Harbhajan Singh calls out Inzamam ul Haq's 'nasha' for saying he once wanted to convert to Islam

Former Pakistani captain Inzamam ul Haq revealed that Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh once told him that he wanted to convert to Islam after listening to Maulana Tariq Jameel’s (Islamic preacher) sermons when the Indian cricket team was in Pakistan.

However, Harbhajan has outrightly denied saying anything like this, charging Inzamam for lying.

What’s the matter

• In a viral video, doing the rounds on the micro-blogging website X (formerly Twitter), Inzamam ul Haq is seen saying that Harbhajan was inspired by Maulana Tariq Jameel’s lectures.

  Inzamam ul Haq revealed how Harbhajan Singh was close to converting to Islam after meeting Maulana Tariq Jameel, who used to come over and read Namaz with the Pakistan Cricket Team. https://t.co/EfuLLH68Fu pic.twitter.com/eQAXvrP7cI

  — Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) November 14, 2023

• “Maulana Tariq Jameel would come to lead the Maghrib prayers and after that, he would talk to us. We had also called Indian players like Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan and Mohammed Kaif for the prayers. 2-4 Indian players would also come, though they didn’t read Namaz,” Inzamam said. 
• He further said, “So one day, Harbhajan said to me, Ye jo aadmi hai na (Tariq Jameel), mera dil karta hai mai iski baat maan loon, (My heart says that I abide by the teachings of this man),” Inzamam quoted Harbhajan.
• Further, Inzamam said, “ You can listen to him, what’s wrong.” Inzamam then quoted Harbhajan as saying that the cricketer hesitated because Inzamam’s own life was not under Islamic principles.

Harbhajan reacts sharply

Harbhajan Singh took a serious note of this and blasted Inzamam for lying.  Harbhajan wrote on his X account, “Yeh Kon sa nasha pee kar baat kar raha hai? I am proud Indian and proud Sikh..yeh Bakwas log kuch bhe bakte hai,”

Yeh kon sa nasha pee kar baat kar raha hai ? I am a proud Indian and proud Sikh..yeh Bakwaas log kuch bi bakte hai 😡😡😡🤬🤬 https://t.co/eo6LN5SmWk

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 14, 2023

Why did Inzamam share the anecdote?

• Inzamam ul Haq was sharing the anecdote to tell the people about how Muslims mainly in Pakistan have been led astray and have distanced themselves from the Islamic teachings.
• It’s not just Harbhajan, Inzamam ul Haq also in another clip of the same lecture has spoken about how former West Indian cricketer, Brian Lara was once invited by Mohammed Yousuf to learn Islam. 

  That time when Mohammad Yousuf, who himself converted to Islam from Christianity, tried to convert Brian Lara to Islam during a test match in Karachi.
  
  Inzamam ul Haq himself spoke about it during a speech. pic.twitter.com/tAttHyZgun

  — Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) November 14, 2023

• Inzamam after having retired from cricket in 2007, mainly has based his life on Islamic principles, and his talks are heavily inspired by it.
• Inzamam is basically following the 'Tableeghi Jamaat' where calling people to learn about Islam is considered a basic duty.
• The former cricketer is also at the centre of the storm after Pakistan’s poor performance in the World Cup and has already stepped down from his post of Chief selector.