Top scholar calls for Islamic unity

Internationally renowned scholar on Islam and comparative religion Dr. Zakir Naik urged the Ummah at large to unite as the schism with differences of opinions will only damage the very spirit and pristine purity of the great religion of Islam.
Addressing a huge gathering at a public talk organized by Indian Islamic institution Dar-ul-Uloom Nadwat-ul-Ulema’s Old Boys Association in Riyadh on Friday, Naik, who heads Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), said: “The Almighty bestowed upon us the title of Khair Al-Ummah — the best of communities. This is a huge honor for us. But, with great honor comes great responsibility. We have to practice our pious religion in letter and spirit to maintain its pristine purity.”
Naik also heads Dubai-based Peace TV network, the 24-hour Islamic TV free-to-air channel broadcasting state-of-the-art TV programs in English, Urdu and Bangla.
Speaking on possibilities and challenges, Naik said: “We should work as rightly-guided people to fight evil practices prevalent in the society.”
He pointed out that differences among Muslims were the biggest challenge, which has divided the Ummah on many issues, and thus hurting the very sentiment and spirit of the great religion.
Commenting on Peace TV program, he said the popularity graph has gone up with Peace TV English having over 100 million viewership, Peace TV Urdu having over 80 million viewership and Peace TV Bangla having viewership of over 50 million. “And now we plan to go on air in ten languages,” he said.
Naik, a disciple of eminent Islamic public speaker Ahmed Deedat, best known as a Muslim missionary who held numerous inter-religious public debates with evangelical Christians, has delivered more than 2,000 public lectures across the world, including more than 200 in Saudi Arabia alone on comparative religion, and his Dawah work among non-Muslims won nine converts to Islam in Riyadh last week.
The awakening session, also attended by the new converts, was presided over by King Faisal award winner Saudi-Indian Mustafa Aazmi. Aazmi in his presidential address urged the Ummah to use Hijri calender instead of the Gregorian calendar.





He further underlined the fact that Hijri calender was prevalent even among non-Muslims and it was used for references.
“This has changed as a part of re-writing history to undermine Islamic past and we must understand the value of our glory,” he maintained.
NRI Rashid Shaikh, who was guest of honor, requested Naik to open more branches of his Islamic International School (IIS) while Mohammad Ahsan Nadwi, president of the alumni association, focused on the work of Rahmatullah Kairanvi, a Sunni Muslim scholar and author who is best known for his grand work Izhar ul-Haqq.
Nadwa alumni association convener Akhtar-ul-Islam Siddiqui moderated the program and proposed the vote of thanks.