LAHORE (Daily Point) – Renowned Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik addressed some commonly misunderstood aspects of his public responses and teachings.
In an exclusive interview with senior journalist Farrukh Shahbaz Warraich, Dr Naik addressed various issues, from societal problems to misconceptions about Islam, emphasizing the need for Muslims to return to the Quran and Hadith for guidance.
When asked about his occasionally firm tone during Q&A sessions, Dr. Naik explained that maintaining order is crucial in large gatherings. He emphasized that while wisdom usually calls for gentleness, there are situations where firmness is necessary, especially when audience members waste time or engage in arguments. Referring to Surah An-Nahl (16:25), Dr. Naik underscored that inviting people to Islam should be done with wisdom and good manners, but wisdom does not always mean being soft.
Dr Naik clarified his remarks by addressing a question that once stirred controversy regarding women on television. “As a doctor,” he said, “if you see a woman and feel nothing, then there’s something wrong with you.” He cited Surah An-Noor (24:30), which commands men to lower their gaze when confronted with inappropriate thoughts. He explained that human beings are naturally designed to feel an attraction and that not feeling anything would imply a flaw in creation, which contradicts Islamic teachings.
On the issue of Islamic societies and moral contradictions, Dr. Naik defended his response to a woman who questioned the coexistence of strict Quranic adherence and issues like pedophilia in Islamic societies. He argued that such a question contains a fundamental error. “You can’t say someone is extremely honest yet cheats simultaneously,” he noted. Instead, he suggested that the more accurate statement would be acknowledging that people who claim to follow Islam may still commit wrong actions.
When asked about the concept of jihad and its relevance for Pakistanis today, Dr. Naik reiterated the importance of understanding jihad in its broader sense. He stressed that the greatest form of jihad is the struggle against one’s own self (jihad al-nafs), while the physical form of jihad (qital) comes later and under specific circumstances. According to Dr. Naik, the primary focus should be on personal discipline and following the commandments of the Quran.
