Questioning Zakir Naik: A Hindu Response to the Methods and Motivations of Zakir Naik

by Nicholas Sutton

For years Dr.Zakir Naik has made a name for himself as an accomplished scholar of Islamic and Hindu texts a like. Go Dharmic has published this short book written by Dr.Nicholas Sutton. He is Director of Continuing Education at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and thoroughly examines the methods and motivations of Dr.Zakir Naik by studying one of his lectures.

In his characteristically humble manner, Nicholas writes, "The aim of this short piece is certainly not to show any form of disrespect towards Dr Zakir Naik", as he goes deep into Approach of the teacher.

He explains point by point how Dr.Zakir Naik makes bold claims that Hindu texts to become Muslims. He uses Hindu texts not to explain their actual meaning, but as a means to try and convert Hindu's to Islam.

You will find this work to be a complete, honest, and comprehensive analysis of Zakir Naik's lecture and hopefully this will assist anybody who has come across his work in understanding his real motives. As Dr Sutton finally concludes, "Our hope is that this short piece has gone some way towards exposing this dishonesty so that if individuals do decide to take up the religion of Islam their decision will not be based on another person’s deceit."

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2015

Reviews

[Sravan Devathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start this review with a brief intro to the author’s prerogative to question who he questions. Dr Nicholas Sutton is a professor in Oxford Hindu Studies and a PhD scholar in Hinduism par excellence. In this book he doesn’t question Zakir’s knowledge on Islam or Hinduism per se, however, he systematically deconstructs the narrative built by Zakir on Hinduism to facilitate conversion among masses. The speeches of Zakir not only created a sense of superiority in fundamental Muslims but also created stray scholars of Hinduism who try to invade intellectual spaces such as Quora to attack Hinduism with their half-baked assertions borrowed from Naik’s speech. This is a must read to whoever trying to give a counterargument to the people who tend to pull their argument towards Islam by quoting Hindu scriptures as told by Zakir. Here are few excerpts from the book.
1. Many Hindus will place great faith in major works such as Bhagavad-Gita or Ramayana, and seek guidance from them, but still retain the freedom not to accept passages or form of teaching that do not seems to fit with the underlying concept of Dharma. In effect, the Hindu scripture gives support, help, advice and guidance in the spiritual journey whilst for the Muslim scripture is the master that must be obeyed. The vital important distinction must never be overlooked, willfully or otherwise, and when it is understood it rather undermines the force of Dr Naik’s case.
2. The attempt to convert others away from their religion will always be controversial, but when it is based on deceit and misleading assertions it becomes doubly so. The preacher will doubtless feel that his deceit is justified if it produces the desired outcome of conversion, for then the end will justify the means, but most right-thinking people will find this technique objectionable and morally corrupt. Our hope in this short piece has gone some way towards exposing this dishonesty so that if individuals do decide to take up the religion of Islam their decision will not be based on another person’s deceit.

[Puneet sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful

Thoughtfully crafted the facts in corect order for truth to surface out..thanks for the highlighting the things for larger audience

[Shaiqua.Parveen]

islam kya h