When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I came across Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza, and like many others, I became a fan of his lectures and style. Over time, however, my view of him changed significantly, and he no longer holds the same place in my estimation. Here are the main reasons, based on my personal observations:
- His comments on the Iron Dome seemed to distance himself from the Muslim Ummah
During a live session with a questioner from Jerusalem (a Muslim), he remarked something along the lines of “the Iron Dome saved even Muslims, as we were told…” while discussing Iran’s missile strikes being intercepted by Israel’s defense system. Regardless of whether the factual point holds any validity, my issue is with the phrasing and tone—he spoke about “Muslims” as if he were separate from them. Mockery or sarcasm directed at “those people” typically comes from someone positioning themselves outside the group. By framing it that way, he appeared to exclude himself from the Ummah, especially at a moment when Muslims were united on one side of the issue. - He has encouraged Palestinians to leave Gaza/Palestine
While I don’t have the exact clip in mind, his general stance on the matter struck me as one of defeatism or cowardice—suggesting relocation to other Muslim countries rather than steadfast resistance or staying on their land despite the hardships. - He discourages participation in the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement
The BDS campaign has proven to be a meaningful form of non-violent pressure in many contexts. Yet he argues against it, claiming things like: “At least you’re getting quality food/products thanks to their franchises,” or “The franchise owners are often local Pakistanis/Muslims, so boycotting would only cause them financial loss.” This reasoning feels like it undermines collective action for the sake of short-term individual convenience. - He appears generally opposed to moments when Muslims show unity
Whenever Muslims come together in a cause—whether through boycotts, showing support for a particular scholar, or celebrating a positive development—he tends to downplay or criticize it. For example, when many Muslims expressed happiness or pride over Mufti Shumail Nadvi’s debate performance (e.g., against Javed Akhtar), he diminished its significance by bringing up sectarian (firqa) differences instead of acknowledging the broader positive impact. - His approach toward LGBT issues and liberalism feels overly softened
In various discussions, his tone comes across as lenient or accommodating toward liberal/modernist ideas in these areas—almost like using “RGB lights” to soften a traditionally firm Islamic stance, rather than clearly upholding classical positions. - When epstein files exposed every modern western ideals, engineer mirza diminised its importance