I am very glad to know that Dr. Zakir Naik has thrown an open challenge to the Pope Benedict XVI. I agree with Dr. Naik that pope Benedict knows very well what he is talking about. In the quran Allah said "And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is). (2:42)" and "Do ye enjoin right conduct on the people, and forget (to practice it) yourselves, and yet ye study the Scripture? Will ye not understand?"(2:44.). Actually the fact is they know the truth very well. Allah informed us about them in the Quran "Those to whom We have given the Book know this as they know their own sons. Those who have lost their own souls refuse therefore to believe".(6:20). Being the spiritual leader and perhaps a scholar in Bible (one of the major divine revelations) and history the pope Benedict XVI knows very well what is the truth is and who is distorting the truth. The people who care for truth, beauty, peace and harmony and believe in one God should come forward to face united these distorters of truth and trouble makers. As we are commanded in the Quran by Allah to stand united against this group of people who ascribe falsehood to Allah and his Messengers (Peace be upon all of them). Let�s remind us that verse of the Quran where Allah says, �The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year)- so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred: that is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves therein. And fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together. But know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves. (9:36)

That is why I would like to request Dr. Zakir Naik to call other eminent Muslim scholars including Turkish Muslim scholar Dr. Adnan Oktar (pen name: Harun Yahya) in this historical debate with the pope Benedict XVI if it ever has been taken place by will of Allah. These distorters of the truth, evident trouble makers always think they are only trying to make peace. Allah said about them in the Quran "When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "Why, we only want to make peace!". Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not.(2:11-12). They only manifest their true color i.e color of hypocrites and unbelievers. Allah said about them in the Quran � Who doth more wrong than he who inventeth a lie against Allah or rejecteth His Sings? But verily the wrong-doers never shall prosper.�(6:21)  I would like to conclude my comments on this issue by saying that the mocking to Islam and the prophets or utter lies about Islam and its messengers is not a new phenomenon. Allah informed us in the Quran "But never came a messenger to them but they mocked him.(15:11)" And Allah consoles us saying "Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship partners besides Allah. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be of great resolution."(3:186) So there we are Pope Benedict XVI, a scholar and spiritual leader of a community who are definitely the people of the book and there we are Dutch cartoonist who does not hesitate to mock even the greatest human being in the history i.e. prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The reasons of their hostility and enmity towards Islam and Muslim are very clear as it is described in the holy Quran �Say: "O people of the Book! Do ye disapprove of us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah, and the revelation that hath come to us and that which came before (us), and (perhaps) that most of you are rebellious and disobedient?" (5:59) and also because �But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto Thee as Muslims (who bow to Thy Will)!"(7:126).  But it is the high time to resist these evil hordes of people with our scholars like Dr. Zakir Naik, Dr. Harun Yahya and many more who knows best than us by the grace of Allah and let the conscience of world know what the truth is.

May Allah grant us victory over unbelievers and enemy of humanity and Islam! Amen! My salam to all my Muslim brothers and sisters.

Thanks and best regards/

Rizwana Akhter