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Daniel Haqiqatjou

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Daniel Haqiqatjou
Personal life
Born
Daniel Reza Haqiqatjou

1980[1]
Houston, Texas, US[2]
Alma materHarvard University
Tufts University
Known forCritique of Islamic modernism, debate and comparative religion
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni
JurisprudenceHanbali[3]
MovementDeobandi, Salafi[4]
Muslim leader
Influenced by
YouTube information
Channel
Years activeJune 30, 2015–present
Subscribers438,000[5]
Total views136,169,847[5]
Associated actsAlasnaHaq, Alasna Institute, Muslim Skeptic - Subcontinent
100,000 subscribers
Websitemuslimskeptic.com/author/drjou/

Daniel Reza Haqiqatjou, commonly known as Daniel Haqiqatjou, is an American Muslim polemicist, writer, public speaker, debater, and Islamic proselytizer. 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][6]

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.[7][8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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 he claims are attempting to change Islam from within.[8][11]

Haqiqatjou labels some Imams as "compassionate Imams", criticizing them over socio-political stances; among these imams are Omar Suleiman, Yasir Qadhi, Hamza Yusuf, Suhaib Webb and others.[citation needed]

Alasna Institute

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Haqiqatjou along with his wife, founded the Alasna Institute, a learning institute dedicated to providing an Islamically oriented education and overcome doubts about Islam.[12][13] Haqiqatjou is known for his online debates and discussions on YouTube, most notably with Apostate Prophet, David Wood, Aron Ra, Vaush, and Destiny, as well as his intellectual, ideological, and polemical commentary on issues faced by Muslims and on comparative religion.[14]

Opposition to Madkhalism

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Haqiqatjou often criticizes what he calls Madkhalism, a strain of Salafi Islam, which he claims is pro-West and often pro-Zionist.[citation needed]

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.[15]

In March 2024, the Anti-Defamation League claimed Haqiqatjou has promoted anti-Jewish conspiracy theories, used anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and made statements online they claimed were misogynistic on many occasions, and based on this the ADL accused Haqiqatjou of anti-Semitism, promoting terrorism, being a conspiracy theorist, and pushing extremist, prejudiced, misogynistic, and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.[16][17] ADL's accusation against Haqiqatjou led to dismay and criticism of the ADL from many Muslim public figures.[18] Haqiqatjou is the first American born Muslim to be targeted by the ADL. Their claims came after his pointed criticism of the indiscriminate Israeli aggression and his Pro Palestine advocacy in general, as American Imam Tom Faccine noted in a statement addressing the ADL.[19]

Personal life

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Born into a nominal and secular Shia family, Haqiqatjou has converted to Sunni Islam. He has been identified as an adherent of the Salafi and Deobandi movements,[4] and has said himself that he stands with the Deobandis.[20] He identifies as a traditionalist Sunni Muslim, but despite this accusations of him being a closeted Shia given his Iranian background, advocating for Sunni-Shia unity, and opinions on geopolitics exist nonetheless.[21]

Haqiqatjou's sister, Donna Haqiqatjou, aged 19, went missing in California in 2007 during a party and disappeared with convicted sex offender John Steven Burgess, who told the police that he had given her drugs on which she overdosed, and that he had discarded her body into the ocean, after which it was never found.[22][23][24]

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 University where she met Haqiqatjou. Haqiqatjou has four children with his wife and lives in the suburbs of Houston.[21][25]

Publications

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou". OpenSanctions.org. November 11, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Haqiqatjou, Daniel (May 20, 2014). "Black Mass, Liberalism, and the Orthodox Paradox". MuslimMatters.org. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou on "Islam vs. Liberalism"". Middle East Forum. June 3, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Daniel Haqiqatjou: Why Islam Is the Solution to 'Liberalism'". Middle East Forum. May 27, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "About The Muslim Skeptic". YouTube.
  6. ^ Biographydesk (September 25, 2023). "Daniel Haqiqatjou Biography: Age, Family, Career, Networth". Biography Desk. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  7. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou". Public Discourse. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "About". Muslim Skeptic. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou, Author at Muslim Skeptic". Muslim Skeptic. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Daniel Haqiqatjou, Author at MuslimMatters.org". MuslimMatters.org. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "The Muslim Skeptic". YouTube. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Alasna". Muslim Skeptic. July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "Alasna Institute". Alasna Institute. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Muslim Skeptic – YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "US: Muslim college students enraged over invite of controversial Muslim personality". Middle East Eye. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "You are being redirected..." www.adl.org. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  17. ^ The Muslim Skeptic (March 28, 2024). ADL's Islamophobic Hit Piece Against Daniel Haqiqatjou – The Truth. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ Cranium, Crypto (April 3, 2024). "Muslims Unite Against ADL Islamophobic Smear of Daniel Haqiqatjou". Muslim Skeptic. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  19. ^ Tom Facchine (March 31, 2024). Exposing The TRUTH about Daniel Haqiqatjou & ADL | Imam Tom Facchine. Retrieved October 19, 2024 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ The Deobandi Tradition (November 13, 2022). Daniel Haqiqatjou | Thoughts on the Deobandi Movement. Retrieved October 7, 2024 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ "Search Continues For Student's Missing Sister | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "John Steven Burgess, Who Admitted Dumping Donna Jou in Ocean, Freed After 2 Years in Jail". ABC News. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  24. ^ Haqiqatjou, Daniel (June 9, 2017). "My Sister". Muslim Skeptic. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "You are being redirected..." rairfoundation.com. September 22, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
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