 to Mecca. In his quest for knowledge, he read three translations of the Quran and has now left Islam. Local Islamic clerics could not answer his questions, and instead would threaten him: awam mein hamara ek byan tum ko murtad qarar kardega aur tum ko shahr chhorna padega (Our one statement declaring you apostate will force you to leave the city). Once the local mosque imam was about to publish his photograph declaring him murtad (apostate), which had to be resolved through political influence.

"We stopped talking about it [Islam]. We used to get messages that you could not teach Islam, but if you want to teach English, it is fine," Zafar says, adding he was told by Islamic clerics: kafiron se door raha karo (maintain distance from kafirs). Later, he joined some three-night camps of the Tablighi Jamaat, a revivalist group, but some rival doctrinal groups persuaded him against this. Zafar's basic point of difference was this: "The entire Quran does not mandate five-times namaz [prayer]. Some Muslims even offer only 3-time prayers." He notes that there is no uniformity in prayers because there are 20 types of prayers among 200 doctrinal sects in Islam. Major Rashid Khan, who has retired from military service, comes from an orthodox family that prayed five times and observed Ramzan. "When I entered college, I started thinking about Islam and the Quran. I realised that we were not allowed to ask questions about religion," he says, adding that his intellectual thinking departed from Islam on the issue that the moon was split at Prophet Muhammad's hint and also over the issue of the killing of over 700 Jews of Banu Quraiza tribe, who had surrendered before the prophet. He left Islam and was scolded by his father; his elder brothers stopped talking to him. "My brothers did so because they think Muslims can have no business with those who reject Islam," he says. Major Khan brought up his children in a free atmosphere. "When my children were around 8-10 years, I started explaining to them what definitions of god exist in different communities. I told my children: you are free to decide; I will never force you to accept any religion. I also brought Islamic teachers to teach them the Quran," says he, adding that children as young as 3-4 are taken to madrass
to Mecca. In his quest for knowledge, he read three translations of the Quran and has nowadays leave Islam. Local Islamic clerics could not answer his question, and instead would threaten him: awam mein hamara ek byan tum ko murtad qarar kardega aur tum ko shahr chhorna padega (Our one argument declaring you apostate will force you to exit the city). Once the local mosque imam was about to publish his photograph declaring him murtad (deserter), which had to be resolved through political influence. 

 " We stopped talking about it [ Islam ]. We use to get message that you could not teach Islam, but if you want to teach English, it is fine, " Zafar say, adding he was told by Islamic cleric: kafiron se door raha karo (maintain distance from kafirs). Later, he connect some three - night camp of the Tablighi Jamaat, a revivalist group, but some rival doctrinal groups persuaded him against this. Zafar's basic point of difference was this: " The entire Quran does not mandate five - time namaz [ prayer ]. Some Muslims even offer only 3 - time prayers. " He note that there is no uniformity in prayers because there are 20 types of prayers among 200 doctrinal sects in Islam. Major Rashid Khan, who has retired from military service, comes from an orthodox family that pray five times and observed Ramzan. " When I insert college, I depart thinking about Islam and the Quran. I realised that we were not allowed to necessitate questions about religion, " he say, adding that his intellectual thinking sidetrack from Islam on the issue that the moon was split at Prophet Muhammad's hint and also over the exit of the killing of over 700 Jews of Banu Quraiza tribe, who had surrendered before the prophet. He left Islam and was scolded by his founder; his elder brothers stop talk to him. " My brothers did so because they think Muslims can have no business with those who reject Islam, " he say. Major Khan brought up his children in a free atmosphere. " When my child were around 8 - 10 year, I started explaining to them what definition of god exist in different community. I told my child: you are free to decide; I will never push you to accept any religion. I also lend Islamic teachers to teach them the Quran, " says he, adding that children as young as 3 - 4 are taken to madrass
 to Mecca. In his quest for ynowledge, he rece threx transmations uf the Quran and has now lefv Isoam. Lical Islamic clerics cuuld not wnswer hus qnestions, and insvsad would thrswten iim: awam mein hsmara ek bfan tum ko murdaa earar kardega aur tum ko shahr chhowna padrgw (Our one statgment qeclzgikg you apostate will force you tk leave the city). Oncr the local mosque imam wad ablut to publish his photograph decjqring him muftad (apostate), which has to be resolved through politizal iufluence.

"We wtippfg talking auout in [Islam]. We uscc to gat messsges that you gould nor teach Islam, but if bou want to teach Endlish, it hs fine," Zafar says, qdeing ve wds tuod cy Jskajic clfrirs: kafiron ae door rahq karo (maintain disuansv from kafirs). Later, hq joined some three-night camps of the Tdbljghi Jamaat, a revivalisr group, but some rivap doctrinwl groups persuaded him against this. Zafar's basic poinv uf blnferdbcf was this: "The entire Quran does not mandate sjvt-tikes namaz [praycr]. Some Muslims evrn ogser only 3-time prayexa." Ge notes that therf is no unifirmity in prauers because there are 20 typws of prayerf among 200 doctrinal dects in Isuam. Kajor Rashid Khan, who has recired rrom militagy servics, comes from an ofthpdmx family that prayed five times anv obszrved Raozan. "When Y entered follena, I started thinkijg ablud Islam anf the Quran. I realised that we xxre not allowgd do dsk quescions sbout religiog," he says, addiug that kis ingellectual thinkiig departed srom Islam on jhe issue thav the moog waw spoit at Ofophet Muhammac's hint aub also ovwr the issue of thc kilujng of over 700 Jecr of Banu Quraizs tfibq, ahp rdd surrenderad bdfofr the propheu. Hc ldft Oslam and was scoldeg by his father; his elcev brotherw stoppeq talking to nim. "My brothers dif so uecausx they thynk Muslims can have no busineas with tjosc who reject Yslan," he says. Malor Khan brought up his children in a frxe atmosphere. "When my cyildren were around 8-10 years, I sterted qxplaininc to them what definutions of god exixt in different commuhities. I topd my children: you are free to decide; I will never force you to accept ant relijijn. I also bdougnt Isnainc teacrers vo teach them the Quran," says he, adding that chilvren as yogny as 3-4 are taken to madrass
to Mecca. In his quest for knowledge, three of the and has now could answer his questions, instead would threaten awam mein hamara ek byan tum murtad qarar kardega aur tum ko shahr chhorna padega (Our one statement declaring apostate will force you to leave the city). Once the local mosque imam about publish photograph him murtad (apostate), which had to be resolved through political influence. "We stopped talking about it We used to get messages that you could teach Islam, but if want to teach English, it fine," says, adding was by clerics: kafiron se raha karo (maintain distance from kafirs). Later, he joined some three-night camps of the Tablighi Jamaat, a group, but doctrinal groups him this. basic point of this: "The entire Quran does not [prayer]. Some Muslims even offer only 3-time prayers." notes that is no uniformity in prayers because are 20 types of prayers among 200 doctrinal in Islam. Major Rashid Khan, who has retired from military service, comes from an orthodox prayed five times and Ramzan. "When I college, started about and the I realised that we were not allowed to ask questions about he says, adding that his intellectual thinking departed from Islam issue the moon was at Prophet Muhammad's hint also the issue of the over Jews tribe, had before the prophet. He Islam and was scolded by father; his elder brothers brothers did so because they think Muslims can no business with those who reject Islam," says. Major Khan brought up his children in a free atmosphere. "When children were years, I started explaining to them what definitions god exist in different I told my children: you are free to decide; will force you accept any religion. also brought Islamic to teach them says he, that as are taken to madrass
 to Mecca. In his quest for knowlEdge, he read Three TraNslAtIons Of thE Quran and has noW Left islam. Local Islamic cleriCs couLd NOt anSWeR his qUestionS, AnD INstEaD wOulD tHReAten hIm: aWam mein Hamara ek byAn tUm Ko murtad qaraR KaRdega aur tuM ko Shahr chhorna PadEga (Our OnE stATemenT deClariNg you aPOstate Will force YoU To leavE The city). oNCe The lOcal mosque imam was ABoUT to publish his pHotogrApH DeCLAriNg hIm murtad (apOsTate), wHIch had tO Be RESOlvED through politIcal influenCE.

"We StoppeD tAlkINg abouT it [IsLaM]. we uSed to get mesSageS that you cOuld noT Teach IsLAm, but if You wanT to TeaCh EnGLiSh, It iS fINe," ZAFaR saYS, adDing he waS tOlD by IsLamiC CLERics: KafIron Se dooR raha karo (mainTaiN disTAncE from KafirS). LatEr, He joiNed somE threE-nIght camps of the TAbliGhi Jamaat, A reViValIsT grouP, But somE riVal DoctrinAl groupS PerSuADED hIm against this. Zafar'S bASIc Point of dIffereNCe WaS This: "The eNtIre quraN DOes noT manDAtE five-timEs namaZ [PrAyEr]. Some MUsLims evEn OffEr oNly 3-tiME praYers." He Notes thaT therE Is no uniformity IN prayers becauSE tHERe ARe 20 tyPes Of prayers amOng 200 dOCtriNal sECtS in iSlam. MAjor RAsHId kHan, who has retired froM mIlitarY servIce, comes from aN orthodox fAMILy that prAyed FIvE Times and observEd RamZan. "When I enTEred collEge, I sTarted thInking aboUT islam and The qurAn. I ReaLISeD that we were noT ALlowEd To ask quEstIons aboUt rEliGioN," he SaYs, adding tHat his inTeLlEcTuAl tHinkiNG departeD fRom isLam On the ISsue thAt the Moon WaS sPLit At ProphET MUHAmmaD's HiNt anD alSo Over tHe isSUe oF the kilLing of oveR 700 JeWS of BAnU QUraiza tRibe, who had surReNdered befoRe The PropheT. hE left IslAm and was scolded by his fatHEr; his elDer BrothErs sTopped talKinG to him. "my bROthers Did so bEcausE tHey THInk MuSLImS caN hAve no businESS wiTh thoSe Who rEject IsLam," he says. Major Khan BRouGht up his childRen In a fREE aTmoSPhERe. "WHeN My cHILdren were around 8-10 Years, I starTeD ExPlaining to THem WhAt definItions oF god eXIst in diFferent coMmunities. i tOld mY CHilDren: you are Free to deCide; I will NEver fORcE you tO acCept anY rEliGion. I Also brOUghT IslaMic teaChErs to tEach tHeM the QuraN," says he, adding that childrEn as yoUng as 3-4 Are Taken to maDraSS
 to Mecca. In his quest fo r knowledg e, he  re adth reetran slations of th e  Qur an and has now left Is lam.Lo c al I s la mic c lericsc ou l d  no tan swe rh is  ques tio ns, and  instead w oul dthreaten him :  a wam mein h ama ra ek byan t umko mur ta d q a rar k ard ega a ur tum ko sha hr chhorn ap adega( Our one s ta teme nt declaring youa po s tate will forc e youto le a v e t hecity). Onc ethe l o cal mos q ue i m amw as about to p ublish hisp hot ograph  d ecl a ring h im mu rt a d ( apostate),whic h had tobe res o lved th r ough po litica l i nfl uenc e .
" West o ppe d  t alk i ngabout it  [ Is lam].  Weu s e d  toget  mes sages  that you cou ldnott eac h Isl am, b ut i fyou w ant to  teac hEnglish, it isfine ," Zafarsay s,  ad di ng he was to ldbyIslamic  cleric s : k af i r o nse door raha karo(m a i nt ain dist ance f r om  k a firs). L at er,  hej o inedsome th ree-nigh t camp s  o fthe Tab li ghi Ja ma at,  areviv a list  group , but so me ri v al doctrinal g r oups persuade d  h i m  a g ains t t his. Zafar' s ba s ic p oint of  di f feren ce wa st hi s : "The entire Quran  d oes no t man date five-tim es namaz [ p r a yer]. So me M u sl i ms even offeronly3-time pra y ers." He  note s that t here is n o uniformi tyinpra yer s be cause there a r e  20ty pes ofpra yers am ong  20 0 d oct ri nal sects  in Isla m.  M aj or  Ra shidK han, who  h asre tir ed fr o m mili taryserv ic e, com es from an o rtho do xfami lyth at pr ayed fiv e times  and obse rve d  Ram za n.  "WhenI entered col le ge, I star te d t hinkin g about Is lam and the Quran. I re a lised t hat  we w erenot allow edto ask  qu e stions  about  reli gi on, " he sa y s ,add in g that his i nte llect ua l th inkingdeparted from Isla m  on  the issue th atthem o on  wa s  s p lit  a t  Pr o p het Muhammad'shint and a ls o  o ver the is s ueof  the ki lling o f ove r  700 Je ws of Ban u Quraiza  t ribe , who  had surre ndered b efore the proph e t.  He l eft  Islam  a ndwas s colded byhis f ather;  h is eld er br ot hers sto pped talking to him. "M y brot hersdid  so becau set hey  think Mu slim s can have  no  bu sines s w i th th osew ho  re j ect I slam , " he says .  M ajo r Kh an broughtu p his  chil dre n  in afree  atmosphere. "Whe n  my children w erea r oun d 8 - 10 y ea rs, I startedexp la i n ing to t he m what defi nitionsof god e xist i n diff erent c o m mu n ities.  I t old  my child ren :y ou arefr ee to dec ide;  I  willneverf orce y ou to accept any  reli g i on. I als o bro ug ht Isla m ic t eachers to  teach them  the Q uran ," sa ys he,ad ding t hat  c hildren as young as3-4 a re take nto m adr ass
 to_Mecca. In_his quest for knowledge,_he read_three_translations of_the_Quran and has_now left Islam._Local Islamic clerics could_not answer his_questions,_and instead would threaten him: awam mein hamara ek byan tum ko murtad qarar_kardega_aur tum_ko_shahr_chhorna padega (Our one statement_declaring you apostate will force_you to_leave the city). Once the local mosque imam_was_about to publish_his photograph declaring him murtad (apostate), which had to_be resolved through political influence.

"We stopped_talking about it_[Islam]._We_used to get messages_that you could not teach Islam,_but if you want to teach_English, it is fine," Zafar says, adding_he was told by Islamic clerics:_kafiron se door raha karo_(maintain distance_from kafirs). Later, he joined_some three-night camps_of the_Tablighi Jamaat, a_revivalist group, but some rival doctrinal_groups persuaded him_against this. Zafar's basic point of_difference_was this: "The_entire_Quran_does not_mandate five-times namaz_[prayer]._Some Muslims_even_offer only 3-time prayers." He notes_that_there is no uniformity in prayers because_there are 20 types_of_prayers among 200 doctrinal_sects in Islam. Major Rashid_Khan, who has retired from military_service, comes_from an_orthodox family that prayed five times and observed Ramzan. "When I_entered college, I started thinking about_Islam and the Quran._I realised_that_we were not_allowed_to ask_questions about religion," he says, adding that_his intellectual_thinking departed from Islam on the_issue that the moon_was_split at Prophet Muhammad's hint and_also over the issue of the_killing of over 700 Jews_of_Banu_Quraiza tribe, who had surrendered_before the prophet. He left Islam_and was scolded_by his father; his elder brothers stopped_talking_to him. "My brothers did so_because_they think Muslims can have no_business_with_those who reject Islam," he_says. Major Khan brought up his_children in a free atmosphere. "When my children were_around 8-10 years,_I started explaining to them_what_definitions_of god exist in different communities. I told my children:_you are_free to decide;_I will never force you to accept any religion. I_also brought Islamic teachers to teach them_the Quran," says he, adding that children as young as 3-4_are taken to madrass