Ismail ibn Musa Menk
Ismail Menk (Ismail ibn Musa Menk) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Title | Mufti |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 27 June 1975[1] |
| Nationality | Zimbabwean |
| Alma mater | Islamic University of Madinah |
| Senior posting | |
| Awards | KSBEA 2015 Awards for Social Guidance, 2015 |
| Parent | Sheikh Musa Menk |
| Website | Official website |
Ismail ibn Musa Menk, also known as Mufti Menk (born on 27 June 1975), is a Muslim cleric and Grand Mufti of Zimbabwe.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
Mufti Ismail Musa Menk was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. He was tutored by his father who is a well known scholar .
He is the Head of the Fatwa Department of The Council of Islamic Scholars of Zimbabwe known as Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe. He is also one of the Muaththins and an Imaam at Masjid Al Falaah in Harare.
Mufti Menk has been on many speaking engagements and lecture tours around the globe.
He contributes regularly towards the Islamic content of various media networks and is an experienced social worker and counsellor. He enjoys spending time with the underprivileged, lending a helping hand and teaching them.
Each year, during the holy month of Ramadhan , he spends time with a far away community, disseminating the teachings of Islam. His work is all done solely for the Pleasure of the Almighty without any remuneration or financial rewards. There are no copyrights, no charges, no royalties, no patents and no cost involved to invite him.[2]
Work
He works for the Zimbabwe Council of Islamic Scholars (Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe), which caters to the educational needs of the Muslim population of Zimbabwe. Menk is known especially in eastern Africa and also teaches internationally.[3] He has pledged his aid in curbing religious extremism in the Maldives.[4]
Top 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world
Dr Mufti Ismail Menk of Zimbabwe is one of the most prominent and prolific Islamic scholars today. Having studied Shariah in Madinah, [5] [6] He also holds a Doctorate of Social Guidance from Aldersgate University
Humanitarian
The scholar is loved by millions across the globe who know him for his balanced approach, deep knowledge, wisdom and wit. He also engages in humanitarian and educational activities in Zimbabwe and lectures internationally. Mufti Menk has a very strong social media presence and inspires people from all walks of life to do good, help others and reach out to humanity while preparing for the Hereafter. He is outspoken against terrorism, extremism, intolerance and injustice.[7]
Anti Terrorism
He is known to be against all form of terrorism warning all humans against all types of extremism. he says in one of his talks, "Islam does not teach the killing of innocent people, it does not teach the killing of children and women"[8]
Controversy concerning views on homosexuality
The Huffington Post has described Menk as an "openly homophobic Islamic preacher" who has denounced gay people as "filthy".[9] In 2013, he was due to visit six British universities – Oxford, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Cardiff and Glasgow – but the speaking tour was cancelled after student unions and university officials expressed concern about his views.[10] Menk's controversial statement included these words: "How can you engage in acts of immorality with the same sex?... The Qur'an clearly says it is wrong what you are doing... Allah speaks about how filthy this is... With all due respect to the animals, [homosexuals] are worse than animals."[11] In a retraction, Menk has subsequently stated that he based these comments on a "misguided notion" and that he is not at all homophobic.[12][13]
Ban from Singapore
On 31 October 2017, Singapore banned Menk from its borders because it believes he expresses views incompatible with its multicultural laws and policies. According to the Straits Times, he has asserted that "it is blasphemous for Muslims to greet believers of other faiths during festivals such as Christmas or Deepavali". Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement that its decision to reject Menk's application for a short-term work pass stemmed from his "segregationist and divisive teachings".[14] [15]
The Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Menk’s own institution, released a statement to express "regret and dismay" regarding the ban. It said that Menk was an "asset to multi‐cultural, multi‐religious Zimbabwe" and that viewers should "listen to his sermons in full" and not "edited clips of a few minutes" to see the moderate path he has chosen. [16]
Author of Motivational Moments
Motivational Moments is a compilation of 500 of the best quotes by Mufti Menk; the most popular quotes liked or shared by his followers, from his Facebook and Twitter accounts.
His empowering words instil hope and patience in people across the globe daily. They have been translated into many languages[17]
Tolerance
He talks about “Tolerance, Togetherness & Islam” at Zayed Bin Mohammed Family Gathering delivered on 19th of January 2018 [18]
Awards and recognition
- Menk was honoured with an Honorary Doctorate of Social Guidance by Aldersgate College, Philippines and its collaborative partner Aldersgate College – Dublin, Ireland on 16 April 2016.[19]
- KSBEA 2015 Awards - Global Leadership Award in Social Guidance was awarded by the Cochin Herald.[20] [21]
References
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Cochin Heraldwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "muslimmotto". muslimmotto. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ "Mufti Ismail Menk". themuslim 500.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Menk pledges aid in curbing religious extremism in Maldives". Mihaaru. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ he has a whole string of accolades to his name. Among them, one of “The Top 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World” since 2010.
- ^ Mind, Kind. "The Muslim 500". Administration of Religious Affairs. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ "Points to Ponder". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Islam Condems Terrorisim". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Liverpool University Agreed To Host Islamic Preacher Ismail Menk, Who Says Gays Are 'Filthy' (POLL)". The Huffington Post UK. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Universities cancel Muslim cleric's speaking tour over concerns about his anti-gay views". The Independent. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ "Liverpool University Agreed To Host Islamic Preacher Ismail Menk, Who Says Gays Are 'Filthy'". The Huffington Post, 11 November 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
- ^ "Mufti Menk: On the issue of LGBT'". [Cochin Herald], 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 Jan 2017.
- ^ "Retraction on the issue of LGBT'". Mufti Menk Official Website, 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 Jan 2017.
- ^ "Singapore bans Mufti Menk from entering country". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ Tham Yuen-C, Assistant Political Editor. "2 foreign Islamic preachers barred from entering Singapore for religious cruise". Straights Times. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ "STATEMENT BY Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe MUZ (Council of Islamic Scholars) on the Mufti Menk issue" (PDF). Mufti Menk. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "motivational moments". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Tolerance, Togetherness & Islam". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "MUFTI ISMAIL MENK HONORED". Aldersgate College. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "4th KSBEA 2015 Global Leadership Award 2015 Winners" (PDF). The Times of India. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ "4th KSBEA 2015 Global Leadership Award 2015 Winners". Cochin Herald. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
External links
