‘Nexus’ Book Given as Gift to Hafizs: Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat Expresses Strong Anger and Condemnation

International Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat Bangladesh has strongly condemned and expressed anger over the presentation of Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, written by controversial author Yuval Noah Harari, as a gift at a ceremony honoring the Hafizs who achieved international success. The book was provided by the Prime Minister’s Office.

In a statement sent to the media on September 19, the organization’s Secretary General, Maulana Muhiuddin Rabbani, said the Prime Minister’s initiative to honor the internationally successful Hafizs and recognize their achievements at the state level was highly commendable. However, he said that in a country where 92 percent of the population is Muslim, the content of the book and the author’s views should have been properly considered before selecting a book as a gift for such a prestigious ceremony.

The statement further said that various writings and statements by Yuval Noah Harari are directly at odds with Islamic creed, religious beliefs and morality. It said the Holy Quran describes homosexuality as highly reprehensible and a transgression. Therefore, the organization said, selecting a book by this author as a gift for Quran memorizers was inappropriate. Even if the decision was made without the Prime Minister’s knowledge, the organization said it was necessary to investigate whether there had been a lack of proper scrutiny by the officials concerned. It also called for an investigation into whose advice was followed and what kind of vetting was conducted before the decision was made.

In light of the situation, International Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat Bangladesh has placed four demands before the government. First, the roles of the officials at the Prime Minister’s Office involved in selecting the book must be reviewed and investigated. Second, the distributed books must be withdrawn and replaced with appropriate and acceptable Islamic religious books as gifts for the Hafizs. Third, a screening mechanism or special committee should be formed for selecting gifts or publications for future government Islamic events and ceremonies honoring religious figures. Fourth, the country’s religious values, culture and the sentiments of its people must be duly considered when organizing religious events at the state level.

The Secretary General said those concerned must play a responsible role so that the noble initiative to honor the internationally successful Hafizs is not called into question because of any undesirable decision. At the same time, he called on people committed to tawhid at all levels to remain aware and responsible in protecting faith, Islamic values and the country’s religious heritage.