Suhail Kapoor: Setting example for others

Imagine a man who hated Muslims and Islam, but who today is one of Canada’s biggest preachers of Islam.
Suhail Kapoor, previously Manu Kapoor, a Hindu by birth, may not be the only example of such truth-seekers, but his story is a source of inspiration for all those seeking absolution.
At a function held in Jeddah on Tuesday, Kapoor narrated his transition from his original Hindu faith to what he refers to as the “faith of Truth” and exhorted Muslims to become true believers.
“A true Muslim is he who loves everyone regardless of one's faith, remembers God without fail and never hurts others."
Calling Muslims to “live a life as per the principles in Islam” Kapoor said that Muslims have divinely ordained responsibilities and that “we have to ask ourselves if we are fulfilling our responsibilities.”
The Ummah, he said, is facing trouble around the globe through their own faults. They are not taking this faith of peace seriously because of a creeping weakness in their belief.
“There was a time when Muslims presented their Islamic model in China and today, the country has 80 million Muslims,” he said.
The Muslims, like any other nation, are running after worldly gain, and “money is a means and not an end,” according to him.
Kapoor himself leads a life by setting an example. His daughter is an Islamic scholar ("aalima") and his son, a technocrat by profession, is memorizing the Qur’an and leads prayers at the mosque in which Kapoor calls for prayer.
Suhail Kapoor, who has preached Islam in Canada for the last 13 years, is also engaged in social work by performing funeral rituals, including bathing the dead.
On the night of Dec. 31 last year, according to him, he distributed 800 copies of Qur’an within two hours among “Christian brothers.”
Kapoor was once associated with Arab News and had embraced Islam while in Jeddah. He is a prolific writer and appears frequently on TV and radio for interview.
Mohammad Usman Khan, the owner of a local restaurant, organized the function and said he first saw Kapoor offering zamzam water to Kaabato pilgrims when “I was performing tawaf.”
Introducing Kapoor to the audience, Bahjat Najmi said, “Great people have extraordinary mannerisms.” Kapoor's hobby is to call adhan in each mosque he visits for prayers.
Azhar Ali Zai, a noted social worker, convened the program.