

The religious scholar said the Holy Quran also calls upon the Muslims to shun differences between them and stay connected to Allah. He said Muslims were a wealthy community all over the world but they spent their money inappropriately. He lamented that Muslims weren’t doing any research on the latest field of artificial intelligence. He termed AI the best tool for securing information.

Dr Naik said the mass media had become the most important weapon in the modern world. He lamented that the international media was used to spread negative propaganda about Islam. He said Muslims had progressed well in the entertainment media. “Muslims are influential when it comes to Bollywood, but the use of media for propagating the message of Islam is a weak area for Muslims,” he said.

He said the latest media technologies weren’t being used effectively to spread the message of Islam and Allah. Dr Naik said he had raised this issue initially in 2006, and Peace TV was set up for this very purpose. He said Peace TV attracted 10 million viewers around the world. He said the same technologies used in entertainment media had been used to spread the message of Islam.

Dr Naik also expressed gratitude to the government of Pakistan for inviting him to the country. He recalled that he visited Pakistan the last time in 1991. As per the schedule shared by Dr Naik, he will address public talks in Karachi on October 5 and 6, followed by those in Lahore set to take place on October 12 and 13. The scholar will address public gatherings in Islamabad on October 19 and 20.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the entire Muslim Ummah is proud of religious scholar Dr Zakir Naik for spreading the true image of Islam to the world. He was talking to Dr Zakir Naik who called on him in Islamabad. Welcoming the prominent Muslim scholar at the Prime Minister’s House, Shehbaz said he listens to Naik’s lectures with great interest, which are very enlightening and impactful.