Ali Sina vs Khalid Zaheer and Ghamidi

September 30, 2007 2:39 am

Last year in September, Ali Sina, an ex-Muslim, and Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, one of the leading scholars of Pakistan, were requested to engage in a debate around the criticism that Mr. Sina had launched against Islam. Both accepted the proposal with Dr. Khalid Zaheer, a former professor of Lahore University of Management Sciences and currently an academic at Al-Mawrid institute, representing Mr. Ghamidi. The debate last a few months and continued until earlier this year.

The text of the debate is quite interesting to say the least. Dr. Zaheer's premise was that Quran is the book of God, and it is only Quran and Sunnah that he would defend Islam upon. From the very beginning, he made it clear that all discussions should take place with this assumption in mind. On the other hand, while Ali Sina started off with criticism on Quran, very soon the bulk of his arguments was based on Muslim beliefs and practices and his understanding of Islam based on hadith, history, and other works on Islam.

Ali Sina boasts a reward of $50,000 to anyone who 'proves' him wrong on charges he has brought against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and 'proves' that Muhammad (pbuh) is the true messenger of God. In the beginning of the debate, Ali Sina agreed that the debate is not for polemics but for finding out the truth. But unfortunately, in the exchange that he carried with Javed Ahmed Ghamidi and Dr. Khalid Zaheer, the tone was nothing but libels against Islam, discrediting all arguments brought forth by the scholars. In addition, the arguments brought forth by the Dr. Zaheer were often not addressed and instead, derogatory charges were brought against Muslims time and again.

It is also interesting that Ali Sina held Dr. Zaheer and entire Muslim community guilty of actions of some Muslims. For instance, threats for apostasy made against Ali Sina led him to conclude that that was what Islam preached and that was what all the Muslims wanted. Irrespective of Dr. Zaheer's negation that apostasy in Islam ought not to be punished, Ali Sina not only insisted upon it but also concluded that all Muslims are, in fact, simply mendacious. Obviously, any debate which accuses the other party of lies when they present their opinion is not quite a debate rather merely an invective. Such was the tone on which this discussion ended.

Comments

This problem has been created due to the wrong explanations of Islam that a westernized mind doesn't accept true Islam but it insists that misinterpreted Islam which is definitely draconian is the real one. In the words of Allama Rashid Raza, "we can serve Islam best by telling the world that we are not Muslims."

— Zafar Hussain, Pakistan

(Posted on Oct 27, 2007 4:21 pm)

Ali Sina's entire website is filled with anti-Islamic diatribe, and he has been too accustomed to defaming Islam, without looking for objective answers and without having a consistent thought basis. Ali Sina is a liability for the Anti-Islamic movement and his constant rants do nothing to help his cause whatsoever. Ali Sina should also stop making himself the judge of his debates and he should stop arrogantly claiming victory after each discussion.

Instead of finding objective answers, his debates have become a "mouse-trap" situation, he continuosly tries to trap the Muslims, and his red herring waffles really are repetetive.

— Habil Zubair, Qatar

(Posted on Dec 7, 2007 5:50 pm)

The debate between Ali Sina and Ghamidi/Zaheer was about Islam and whether this religion is true or false. It is expected that an opponent of Islam should criticize it. To say such criticism constitutes libel is absurd. That debate is worth reading.

— Javed Iqbal, UK

(Posted on Dec 30, 2007 4:20 am)

Ali Sina is the biggest liar and loser in the history of Islamic critics because he is invited many times to debate with Dr.Zakir Naik, but he rejects that.

The reason is simple may be he was not a Muslim before and is just part of Anti Islamic organization who uses this tactic to put doubt Muslims.

But the truth is that they will never EXTINGUISH Islam that's the promise of Allah (swt) no matter what they say against it !

Their intention is to extinguish God's Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But God will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it). [The Holy Quran 061:008]

— Muslim, America

(Posted on Feb 28, 2008 2:52 am)

I am a new convert to Islam and the more I hear and read about people who support faithfreedom, the more I believe in the Judgment day.

— Mark Gospel, London

(Posted on Mar 19, 2008 1:03 pm)

I read the entire debate and was extremely impressed by Ali Sina. His opponents were polite, but could rarely respond logically to Mr. Sina. I believe the truth of who won the debate can be demonstrated by the fact that FFI has been banned in Pakistan. This ban substantiates the fact that Muslims can not tolerate criticism and therefore do everything they can to block their own people from seeing another side if that side is critical of Islam or Muslims. Nevertheless, I am certain that the truth of Islam and its so-called prophet will get out one way or another. I shall email that debate to all of my friends here whether Muslim or non-Muslim.

— Alexandria Morgan, USA

(Posted on Jun 7, 2008 4:58 pm)

I am an Ex-Muslim. Of course if you can find me, the Koran gives you the permission to slit my throat. I read the 200+ pages of the discussion that Sina had with the Pakistani scholars, and according to me the Parkistani scholars were not able to provide answers to any of the Islamic issues raised by Sina.

— HPyroli, Kashmir, India

(Posted on Jun 7, 2008 5:11 pm)

Religion, almost any religion makes a person almost unreasonable. When you look at Dr Khalid Zaheer you could never imagine that this gentlemen can defend a most heinous and indiscriminate killing of a people and making slaves of their remaining women and children. But this so called 'Doctor' defended the annihilation of Bani Qurayza by Mohammad in these words in a Pakistani television programme called 'safre hidayet' (path of enlightment), "Bani Qurayza were not killed by Prophet Mohammed, they were killed by Allah. Allah wanted to teach them a lesson for going against Mohammad and therefore he told Mohammad to stay out of it and He taught them a lesson through one of their own, called Sad bin Muadh, who decided as Allah wished". Any person with an iota of morality can tell that this person who looks as pious as Dr Rowan Williams is almost evil. Pakistani nation will suffer as long as they keep believing the lies of Islam. They need to read their scriptures objectively and decide to either leave islam or alter it drastically.

— Omar, UK

(Posted on Aug 19, 2008 11:31 am)