Reference: Asim Iqbal , http://asimiqbal.2.googlepages.com/" target=_blank _element_extended_="true -  

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25960&Itemid=146" target=_blank _element_extended_="true - Peace TV Reaching 50 million viewers- Dr Zakir Naik (Reference link)

Peace TV Reaching 50 Million Viewers � Dr. Zakir Naik

Friday, 23 February 2007

By Syed Neaz Ahmad
The Saudi Gazette 

MAKKAH 
Prominent comparative religion scholar and media personality, Dr Zakir Abdul Karim Naik was in Makkah to perform �Umrah last Tuesday. Saudi Gazette had an opportunity to discuss with him the contemporary situation in the Islamic world, the viewers� response to now one-year-old Peace TV, and future multi-media programs and Islamic Research Foundation.

Asked about the response received from Peace TV viewers, Dr Zakir said that so far the response has been overwhelming. Peace TV was officially launched in January 2006 by Dubai-based Global Broadcasting Corporation. Dr. Zakir Naik and Peace TV featured in a special feature in the Newsweek magazine last year. Many considered the international focus as a kind of �recognition� by the Western media.

However, Dr. Zakir said that with high quality graphics, professional presentation and interesting programs of lectures and question-answer sessions Peace TV has made a niche for itself in the domain of Islamic Channels within a very short time. �We are reaching some 50 million viewers worldwide. In addition to PAS 10 we are also on Arab Satellite.� Asked how his multi-lingual programs on Peace TV were being received in the Arab World, Dr. Zakir said: �We are surprised that in addition to English so many in the Gulf and the Middle East understand Urdu as well.� Currently the format of telecast is some 75 percent English and the rest in Urdu. Programs include lectures, debates, symposiums, talks, phone-in and children programs.

Future plans include launch of a separate channel in Urdu, English and Chinese. When asked: Why Chinese? Dr. Zakir said: �Because Chinese speakers outnumber others. Moreover there are many Muslims among the Chinese and then there is a desire to know about Islam among the Chinese speakers. But that might take a few years.�  Asked if there were plans to launch radio broadcast as it is less costly and makes less demands on listeners� time & attention span, Dr. Zakir said that Peace TV can soon be heard � rather seen - through satellite in far flung areas where picture signals are not available.

Plans are also at hand to launch an international magazine in English that will provide a platform to the conscientious persons living in the West � not necessarily Muslims � whose ideas and opinions do not get printed in their countries for various reasons. �There are a lot of people who want to speak, tell the truth but for this or that reason never get an opportunity or find an outlet,� said Dr. Zakir.

�As yet we do not telecast commercial advertising but there are a lot of organizations that do want to advertise on Peace TV. However, our rates are high and our advertising codes are very strict. We will only telecast �halal� advertisements. We�re negotiating with some companies.� With little or no advertising the launch, survival and development of Peace TV is a tribute to the support it is getting from well-heeled Muslims around the world. �We spent around $4 million at the time of launch and the monthly operating cost is in excess of $250,000. Alhamdolillah, with Allah�s help and support from brothers & sisters we have been able to achieve all this in a very short time. Soon we will go on BskyB and will be able to beam our programs throughout Western Europe and the Americas, Insha� Allah.�

Dr. Zakir is confident that Peace TV�s broadcasts are destined to spread the message of Islam and help bring peace round the world.

Muslim Scholar ( Dr Zakir Naik ) Seeks Debate With the Pope

Friday, 29 September 2006

By Shahid Ali Khan
The Saudi Gazette 

RIYADH
EMINENT scholar of comparative religion Dr. Zakir Naik has invited Pope Benedict XVI for an open inter-faith dialogue.

The Pope�s recent statement, which included a quote from a 14th century Byzantine emperor, sparked outrage in the Muslim world.

In his latest efforts to calm down the Muslim anger the Pope invited diplomats from 20 Islamic countries at his summer residence in south of Rome.

This extraordinary gathering was seen as the latest effort by Benedict XVI to quell the furor stirred two weeks ago by controversial remarks he made about Islam. He is attempting to channel the emotion into what he calls an authentic and respectful dialogue.

Dr. Naik sees the Pope�s statement on Islam as pre-planned. �He (the Pope) knew very well what he was speaking at University of Regensburg in Germany on September 12,� he said.

�The Pope�s apology to the Muslims was at all not an apology rather it was putting salt on the wounds,� said Dr. Naik, adding that the Pope should have explicitly apologized and retracted his statement.

Benedict XVI seems to be toeing the same line of neo-con as that of President George Bush, he said.

Dr. Naik said if the Pope wants to initiate an authentic dialogue then he is more than willing to participate in such an inter-faith debate.

�I am more than willing to participate in the inter-faith dialogue with Pope Benedict XVI. I am ready on any topic he (the Pope) wishes as long as it focuses on Qur�an and the Bible,� Dr. Naik said.

He said he can go to Rome or Vatican to meet the Pope.

�I can go to Rome and to Vatican on my own expense if an Italian visa is arranged for me,� he told The Saudi Gazette Wednesday after delivering his lecture on �20 most common questions about misconceptions of Islam,� organized by Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, Wednesday and attended by a number of ambassadors, diplomatic staff and members of the Sri Lankan community.

Dr. Naik during the past three years has delivered over 600 lectures in the US and Canada.

�I am absolutely ready for an open and public debate with the pope under live international TV coverage,� he said.

Let the 1.3 billion Muslims and 2 billion Christians around the world listen to the debate based on equal slot of time allotted to both sides, he said. �It is not only a debate but also a question and answer session allowing the people to ask queries,� he said.

He said he is not in favor of closed-door meeting with the Pope, as was suggested by his predecessor Pope John Paul II, when South African-based Islamic scholar Ahmed Deedat invited him for open dialogue, he said.

�Pope John Paul told Shaikh Deedat to come to his cabin for a debate,� he said and added why does the inter-faith dialogue be held behind closed doors?

Dr. Naik said the best way to counter the onslaught on Islam is that the Muslims should have their own media.

�Unfortunately, most of the international media is controlled by the Western (lobby). Unless you (Muslims) have your own media they (Westernerns) can very conveniently convert black into white, day into night, a hero into a villain and a villain into a hero,� he said.

Dr. Naik, who has launched his own religious satellite channel called Peace TV, said Muslims do have their own media but what he meant by international media is similar to the Time and Newsweek and TV channels such as the BBC and CNN, when Muslims can project their views and convey the message in right perspective. �I have a future plan to launch a news channel,� he said.

He said there are at least 100 Muslims that he knew, who can take such an initiative and launch at least 10 satellite channels. People should not wait for Muslims organizations such as IIRA or OIC to take steps in this direction, he said.

�Any individual businessman can take the initiative if Muslim bodies such as OIC or IIRA are not coming forward in this direction,� he said.

Dr. Naik has also endorsed former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Muhamamd�s views that the Muslims should stop to operate US dollar-denominated bank accounts. �I have been preaching (that) Muslims should stop dealing in dollar,� he said.

He also called on the Muslim world to launch an Islamic currency to counter dealing in dollar. Muslim countries should not peg their currencies to the dollar. �By that time the individuals and businessmen should stop dealing in dollar,� he said.

He said he has been mobilizing the people wherever he goes asking them not to keep dollar accounts or even the currency. The moment you exchange dollars you simply convert that amount with any currency such as riyal, dirham, dinar or be it yen or euro �but not to keep in dollar-denomination account,� he said. 

Dr Zakir Naik speaks on Tolerance towards Non-Muslims

Tolerance Toward the Non-Muslims

Friday, 27 October 2006

By Dr. Zakir Naik
ISLAM extends tolerance to human beings in general, regardless of their religion, race, caste, color or creed. Allah Almighty addresses Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Qur�an: �We sent you not but as a mercy for all creatures.� (21:107)

One of the aspects of mercy is tolerance, so was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) tolerant to all people. Islam extends tolerance to human beings in general, regardless of their religion, race, caste, color, creed and sex and sees to it that this quality is instilled in all the followers of Islam.

Most human beings possess the characteristic of being kind to those who are weak, to those who are oppressed. However, very few possess the quality of being kind to their enemies. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) possessed this quality to a surprising degree. History bears witness to this fact.

After the conquest of Makkah, Muslims were in a position to treat the non-Muslims of Makkah with the same ill-treatment they had been receiving from the non-Muslims earlier. These Makkan non-Muslims included those who for years had plotted against Muslims and ultimately had them migrate from Makkah to Madinah. They also included those who had made an economic and social boycott against Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his tribe for three years, which caused him to live in starvation. They included Wahshi, the murderer of Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet�s uncle and also included Hind who had chewed Hamza�s liver. They included Habar, who had attacked the Prophet�s daughter with a spear during her journey from Makkah to Madinah, which caused her succumb to fatal injuries. What treatment did these non-Muslims receive from the Muslims?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked them: �O people of Quraish! What do you think of the treatment that I am about to accord to you?� They replied: �O noble brother and son of noble brother! We expect nothing but goodness from you.� Upon this he said: �I speak to you in the same words as Yusuf (Prophet Joseph) spoke unto his brothers: He said: �No reproach on you this day�, (Qur�an, 12:92) go your way for you are freed ones.� History has not witnessed since a better example of tolerance and forgiveness.

Certain critics of Islam allege that Muslims are �intolerant�. Yes Muslims are intolerant toward injustice, toward oppression, toward tyranny, toward hatred, and toward anti-social elements of society. At the same time, Muslims are tolerant toward kindness, toward love, toward mercy, toward justice and peace. Says Allah in the Qur�an: �There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer and All-Knower. (Al-Qur�an 2:256)

Some non-Muslims harbor a misconception that had it not been for intolerance toward non-Muslims and the use of sword against the non-Mulsims, Muslims wouldn�t have had millions of adherents today. An objective and unbiased study of history will lead one to affirm the fact that far from Islam being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam. Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years; if the Muslims wanted they could have forced every non-Muslim to accept Islam at the point of the sword, but they were tolerant. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly call out the adhan, i.e. the call for prayers. Muslims were the rulers of Arabia for 1,400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1,400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. These Arab Christians are bearing witness that the Muslims were tolerant and did not spread Islam by the sword. Had the Muslims been intolerant, there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian. The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. They had power of being intolerant to the non-Muslims but today more than 80 percent of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Muslims were tolerant and that they didn�t force their religion at the point of sword.

Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, �Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?� Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if it was due to intolerance and the use of sword, �Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?�

The noted historian De Lacy O�Leary responds to this popular myth in the book �Islam at the Crossroad� (Page 8):

 ï¿½History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.�

The much awaited talk by Dr. Zakir Naik on the topic

�Is Terrorism a Muslim monopoly?�

Took place in Mumbai in front of a jam packed crowd, at the Shanmukhananda auditorium on 11th Sept 2006. He also gave a similar lecture at http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&ion=0&article=87230&d=27&m=9&y=2006&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom" target=_blank _element_extended_="true - Jeddah in the last week of September, 2006 . The stage was set for Dr. Zakir Naik to present his much needed views on this important topic.Dr. Zakir Naik said that historic records proved that a large number of terrorist acts in the 20th and 21st century were committed by non-Muslims. The so-called global phenomenon of �Islamic terrorism/militant Islam� was a creation of the western governments and their media outlets, he said.�Politics lies at the heart of labeling Muslims across the globe as perpetrators of terror acts,� he added. Dr. Zakir, who is one of the Muslim world�s leading and most prolific speakers, quoted from the scriptures of other religions and proved that associating killing with Islam is incorrect.�It says in the Book of Numbers that whoever worships other than God should be killed,� he said, referring to the Bible, yet such militant verses were conveniently ignored by the Western media. ï¿½In every religion there are black sheep and the media keep putting these people forward. This is a media conspiracy and a way of pushing people away from Islam.� he added.On Islam, terrorists and terrorismDr. Zakir Naik said, �No religion encourages terrorist acts or violence. The word �Islam� itself means �Peace, obtained by submitting yourself to the Almighty�. Anyone, be it Muslim or non-Muslim, who kills an innocent Muslim or a non-Muslim, kills the entire humanity. However, Islam goes a step further to say that if one saves innocent lives, the whole of humanity is saved. Injustice is the root cause of terrorism��He continued, �Palestinians are called terrorists just because they are fighting to get their land back.� By citing examples of LTTE (in Sri Lanka), IRA (in UK), Lord�s Salvation Army, which trains the young children to conduct terrorist attacks, and many other non-Muslim terrorist outfits he further said that, the lives claimed by these outfits are more than the ones by the Muslim terrorists.Dr. Zakir said Naxalites/Maoists across India and the LTTE in Sri Lanka were non- Muslim terror organisations, which had had developed pan regional bases beyond national boundaries. Other such non-Muslim terror outfits included the United Liberation Front of Asom, National Democratic Front of Bodoland and All Tripura Tiger Force in the Northeast, Naik noted.
Drawing on international examples, Dr. Zakir said that the Japanese Red Army, Lord�s Salvation Army and the ETA in Spain were also non-Islamic in character and composition.  ï¿½So nothing is more removed from truth as to suggest that Muslims have monopolized terrorism,� said Dr. Naik. He said the Irish Republican Army, which was considered to be terrorist group, has a history of 100 years of violence against the British, but the British government doesn�t seem to be scared about them as they are about radical Islamic groups.Besides, he also mentioned, �Even a single killing by a Muslim is condemned by Islam, whatsoever the reasons.�