A true Muslim must wear his faith proudly: Dr Naik

People listening to Dr Zakir Naik’s lecture at Al Multaqa Ramadan Forum at the Dubai World Trade Centre. — KT photos by Mukesh Kamal

If the label shows one’s intent, then Muslims must proudly wear their faith without fear and be recognisable to their fellows.

This was affirmed by renowned Indian scholar Dr Zakir Naik at the Zabeel Hall of the World Trade Centre on Thursday evening as part of the 13^th Ramadan Forum in a speech that left the multi-faith audience awestruck.

“A true Muslim must not only strive to preserve his religious identity but wear his faith proudly,” he told the over 5,000 people who thronged the ballroom to hear his inspirational and thought-provoking lecture.

Dr Naik offered a completely new perspective on how fundamental it is for a Muslim to express his or her Islamic identity.

“If you are proud to be a Muslim, you should look like a Muslim. You don’t have to hide your identity by trying to look or dress in a manner that makes your religious identity indistinguishable only in order to blend into society,” he said, adding that it is the duty of each Muslim to be recognisable to his fellow brothers and sisters in Islam.

At the end of the hard-hitting lecture, the audience, which included a sizeable segment of non-Muslims, erupted in rapturous applause. The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer session that went on for more than an hour and a half.

During the session, seven non-Muslims among the audience — three from India, three from the Philippines and one from Cameroon — expressed their desire to embrace Islam, inspired by Dr Naik’s convincing, logic-based response to their queries.

A medical doctor by training, Dr Naik has lectured on Islam and comparative religions all around the world to packed audiences. He is ranked among the top 62 in the list of ‘500 Most Influential Muslims in the World’ published by George Washington University in 2011 and 2012. Dr Naik, 47, is also the president of the Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai, and one of the founders of Peace TV, the Islamic channel with the largest viewership for any religious channel in the world.

Alongside the lecture, a blood donation drive was organised as part of a ‘Health of the Fasting’ awareness campaign.

Eleven-year-old Abu Hanash Abdul Rasheed gave a sermon in English as part of the ‘Preacher of the Nation’ competition.

As part of the daily activities, two ‘Ramadan Forum Umrah’ packages, two Samsung S5 smartphones and two iPad Air tablets were given away in a raffle draw. Participants can increase their chances of winning by registering on www.almultaqa.ae via the iOS and Android apps or at the venue itself.

The 12-day forum, organised by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), will host an insightful lecture in Tagalog by well-known Islamic scholars Omar Penalber and Nuh Caparino tonight.

The forum, to run until July 14 under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, is offering a wider choice of activities and events this year including educational programmes, training workshops and more.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE