Lucknow: A host of top Muslim clerics and politicians may be rallying behind televangelist
Zakir Naik swearing by his scholarly talks on
Islam but
Darul Uloom Deoband-Islamic seminary highly revered in Asia-has described the controversial Islamic preacher as "religiously deviated" because his talks are not authentic and that Muslims should not rely on his speeches.
In as many as seven fatwas sought by people from as far as
Afganistan and
Kenya, the Darul Ifta-the fatwa (edict) wing of the seminary-has dismissed
Naik as a self-styled scholar who does not have the authority to give sermons on Islam and a preacher of 'Ghair Muqallidin' (different school of thought).
The seminary has, however, objected to the fatwas being linked to the present controversy that the televangalist is presently embroiled in. In response to a particular query (number 36859India) about
Jammah (religious congregation), the seminary had issued a fatwa dated February 13, 2012 (Fatwa: 245/190/B=1433) stating: " .... Zakir Naik is a scholar of English and wears coat and pant. He has no right to say these things. Is wearing the dress of Jews and Christian established from the holy Quran?"
On April 7, 2009 the seminary has issued another fatwa in response to a question (11443India) where it said Zakir Naik is religiously deviated and that some of his talks are unauthentic. A common man may not be able to differentiate between right and wrong; therefore, people should avoid listening his speeches, they are feared to fall in deviation," the seminary Fatwa (669/561=D/1430) said. The seminary described Zakir Naik as a preacher who does not wear Islamic dress. This was in reply to a question from
Afghanistan (query number 7077A) where the seminary, on August 21, 2008 issued a Fatwa (1541/1322=B/1429), saying one should not rely on his speeches. Earlier the same year, the seminary had said Naik's approach seems contradictory to authentic Ulama, therefore, one should avoid attending his programmes. This Fatwa (1058/1058=J) was issued in response to a question (2415) from USA. Answering another query from Kenya (171) in 2007, the seminary said Zakir Naik is not reliable and Muslims should avoid listening to him.
The seminary, however, has distanced itself from the raging debate over Zakir Naik inspiring Muslim youths to take to terrorism. "Our fatwas were in response to specific questions asked by people referring to Zakir Naik's statements in public sessions. These Fatwas should not be linked to the present controversy as they were issued in a different context," the seminary's spokesperson
Maulana Ashraf Usmani told TOI.