Recently, a discussion took place between lyricist Javed Akhtar and Mufti Shamail Nadvi on the topic “Does God Exist?”. After this discussion, claims began circulating on social media alleging that several Hindu families were inspired by Mufti Shamail Nadvi and converted to Islam. Many users claimed that 11 Hindu families visited Mufti Shamil Nadvi’s Wahhyan Foundation in Kolkata and accepted Islam.
One user wrote:
“Through Mufti Shamail Nadvi, who gained fame overnight, Allah granted 11 Hindu families the opportunity to accept Islam. Atheist Javed Akhtar, whom no one had ever defeated in any debate till now, was exposed in a two-hour-long debate held in Delhi, attended by thousands of people from all religions and watched live across the world. In front of Mufti Shamail Nadvi’s excellent style and strong arguments, Javed Akhtar was exposed before the entire world to such an extent that he was left with no answers. In the end, Mufti Shamail Nadvi was declared victorious. According to media reports, in the Indian city of Kolkata, 11 Hindu families willingly accepted Islam by visiting Mufti Shamail Nadvi’s institution.”
Apart from this, several users shared similar claims in the Urdu language, stating that 11 Hindu families converted to Islam after being inspired by Mufti Shamail Nadvi, which can be seen here and here.
Fact Check:
To verify the viral claim, the DFRAC team reviewed Mufti Shamail Nadvi’s social media handles. We found an official clarification addressing the claims being circulated on social media. In this clarification, issued on the letterhead of the Wahyain Foundation, it was stated: “False claim about 11 Hindu families accepting Islam: The claim that 11 Hindu families visited the Wahyain Foundation and accepted Islam is false. No such incident occurred, and this information is completely fabricated.”
The clarification further stated, “Claims about specific numbers of people converting to Islam: Different numbers are being circulated regarding people accepting Islam. At present, we do not have any verified or authentic data to confirm such figures. Therefore, we neither confirm nor deny these claims.”
Our team also contacted Mufti Shamail Nadvi for further clarification. He told us:
“False news is circulating claiming that 11 Hindu families visited my foundation and accepted Islam after the debate. This claim is completely false and has no basis in fact. No non-Muslim has ever visited my foundation to accept Islam, and no such incident has taken place. My foundation is dedicated solely to education and social welfare and does not engage in any political or other activities.”
Conclusion:
DFRAC’s fact check clearly shows that the claim about 11 Hindu families converting to Islam at Mufti Shamail Nadvi’s Wahyain Foundation is fake. The Wahyain Foundation has termed these reports fake and fabricated.
