Knowledgeable Muslims

I personally love listening to Nouman Ali Khan

Well, first of all ,it would be a bit difficult to hear about Islam and comparative religion from a muslim who doesn't lean towards Islam...because they are muslim. Many of us who came to Islam from other religions, such as myself, can talk about other religions without "bashing", however, ultimately we believe Islam is the truth and we have had a rough journey to be where we are. So, of course, it may seem biased to you. I'm sure many of us are open to talking about other religions in a civilized manner, if that is what u are wanting.

As far as learned or well versed speakers of Islam who are not Zakir Naik, the first couple of people to pop into mind are Hamza Yusuf and Yusuf Estes. They both come from other monotheistic religions though (Christianity) so, I'm not sure this is what you are wanting, since you listed your religion as pagan...

Hamza Yusuf (he has tons of work, and very very good too, this is a video of his younger days)


Yusuf Estes


- cOsMiC

Yasir Qadhi is one scholar I enjoy. I can't say how good he is compared to others but he does have quite a few credentials and does tones of lectures etc. The Deen Show has quite a few scholars and reverts coming on the show and you can see past episodes from the webpage. I am no expect on Islamic scholars but these are a few that I find most interesting. I also enjoy the videos on International Hijabi Posse which is great for Sisters, so maybe not so useful for you FreakOffALeash. Reading up on various Islamic scholars will give more insight on them I expect.

There is just so much info online, and I do agree its always good to take some with a grain of salt...so double checking sources to see if certain facts are consistent...is a good idea. I have come across a few contradictions which I try and verify on other sites and of course the Qur'an. Though what throws me often is quotes from the Qur'an in English..almost always are a little different, than my translation and sometimes even a few others. Not in any major areas, mostly in minor..little things I need to research more to get a clearer understanding. Or learn Arabic fluently.

Shaikh Zahir Mahmood. Brilliant speaker MashaAllah.
Shaikh Hassan Ali - knowledgeable and funny.

There are more but I'm short of time.

format_quote Originally Posted by cOsMiCiNtUiTiOn

Well, first of all ,it would be a bit difficult to hear about Islam and comparative religion from a muslim who doesn't lean towards Islam...because they are muslim. Many of us who came to Islam from other religions, such as myself, can talk about other religions without "bashing", however, ultimately we believe Islam is the truth and we have had a rough journey to be where we are. So, of course, it may seem biased to you. I'm sure many of us are open to talking about other religions in a civilized manner, if that is what u are wanting.

Assalamu alaikum, I agree with you that reverts to Islam, such as myself, can seem as though they 'bash' the religion they come from. I, for example, have very strong opinions about Christianity and I feel a responsibility to share my understanding of the errors in their faith as compared to Islam. I do not believe that all religions are equally valid even though some do have divine origins. It is very difficult to converse about comparative religion without 'bashing' the other religion. I try to be as diplomatic as possible, but at the same time I feel that speaking the Truth (even if it hurts) is a greater responsibility.

As far as learned or well versed speakers of Islam who are not Zakir Naik, the first couple of people to pop into mind are Hamza Yusuf and Yusuf Estes. ... Hamza Yusuf (he has tons of work, and very very good too, this is a video of his younger days)

I just purchased quite a few lectures from http://sandala.org/ by Hamza Yusuf. I am almost through 'Purification of the Heart' and find that it is very good.

I will sound like broken record but I love Abdur-Rheem green’s lectures. I know every speaker has different style, and I can understand why someone would not like certain speakers’ style, maybe they could be too harsh?
Abdur-Rheem green style is calmer, and he uses logic with presenting things but as someone commented it is very difficult not be bias. If all religion are equally valid, and they all nice and rosy then there is no need to change religion

Why must the Muslims be entertained? Since when does seeking knowledge become a fun activity? Do you think the early Islamic scholars who walked from Sham to Meccah or from Iraq to Yemen had fun? They made those travels to save themselves from the hellfire! They made those trips risking life and limb to get to know Allah and His Messenger (alayhi salam) they travelled those long distances not to be entertained but to deal with the realities of the intense realities of ferocious hellfire. This deen is not entertainment, and these individuals.that you named, not one of them are a scholar.infact the bulk of them that were mentioned have serious issues in their creed. The reality of those speakers are clear but we have become a people who love personalities over the truth even If it means rejecting what Allah says about Himself in His book or what the messenger said about Allah we would rather support those who lie on Allah and His Messenger .(alayhi salam) we would rather hear.some one who.say the Quran is not a book! or that Allah never spoke the Quran, or that Allah's names and.attributes have no reality and that you cannot say Allah has a face or hands or that Allah is neither up or down, He doesn't descend Nor has He ascended over His throne! Or lie upon the messenger of Allah saying that he and His companions were upon tasawuf (sufism). We would rather be entertained than to be taught our proper aqeedah/manhaj, we would rather be entertained by the likes of those individuals who make us feel good and make us laugh or keep us entertained. Think about it, reflect deeply, how many ayaat (verses) of the Quraan and Ahadeeth (plural of hadeeth) have you memorized from these entertainers? How many books have you benefitted from listening to their lectures? How many explanations have you gone through on this aqeedah and this manhaj from the books of the people if the past? The likes of imaam an-nawwawii in His forty hadeeth, or the sharhus Sunnah by imaam barbaharee or as-Sunnah by al- khalaal or al shareeah by shooter or umdatul ahkam by maqdisee or naylul awtar by shawkaanee and other than these beneficial books that gives us.a.true reality about the affairs of this deen. This deen isn't entertainment its about savings yourselves from the hellfire, protecting yourself from the punishments of the grave, its about believing in Allah properly the way that the Prophet (alayhi salam) and his companions believed in Allah and sticking to the Islam that they were upon not the Islam that Hamzah Yusef and Yusef Estes and Nouman Ali and Suhaib Webb and other than them are upon. this deen is not entertainment