The ZN Saga - my two cents worth.

The hot issue that is plaguing the Nation today is what to do with the Muslim Preacher from India, Dr. Zakir Naik, who is a fiery and yet eloquent with a photographic memory of quoting the Holy Scriptures of Islam as well as Hindus and Christians. Through his sermons he has converted more into Islam than anyone to date and for this he is well supported by Muslims in this country where he is taking refuge from the prosecution by the Indian government his country of origin for various accusations from money laundering to whatever else. ZN (Zakir Naik) is a Muslim evangelist with and uncanny ability to quote the scriptures left and right and is controversial is his presentation often challenging other religions especially Christianity and Hinduism, two major religions in this country next to Islam, the official religion. His mode of sermon especially the cutting down of other faiths no matter if he is right is insensitive and unacceptable in my personal opinion.

When I was asked by a lady a few years back at the University Sains, in Penang what I thought of ZN and his preaching I told her I am ambivalent of this man's approach to the dakwah or spread of Islam. Not that he is wrong but it is the manner of his presentation that irked me. She was disappointed in my  answer as she and her husband were devout followers of ZN. ZN like his predecessor Ahmad Deedad from South Africa had played a major role in the defend of Islam in these modern days so much so that their preaching has become confrontational towards other faiths rather than instrumental is bring closer understanding of all faiths. I believe to a true believer all faiths and even those who do not have any believe whatsoever belongs to the All Mighty, nothing that lives and all that is, is His Creation. One can argue till the End of Days as to who or what is right or wrong but at the end of the day so long as one's mind is hooked on right and wrong one is as lost as the next guy. By trying so hard in proving the other wrong one is also proving that one is not right either. We are no more living in the age of ignorance and if I am not mistaken it is stated somewhere that God created man of different colors and creed such that they will come together with an understanding of one another when all is said and done.

Today, sadly enough, ZN has put his foot in his mouth in the wrong place and time and it has caused for repercussions from various groups whose sensitivity and pride he has trampled upon. Malaysia is a testing ground of faiths and the being a multi ethnic country and ZN has taken a poke at the hornet's nest and is paying the price of getting stung. His blatant disregard for the well being of this nation no matter within or out of context in his sermons end in not a good way for him as is happening. ZN should have stuck to preaching Islam to Muslims, not that they need it as here in this country we have just as many good Muslim imams and unstaz doing a great job already. He has no right whatsoever to here as he is a guest and now become a refugee. ZN has robbed himself of the status of being a great Muslim evangelist and if he persist he will become a pariah as not to many countries will take him as their ward. This is what happens when one stops counting one's blessings and become too attached to self aggrandizement in the name of religion.

Do I have any viable solution to this dilemma? Yes, perhaps Malaysia should appeal to any Muslim Nation in the Middle East to accept him as their guest to avoid further disharmony in this country. My fellow Muslims can always listen to him on You Tube as they have done in the past. Let this be also a lesson to all the other faiths and religious denomination in this country that shit happens with all the best intentions, stick closely to your turf when spreading your religious views at the pulpit; realize too what is political and what is religious If it can happen to a world renowned Muslim Preacher, it can happen to you and perhaps now even worse so; common sense prevails as do unto others. Let it be a small victory for Islam in this country that ZN had opened a can of religious worms that affects all the religions in this country; we live and learn. WallahuAllam. -only God knows.
 #Zakir Naik,