Rumor – Islamic pastor Zakir Naik got into a taxi in London, asked the driver to turn off the radio, and received an ironic and offensive response from the taxi driver.
Analysis
A controversial and ironic story has been circulating on various online platforms. According to the claim, “Islamic pastor Zakir Naik” allegedly asked a London taxi driver to turn off the radio, arguing that the Quran forbids music.
In response, the taxi driver supposedly made a sarcastic remark and kicked the preacher out of the vehicle. Read the message circulating on the internet:
Islamic pastor Zakir Naik got into a taxi in London and loudly told the driver: “Brother, please turn off the radio, because as the Holy Quran instructs, I am forbidden to listen to music, as there was no music during the Prophet’s time, especially Western music, which is the music of disbelievers.” The taxi driver politely turned off the radio, stopped the taxi, and opened the door. Zakir asked him, “Brother, what are you doing?”
The taxi driver politely responded: “During the Prophet’s time, there were no taxis, no bombs, no theft, no loudspeakers in mosques waking up children, the elderly, or the sick, no suicide attacks, no AK-556s; in short, there was peace everywhere… So, go f*** yourself, shut the hell up, get out of my car, and wait for your camel.”
Fact-check
The content has been shared on social media as an alleged criticism of Islam, but there is no concrete evidence proving the authenticity of the dialogue. Let’s analyze the truth of this story by answering three questions: 1) Who is Zakir Naik? 2) Is the story about “Islamic pastor Zakir Naik” in a London taxi real? 3) Are there other xenophobic fake news stories against Muslims?
Who is Zakir Naik?
Zakir Naik is an Indian Islamic preacher known for his lectures on Islam and for promoting interfaith debates. He is not a “pastor,” a term used in Christian traditions, which already points to a basic error in the story. Additionally, Zakir Naik has a highly monitored public presence, and there are no records in reliable sources about the alleged taxi incident in London.
Is the story about “Islamic pastor Zakir Naik” in a London taxi real?
There is no evidence or record that this conversation ever took place. The narrative is only found in social media posts and unreliable websites, without any concrete proof. The exaggerated and offensive tone of the account suggests it is a piece of disinformation aimed at reinforcing negative stereotypes against Muslims. Like other fake news, the absence of verifiable sources strengthens the conclusion that the story is false.
Are there other xenophobic fake news stories against Muslims?
Yes, false stories with prejudiced content against Muslims frequently circulate on the internet. For example, there was a false claim that the mayor of Nuoro, Italy, responded to Muslims who requested the removal of pork from school meals. Another well-known case is the rumor that former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard wrote a letter against Muslim immigrants.
Conclusion
It is not true that Zakir Naik had a conversation with a taxi driver in London involving criticism of Islam. Besides the incorrect term “Islamic pastor,” there are no reliable records proving the incident occurred. The story reinforces stereotypes against Muslims and is similar to other fake news frequently shared on the internet.
Fake news ❌
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