In a rather surprising volte face, the world famous Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, Deoband, in west UP, has said that it's wrong to demonise Zakir Naik as someone inspiring or encouraging terrorism without a proper inquiry.
"Fatwas issued against Zakir Naik owing to difference of opinion on matters related to faith and beliefs are being misused by the media as a weapon against him," says Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, 'naib mohtamim' (vice-chancellor's deputy). The senior cleric said the fatwas issued several years ago were being now highlighted in the media as if they had been issued in the wake of the latest controversy surrounding the preacher. "We (Darul Uloom) have bad differences of opinion with Zakir Naik. But he is recognised as an Islamic scholar the world over. We don't believe that he could be connected with terrorism in any way," he asserted.
In its fatwas issued in 2008 and 2011, the muftis of the seminary had described Zakir as a non-believer and as one who was misleading Muslims on the wrong path. One of the fatwas asked Muslims not to rely upon his speeches.
However, the Darul Uloom now seems to have come out in support of the evangelist who is facing serious charges of encouraging Muslim youths to resort to terrorism against "enemies of Islam".
Madrasi criticised the media for being judgmental and painting Zakir Naik as a criminal without any substantive evidence. "A thorough inquiry should be conducted before forming any opinion about him," he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Darul Uloom spokesman Ashraf Usmani said: "Associating fatwas issued by Deoband in the past with the allegations against Naik linked to terrorism is wrong and objectionable."
Meanwhile, spokesman of the All India Shia Personal Law Board Maulana Yasoob Abbas has said that those having 'wahabi' mentality were being inspired by the preacher's lectures to resort to terrorism.
He said stern action should be taken against Naik, his lectures should be banned and his nationality should be withdrawn.
