Rising Intolerance !! Moving away from rationality!

I stay in a certain area of Hyderabad which has considerable Muslim presence as the result of which I’m reasonably familiar with their way of life. Recently my brother informed me of one Dr Zakir Naik, an Islamic preacher who attracts significant following among Muslim youth.

I was informed that Naik is a super-intellectual who proved that Islam is the only true religion while others are wrong. Out of mere curiosity, I started searching for his lectures in Youtube. Most of his talks are full of mystery to me. I simply can’t understand how this man can win this much popularity .According to me even a simple graduate must be able to see through his nonsense.

Most of his talks are rhetorical; he simply announces a “fact” rather than reasoning it out. Most of his theories are quite irrelevant to me as I have no inclination to research minute details of historical texts. However there is one particular theory which gave me Goosebumps literally.

Naik was once asked by a non-Muslim on his TV show, "Why are non-Muslims not allowed to propagate their religion or construct their places of worship in Islamic nations, while Muslims expect the same right to be given to them in non-Muslim majority countries?"

Naik agrees that Islam does not allow a Non-Muslim to propagate or construct his places of worship in an Islamic country.  And kindly listen to the most fantabulous explanation ever given for such a question:

 "Would a principal hire a teacher who says that 2+2 = 3? Of course the principal would not hire that teacher because that teacher does not have the right math knowledge. Similarly, Muslims will not allow other religions because they are not right. In the Quran 3:85, it says that Islam is the only true religion. In matters of religion, we Muslims are confirmed true, while the non-Muslims are not. If they were confirmed, why would they follow the wrong religion?”

Now really!!! To make a comment such as this you require a mind that is remarkably insulated to influence of the world outside. This man closes his eyes and believes that beyond his own world there is no other world existing.

Coming from an MBBS graduate this is really inexcusable. What did Naik study in this university of life? Did he absorb nothing from the essentially secular fabric of this country?

“2+2=4” is a universal Mathematical truth; this is accepted by all not out of force but as a scientific fact that is tested by all. If only Naik can understand it better, this is an objective reality removed from the subjectivity of senses. People might temporarily consider the possibility of sun rising from the west, but “2+2=4” will hold true forever as it is a thing-in-itself. It has no connection with our perception or experience. Where did you get his Maths lessons from?

That Islam is the only true religion is not a universally accepted truth.

Naik says “In the Quran 3:85, it says that Islam is the only true religion.”

Come on sir! This is truly ridiculous!! Imagine a writer claiming that his novel is the best one ever written quoting none other than himself!!!!!! Or a filmmaker claiming that his film is the best because he says so!

Islam is a true religion only to those who practise it. It is not a self-evident truth for practitioners of any other religion. Where do you get your lessons of logic from?

Further “In matters of religion, we Muslims are confirmed true, while the non-Muslims are not.”

How do you know that it is confirmedly true? Your logic is based on the acceptance of Koran. But if you don’t accept it, in no conceivable manner is your religion confirmedly true. How do you “announce” this “fact” thus?

If they were confirmed, why would they follow the wrong religion?”

My point is how you could arrive at the conclusion that other religions are false. Have you conducted some experiments? Islam is just one of the many religions of the world, as it is no less absurd than dogmas of other religions. I’m not claiming that any particular religion is superior. All I am saying is that other religions have reformed their dogmatic assertions & traditions and progressed towards a more progressive role of religion in society. People have questioned the ills & negative aspects of religious traditions and got it rectified. They don’t blindly accept the authority of some self-appointed guardians of society & morality.

According to all non-muslims, it is Islam which is the wrong religion! But since we don’t use this to subjugate you, you people must be equally tolerant towards us.

On the final note, Dr Naik, please go ahead with all your dogmas & nonsense! I’ve nothing against them as long as they don’t infringe upon the rights of others. In the above context, you’re defending the undefendable. On one hand you appreciate the fact that other religions allow you people to build religious structures, but you won’t because others are wrong!!! Kindly understand that your religion is no exception and in the perception of others, Islam is a religion which encourages intolerance. You are infact adding fuel to their argument that Islam is basically incompatible with other religions & are fundamentalists. (having a channel ironically named Peace TV won’t work)

PS:  Prominent Indian Muslims such as Salman Khurshid and Javed Akhtar reproved what they felt were Naik's mischievous attempts to radicalize the Indian Muslim community and promote communal strife. Thank God, this is India.