By Saikou Suwareh Jabai
In his lecture at the University of The Gambia (UTG) Law Faculty on Saturday,
11 October 2014, Dr. Zakir Naik, the renown Islamic scholar and founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has said that one of the best forms of jihad is to speak the truth against a tyrant ruler.
He was speaking at the public lecture on the theme ‘Terrorism and Jihad’ which was attended by the Vice President, Madam Isatou Njie Saidy, cabinet ministers, senior government officials, academia and members of the general public.
Dr. Zakir, who is in the Gambia as one of the guests to grace the 20 years anniversary of the APRC government, started by thanking president Yahya Jammeh for inviting him to The Gambia, a visit he has been yearning for in the past months.
He said some non-Muslims and so-called Muslims misconstrue the meaning of the word Jihad by defining it as a ‘holy war’. He said jihad does not mean a holy war but rather to ‘strive and struggle in order to make a better society’. He said Muslims should strive and struggle by using the teachings of the holy Quran and the hadith of the Prophet, adding that Islam is a peaceful religion as the word itself means peace in the Arabic language.
The Indian born Islamic scholar said the best form of jihad in this generation is ‘Dawaa’, meaning spreading the word of Allah and the prophet to the people. This, he said, prompted the establishment of his high profiled Islamic television called Peace TV which, he said, has a fast growing audience around the world.
Dr. Naik condemns terrorist groups who fight and kill innocent lives in the name of Islam or jihad, adding that Islam does not direct any person to kill any innocent soul. He added that murder is the second biggest sin in Islam.
He said comparative religion vividly blames the western media for describing Muslims as extremists and fundamentalists. He said as far as he is concern, he is a fundamentalist in Islam and an extremist in being kind, just, faithful and loving.
He commended the UTG for initiating the School of Journalism which, he added, would help to equip Muslims who will speak about Islam.
Dr. Naik, who is a medical doctor by profession, advised his fellow Muslims to be mindful of Satan and to live the life of a true Muslim.
He was also scheduled to lecture on ‘Religion in the Right Perspective’ on Sunday at the Paradise Suites Hotel and he is expected to do a series of other lectures before leaving The Gambia.]]>
