Indian Sunni Sufi and Shia Muslims Protest Impending Visit By Zakir Naik

by World Waseela Front
CIP
October 18, 2012

http://www.islamicpluralism.org/2117/indian-sunni-sufi-and-shia-muslims-protest

The World Waseela Front, a collective of the All India Ulema and Mashaikh Board and the Majlis-e-Ulema-e-Hind, is alarmed to learn that Dr. Zakir Naik, propagandist of the exclusivist and exclusionary Wahhabi ideology, is being allowed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) to address a religious gathering in Azamgarh in the month of November, this year. That Dr. Naik is coming to address people should be a matter of worry for anybody who has at least a superficial understanding of the Wahhabi ideology and practice the world over. That Dr. Naik is a strident exponent of the same is all too well known. It was precisely with this understanding that Dr. Naik's presence would further exacerbate the delicate social situation that the previous government disallowed his entry into the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The World Waseela Front, which represents the majority of Indian Muslims, and has committed itself to the promotion of inter-communal harmony and peaceful coexistence and to thus further strengthen the unique Indian quality of 'Unity in Diversity,' feels its responsibility to remind the Government of Uttar Pradesh of the impending undesirable effects of Dr. Naik's visit to Uttar Pradesh.

Being an exponent of putative puritanical Islam, Dr. Naik has been spreading the message of exclusivism among the Muslim masses, which will prove disastrous in the long run. It would be wise on our part to remind ourselves of the destruction Wahhabi ideologues have caused to humanity in general and the non-Wahhabi Muslim faithful in particular. Apart from advocating political extremism resulting in large scale violence, the Wahhabis unashamedly destroyed holy shrines associated with the Holy Prophet (PUBH) thus damaging invaluable world heritage.

That Dr. Naik is funded by such narrow minded groups which have been spreading hatred in the name and language of Islam should concern everybody, particularly the Government which is responsible for maintaining law and order and ensuring peaceful life for various communities.

With concern we beg you to be informed of the impending danger in allowing Dr. Naik to spread his Exclusivist message, and request you to be cautious and alert in allowing such people with nefarious designs to address gatherings.

In the light of the above, The World Waseela Front demands that the permission granted to Dr. Naik be immediately and unconditionally withdrawn.

The U. P. Government led by the Samajwadi Party must speed up the process to fulfill the promises made to the Muslim masses in its election manifesto.

Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichowchhwi, General Secretary, AIUMB

Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, General Secretary, MUH

Related Topics:  Wahhabism, WahhabiWatch receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free center for islamic pluralism mailing list