Speaking to British Vogue, the former one Direction singer,Zayn 25, said he is not a practicing Muslim anymore and no longer believes in ‘any’ of the religion.
Zayn Malik has confirmed he no longer identifies as Muslim in an interview.
During the interview he said: ‘I’m not professed to be a Muslim’ and when asked if he would consider himself to be Muslim, he responded: ‘No, I wouldn’t.’
The singer added although he had a ‘spiritual belief’ of a God, that he did not endorse Islam religious practices such as daily prayer and eating halal meat.
It has sparked a backlash on social media from fans who have said they are ‘ashamed’ of the star and criticised him for ‘mocking’ the religion.
He said: ‘I don’t believe you need to eat a certain meat that’s been prayed over a certain way, I don’t believe you need to read a prayer in a certain language five times a day.
Zayn was emphatic about not wanting to represent something he did not believe in. He detailed practices within the faith that he had to admit to himself meant nothing to him and he wanted his fans to know where he stood, knowing that some of them would be upset by this. This honest and steadfast refusal to appease by someone so high profile really is a big deal.
‘I don’t believe any of it. I just believe if you’re a good person everything is going to go right for you.
Zayn’s father Yaser is British-Pakistani and his mother Trisha converted to Islam when she met him, with the couple raising their children Muslim.
The star’s revelation has sparked a backlash online from some fans, while other followers said it was not for them to judge and his lack of faith was a matter for God.
If we are to move towards a world where the secular voice is heard and not overridden or cowed by religious ones, Malik should be invited to do a Thought for the Day on Radio 4.
Zayn Malik’s honesty may have disappointed the very religious, but perhaps he will have given a little hope to others across religions, who feel they are living with a faith they no longer connect with.
One of zayn’s fans told him on social media ‘you should be ashamed’ and added ‘I hate you’ while one Muslim said ‘shame on you’ and warned him not to ‘mock’ the religion.
iOthers said they ceased to be fans of the performer and another told him to ‘f*** off’ and added ‘f***you’ for good measure.
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A fan tweeted:Can we consider ourselves a true Muslim? I think no. Who are we to decide whether he would be thrown into hell. It’s not your job. Let Allah do his job. ALLAH knows well who is sinner and saint.
The former One Direction star previously said of his religion: ‘I take a great sense of pride and responsibility in knowing that I am the first of my kind from my background.
In August Zayn celebrated Eid al-Adha, also called the Festival of Sacrifice, with his family and supermodel girlfriend Gigi Hadid, 23.
‘I’m not currently practising but I was raised in the Islamic faith, so it will always be with me, and I identify a lot with the culture. Zayn said.
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