Wikipedia

Daniel Haqiqatjou

Daniel Reza Haqiqatjou (Farsi: دانیال رضا حقیقت جو; born c. 1980s) is an American Muslim polemic, writer, public speaker, debater, philosopher, and Da'i. He is known for his online debates, critiques of Modernism, pro-Islam polemics, and writings and lectures on issues surrounding Muslims and Modernity as well as the intersection of western philosophical thought and Islamic intellectual history.[2] Haqiqatjou's conservative interpretation of Islam, his views on subjects such as gender roles and geopolitics, and his critiques of certain Islamic scholars deemed as Modernist and liberalised make him a controversial figure.

Daniel Haqiqatjou
Personal
Born
Daniel Reza Haqiqatjou

c. 1980s
Houston, Texas, US
ReligionIslam
NationalityAmerican
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanbali
Alma materHarvard University
Tufts University
Known forIslamic modernism, Debate, Comparative religion
YouTube information
Channel
Years activeJune 30, 2015–present
Subscribers415,000[1]
Total views128,150,172[1]
100,000 subscribers
Muslim leader
Influenced by
Websitemuslimskeptic.com/author/drjou/

Early Life and education

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Haqiqatjou was born in Houston, Texas to Iranian parents Reza Haqiqatjou, a Systems Engineer at Boeing, and Nili Haqiqatjou, a Real Estate Agent.[3][4] Haqiqatjou grew up in Houston, where he currently lives. Haqiqatjou studied Physics with a minor in Philosophy at Harvard University and completed a master's degree in philosophy at Tufts University.[5] Haqiqatjou also studies the traditional Islamic sciences with Islamic scholars part-time.[2]

Career

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Haqiqatjou was a writer for the online magazine Muslim Matters from 2014 till 2017.[6] Around 2015–2016, Haqiqatjou created the YouTube Channel Muslim Skeptic and also created a website with the same name, both providing personal research, and opinion outlet, particularly on interfaith critique, Modernism, current events, family, and accountability reports on figures perceived as attempting to change Islam from within.[4][7] Haqiqatjou often criticizes what he grasps as the Madkhali strain of Salafi Islam. Madkhalis accuse Haqiqatjou of being a deviant due to his praise of the Deobandi Movement, alleged ties with allegedly Khariji figures, and his critiques of rulers of Muslim countries along with other reasons. Haqiqatjou has also been criticised for his perceived bad behaviour towards Muslims (allegedly driven by Haqiqatjou's vendetta and personal grudges) whilst ironically finding middle ground with non-Muslim, particularly Right-wing and White Nationalist, figures. Haqiqatjou's anti-Western geopolitical outlook has been critiqued for being simplisitic and unnuanced given that Haqiqatjou allegedly brushes aside atrocities committed by the likes of Russia, China, and Iran.

Haqiqatjou along with his wife, also founded the Alasna Institute, a learning institute dedicated to providing an Islamically orientated education and overcome doubts about Islam.[8] Haqiqatjou is known for his online debates/discussions on YouTube, most notably with Apostate Prophet, David Wood, Aron Ra, Vaush, and Destiny as well as his intellectual/ideological but polemical commentary on Muslim issues and comparative religion.[9]

Controversy

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In 2023, Haqiqatjou's invitation to several New York colleges sparked controversy among some of its Muslim students due to his controversial and alleged misogynistic opinions, namely his views on gender roles and the issue of women's education.[10]

In March 2024, due in part to Haqiqatjou's pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist viewpoint, the Anti-Defamation League accused Haqiqatjou of anti-Semitism, promoting terrorism, being a conspiracy theorist and pushing extremist, prejudiced, misgynistic, and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.[11][12] Nonetheless, the ADL's hitpiece against Haqiqatjou has been critiqued as an Islamophobic smear, even by Haqiqatjou's critics, aiming to silence legitimate critiques of Israel and its actions with critics of the ADL's article asserting that Haqiqatjou's criticism and arguments are not anti-Semitic, not even fitting with the ADL's definition of anti-Semitism.[13][14]

Personal life

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Haqiqatjou has been married since 2009 to Umm Khalid, who was born in Egypt but moved to the US as a child and also attended Harvard (where she and Haqiqatjou met). Haqiqatjou has four children with his wife and lives in the Suburbs of Houston.[15][16] While being born into a nominally and secular Shia family, Haqiqatjou has converted to Sunni Islam. He identifies simply as an orthodox Sunni Muslim. Despite this, the perception of Haqiqatjou as being aligned and connected with the Salafi and Deobandi movements, or even accusations of being a crypto-Shia given his Iranian background, advocacy of Sunni-Shia unity, and ignorance of Iran's atrocities against Sunnis, nonetheless exist.[15]

Haqiqatjou's sister, Donna aged 19, went missing in California during a party and disappeared with convicted sex offender John Steven Burgress, who drugged, murdered, and discarded her body, in 2007.[17][18][19]

Publications

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  • The Modernist Menace to Islam

References

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  1. ^ a b "About The Muslim Skeptic". YouTube.
  2. ^ a b Haqiqatjou, Daniel (May 20, 2014). "Black Mass, Liberalism, and the Orthodox Paradox". MuslimMatters.org. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou". Public Discourse. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "About". Muslim Skeptic. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou, Author at Muslim Skeptic". Muslim Skeptic. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou, Author at MuslimMatters.org". MuslimMatters.org. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "The Muslim Skeptic". YouTube. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Alasna". Muslim Skeptic. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "The Muslim Skeptic – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "US: Muslim college students enraged over invite of controversial Muslim personality". Middle East Eye. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "You are being redirected..." www.adl.org. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  12. ^ The Muslim Skeptic (March 28, 2024). ADL's Islamophobic Hit Piece Against Daniel Haqiqatjou – The Truth. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Cranium, Crypto (April 3, 2024). "Muslims Unite Against ADL Islamophobic Smear of Daniel Haqiqatjou". Muslim Skeptic. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Tom Facchine (March 31, 2024). Exposing The TRUTH about Daniel Haqiqatjou & ADL | Imam Tom Facchine. Retrieved July 23, 2024 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ a b Westrop, Sam (June 3, 2022). "Interview: Radical preacher Daniel Haqiqatjou on "Islam vs. Liberalism" | Focus on Western Islamism (FWI)". Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "You are being redirected..." rairfoundation.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Search Continues For Student's Missing Sister | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  18. ^ News, A. B. C. "John Steven Burgess, Who Admitted Dumping Donna Jou in Ocean, Freed After 2 Years in Jail". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ Haqiqatjou, Daniel (June 9, 2017). "My Sister". Muslim Skeptic. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
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