Two prominent Muslim preachers have come under fire from activists for their comments following the US and Israeli war on Iran, which continues to spread across the region.
Ismail Ibn Musa Menk, commonly known as Mufti Menk, is regarded as one of the world’s most popular Islamic preachers. He regularly uploads sermons and motivational speeches on his YouTube channel and has amassed over 10 million followers on X.
However, a post on X dated 4 March triggered outrage online, with many calling on him to use his platform to call out injustice and the strikes on Iran, which have so far killed over 1,000 people including 165 schoolgirls and wreaked havoc on civilian infrastructure.
“When you don’t know EXACTLY what’s going on, it’s best not to say the wrong thing. Let those with a deeper understanding in that matter say what needs to be said. The Prophetic teaching to those who believe in the day of reckoning is to ‘utter what’s upright or remain silent,'” the post read.
Many interpreted the post to be about the bombing of Iran, as well as Israel’s military campaign in south Lebanon, which has seen entire neighbourhoods razed, and tens of thousands of people displaced.
Ali Abunimah, an author and the director of the Palestine news site Electronic Intifada, hit out at the post, commenting: “So instead of uttering what’s upright, you remained silent. I have never understood how so many people get taken in by fortune-cookie preachers of any religion who utter feel-good platitudes 24/7 but disappear the moment their voice could matter.”
Others demanded that he stop being neutral and comment on the events which have affected primarily Muslim populations.
“Being [a] scholar you have a duty to speak truth and stand against tyrants but you remain silent for your personal gain and enjoy [the] luxury of [the] world,” one person wrote.
When you don’t know EXACTLY what’s going on, it’s best not to say the wrong thing. Let those with a deeper understanding in that matter say what needs to be said. The Prophetic teaching to those who believe in the day of reckoning is to “utter what’s upright or remain silent”.
— Mufti Menk (@muftimenk) March 4, 2026
Some social media users appeared to defend the preacher, stating that his role is solely to speak on religious matters. However, others pointed out that his role as a Mufti, or someone who gives legal rulings, require him to analyse issues, apply Islamic law to modern problems, and issue fatwas.
“This is the kind of Islam colonizers are comfortable promoting. An Islam reduced to self-help slogans. An Islam that speaks endlessly about ‘ignoring haters’ but falls silent in the face of tyrants,” one social media user commented.
While Menk has spoken up against Israel’s genocide in Gaza which killed over 70,000 Palestinians, some have said he has failed to continue to consistently call out Israel. However, others said that shadow banning and persecution could be a reason behind his apparent toned-down comments.
Faris al-Hammadi, a UAE-based preacher who carries out live weekly classes to students, triggered outrage for his post on X, where he appeared to accuse ‘Palestinian Ikhwanis’ of being hypocrites for allegedly praising Iranian strikes on the Gulf, after receiving aid from Gulf countries amid Israel’s genocide on Gaza.
“Palestinian Ikhwanis are celebrating and mocking the attacks on the Gulf. I have rarely seen a more spineless group than this deviant movement; subhan Allah. Some of them previously recorded videos thanking the Gulf and accepting its support sent to Gaza, yet now their true colors are showing,” his comment read.
A widely shared audio clip purported to record al-Hammadi saying: “I could risk my dawah, some embassy, some guy would talk to some official would say this daai (preacher) in the UAE is slandering us and talking politics and all that, it can stop my dawah”.
“If I say one thing about Israel that can stop my dawah, do you think that is something that is smart? And I’m doing 3 or 4 classes a day…why would I stop all that for something that has no value to be honest…” the recording continues.
The New Arab was unable to independently verify the content of the recording.
“You’re not fooling anyone with your bootlicking rants against the Ikhwan, you’re just the Emirati government’s pet preacher, preaching obedience to rulers who normalize with Zionists, bomb Yemen, and crush any real Islamic resistance,” one person commented in response.
Israel and the US’s attacks on Iran are continuing unabated, while Iran continues to launch counterattacks on US bases across the region, although Gulf countries have also accused it of targeting civilian infrastructure.
The UN estimates that between 28 February and 1 March, around 100,000 people have fled Tehran.
