The Union Cabinet on Tuesday gave a go-ahead to declare the NGO run by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik as an “unlawful association” which disturbed social and communal harmony and placed it under a ban for five years with immediate effect.

Why do we defy all logic when it comes to our religion? There’s absolutely no harm in following someone, but the only thing we request you is to never follow someone “blindly”. You must question any preaching and if in your all senses and conscience, you feel all’s good, go ahead!

We would like to clarify that we do not intend to hurt any religious beliefs or sentiments. Our attempt is to encourage you to question your own self before believing in any statement made by anyone. It is important because, statements influence and shape your mindset. The logical reasoning and the counter questions asked in the article are for Dr. Naik and the statements he had made his is speeches. We have not and do not want to question any religion, religious scriptures or religious beliefs because The Logical Indian firmly believes in peaceful coexistence where every individual has the right to practise his/her belief without intruding into others’. There may be many positive messages of Dr. Zakir Naik’s speeches, but in this article we have discussed only the messages which we feel, goes against the notion of coexistence. Understanding the fact that if a positive message can inspire millions, a negative one can impact equally. Any positive message can not negate the negative ones.

Again, at The Logical Indian, we never adovocate/propogate/preach any religion except for the religion of “Humanity”. We are firm believers of love, compassion and coexistence. Whenever the circumstances demand, we shall always question and raise our voice against any person or a community irrespective of the religion they may belong to.

Statements made by Dr Zakir Naik , coupled with the logical understanding are below –

1. ❝ If he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I’m for him. ❞ – on Osama Bin Laden

Logically Speaking: We all would want to understand, what is the definition of an enemy of Islam? As per a logical understanding, if I follow a religion, it does not make me an enemy of another religion. I just follow mine, and you follow yours.

2. ❝ If a criminal sees a policeman he is terrified, so for the criminal the policeman is a terrorist – in this context I say, every Muslim should be a terrorist. If he is terrorising a terrorist, he is following Islam. ❞

Logically Speaking: This statement affirms Dr. Naik’s disbelief in the court of law and encourages his followers to take the law into their hands. “Terrorising a terrorist, is following Islam” – we request Dr Naik to help us understand that – the millions of innocent lives which were taken in the name of religion so far, in which way were these innocents “terrorising” these terrorists?

3. ❝ Husbands can beat ‘lightly’ their wives. ❞

Logically Speaking: Beating is violence. Violence in no form or magnitude is acceptable, neither on wives nor on husbands.

4. ❝ As a last resort, suicide bombing can be used. ❞

Logically Speaking: That’s “PEACE” TV for you which can never instigate violence or inspire terrorists. Really?

5. ❝ Forget Muslims, even the Hindus should not say Vande Mataram because it says I bow down to my motherland. ❞

Logically Speaking: This statement compares one religion with another. The believers of the other religion mentioned in the statement may or may not agree with Dr Naik’s proof, but the question is if the practises or beliefs in one religion do not hurt the followers of other religion, then where’s the problem? Why can’t one be happy with one’s “best” religion and leave everyone else in peace with their respective “worst” religions? Comparisons will solve no purpose but to leave the followers of the other religions, enraged.

6. ❝ Even in Hindu scriptures it is written that for basic concentration, idol worship can be used but for a higher level of concentration you don’t need idols. We Muslims have already attained the higher level of concentration. ❞

Logically Speaking: This statement emphasises a sense of “superiority” of one religion over another. The dangers of the sense of superiority are discussed later in details.

7. ❝ Converting from other religion to Islam is most welcome but converting from Islam to other religion is wrong. ❞

Logically Speaking: A blatant example of hypocrisy. Also, this statement disseminates a sense of “superiority” of one religion over another. The dangers of the sense of superiority are discussed later in details. [Note: The Logical Indian condemns the act of conversion in the context of any religion.]

8. ❝ On destroying Buddha statues in Afghanistan – Whatever there in Afghanistan is Afghanistan’s property, – if they like it they’ll keep it if they don’t like it they’ll destroy it. ❞

Logically Speaking: This statement affirms Dr. Naik’s disbelief in coexistence, mutual respect and communal harmony. Unfortunately Dr. Naik, contrary to your belief, the “21st century” doesn’t work like that. Followers of every religion have sentiments attached to their religious monuments and every religion and their attached sentiments are to be respected for a concept called “communal harmony”. You must find it difficult to understand the need of coexistence in Afghanistan’s context, but as you are an Indian, for the sake of understanding the concept of “communal harmony”, you just need to reiterate your same statement, replacing “Afghanistan” with “India”. You very well will get it!

9. ❝ We Muslims know that Islam is the only true religion and hence we do not allow other religions to propagate. ❞

Logically Speaking: What a shameless level of “self-certification”! Feeling pity for the #ISupportZakirNaik hashtag users, we must say that this statement has helped us connect many dots and we sincerely thank Dr. Naik for that. Now when we know that one religion is the “only true” religion and hence the followers of that religion do not allow other religions to propagate; the killing of “non-reciters” of Quran in the recent Bangladesh shooting makes perfect sense! Anyone there, still wondering how Zakir Naik could possibly inspire terrorists? Statements like this can be easily interpreted or misinterpreted to instigate acts of violence. Another example of Dr Naik’s disbelief in coexistence, mutual respect and communal harmony and creating a notion of superiority or supremacy of one religion over the rest. If other religions aren’t interfering or causing any harm, then from where does the need for “not allowing other religions to propagate” come from?

10. ❝ How can we allow building of churches and temples when their religion is wrong? ❞

Logically Speaking: Oh really Ustaad Naik? Once again, this statement reaffirms Dr Naik’s incredulity in peaceful coexistence and imposes the notion of “superiority” of one religion over another. The dangers of the notion of superiority are discussed later in details. Statements like this solve no purpose but to leave the followers of other religion, piqued and enraged.

Also, now we know the reason, why so many churches were destroyed in the last decades (Wikipedia)

11. ❝ Even if a Muslim becomes non-Muslim and propagates his/her religion, the penalty is death. ❞

Logically Speaking: This brazen statement publicly encourages violence. Another example where the message can be interpreted or misinterpreted to instigate acts of violence.

12. ❝ The Britishers called Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Subhash Chandra Bose as terrorist, but do we agree? Not, at all. We call them patriots and freedom fighters. So don’t label anyone as terrorist before you know the reason for which he is fighting? ❞

Logically Speaking: Absolutely agreed, Dr Naik. We call Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad and Subhash Chandra Bose as freedom fighters because they were fighting for our freedom, demanding independence from the British rule. We sincerely request Dr Naik to help us understand the reason for which Osama Bin Laden was fighting for so that we can label the hero and the villain accordingly. Similarly, it’s beyond the capacity of an ordinary mind to understand the reason for which the terrorists of Paris Attack, Istanbul Attack, Peshawar Attack, Bangladesh Attack etc. were fighting for.

13. ❝ Islam is the oldest religion, before Islam there were no human being. ❞

Logically Speaking: Irrespective of the fact being true or not, this statement blatantly conveys a sense of “superiority” of one religion over another. The dangers of the notion of superiority are discussed later in details. Statements like this solve no purpose but to leave the followers of other religion, piqued and enraged.

14. ❝ There was no God before Allah, there is no God other that Allah and there will be no God other than Allah ❞

Logically Speaking: Irrespective of the fact being true or not, this statement blatantly conveys a sense of “superiority” of one religion over another. The dangers of the notion of superiority are discussed later in details. Statements like this solve no purpose but to leave the followers of other religion, piqued and enraged.

THE PROBLEM

There may or may not be any positive sides of Dr Zakir Naik’s speeches but the fact which cannot be denied is that his speeches certainly leave 3 prominent impressions on the listeners mind –

Dr Zakir ’s speeches emote a sense of superiority of one religion over all others. Dr Zakir ’s speeches embrace violence. Dr Zakir ’s speeches defy the ideology of coexistence.

…

We often come across a defensive argument that the extremists who execute terrorist activities in the name of religion, “misunderstand” the actual preaching and commit such activities. If so be it, don’t you think the statements like – “As a last resort, suicide bombing can be used”, “Islam is the only true religion and hence we do not allow other religions to propagate”, “How can we allow building of churches and temples when their religion is wrong?” etc. drag anyone more and more closer to any possibilities of “misunderstanding” the actual preaching? This should help us understand, how possibly could Dr Zakir Naik ’s speeches inspire and instigate an act of violence.

When we hear about a terror attack, we often wonder why these “terrorists” kill “innocents”? The problem is with the definition of “innocents” and “terrorists”. A logical mind defines “innocents” as common people who haven’t committed any crime and “terrorists” as the ones who kill these innocents. Interestingly, to the “terrorists” in the recent Dhaka shooting, innocents were the only who could recite the holy “Quran” and everyone else who couldn’t, deserved “punishment”.

Take any example from the history or in the current times, the feeling of “superiority” is the root cause to discontent and fury among those who are looked down upon. To which the next step is violent retaliation, either in the name of self-defense or offence. If the context of religion has caged your mind, then let’s try to put things into perspective with a few other examples. Take the Black vs White fight in the US where the Blacks feel inferior, the British supremacy on its colonies where the colonies fought back for their freedom or the practice of “slavery” in the history, the caste supremacy of the Brahmins over the others. History has taught us that peace/harmony/non-violence can never be achieved in a society if one tries to prove its supremacy over others, rather than treating everyone equally.

To conclude in one sentence, as long as the idea of “superiority” of one religion over the other and the will to “propagate” it prevails, there can never be an end to the terror attacks in the name of religion.

THE LOGICAL INDIAN’S OPINION

The Logical Indian reiterates that we do not intend to hurt any religious beliefs or sentiments. Our attempt is to encourage you to question your own self before believing any statement made by anyone. It is important because, statements influence and shape your mindset.

Have you ever questioned yourself that, why should we even fall in the argument of which religion is better than the other? Which religion is the oldest?Which is the only “true” religion? Why can’t one be happy with the religion one is born to and let everyone be happy with theirs’? Why is there an urge to impose or propagate one religion?

If the concept of “Ghar Wapsi”* hurts you, then equally should the concept of propagation or conversion in any form must hurt you. If you advocate “Secularism”, then you already hate the statement – “Our religion is the only true religion and hence we do not allow other religions to propagate”. Let us not be hypocrites!

Whatever be your religion, stop defending it until death just because you were born to it. Be ready to unlearn what you have learnt. Question your parents, question your Gurus, question your fellows, if there’s anything which you feel is incorrect or difficult to digest. Let their answers convince you, rather than following anything blindly because it is “written” somewhere. Look at everything through the prism of love, compassion, humanity, mutual respect and co-existence. Question everything which encourages violence, dominance, superiority, propagation and imposition. That’s how you stay “logical”!

We sincerely request all our community members not to generalise an entire community based on a few faces. If Sadhvi Prachi or Yogi Adityanaath does not represent the entire Indian Hindus, then neither does Dr. Zakir Naik represent the entire Indian Muslims.

Specifically India and humanity in general neither need “scholars” like Dr. Zakir Naik and nor “saints” like Yogi Adityanath or Sadhvi Prachi. Let peace, mutual-respect, coexistence, love and humanity prevail forever.

For those who still refuse to question and continue to blindly follow any preaching from the “scholars”, we are helpless beyond this point to wake you up. For those who spared a thought to analyse rationally, thank you and congratulations! And for those who are confused and shuttling between their beliefs and logic, we think one doesn’t need a religion to help distinguish the good and the evil, you just need to – trust your CONSCIENCE!

If our reasonings helped you open up and think rationally, do let us know in the comments below.

Stay logical and spread this message if only it made sense to you.

Peace,

The Logical Crew.

[* Ghar Wapsi is a series of religious conversion activities, organized by Indian Hindu organizations Vishva Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, to convert non-Hindus to Hinduism which became the subject of public discussion in 2014. The Logical Indian outrightly condemns any idea of superiority, conversion or propagation of a religion, including Ghar Wapsi. ]