Muslim scholars hail ex-Muslim Sahil’s return to Islam as ‘vindication of Qur’an’s truth’

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Prominent Muslim scholars and online preachers have welcomed the return of Indian ex-Muslim activist Sahil to Islam, calling it a “sign of divine guidance” and “vindication of the Qur’an’s truth” after years of his involvement in anti-Islamic propaganda.

Sahil, once one of the most vocal figures in India’s ex-Muslim movement, publicly announced earlier this month that he had re-embraced Islam to honor his late mother’s final wish.

In a farewell video posted before deleting his social media channels, he said, “I am leaving this activism… you have a right to judge me,” explaining that his return was an act of filial duty.

The announcement drew wide reactions across India’s religious and social media landscape. Muslim scholars who had previously debated Sahil online expressed relief and gratitude, saying his reversion affirmed the endurance of faith amid waves of digital misinformation.

One Islamic YouTuber who had earlier engaged him in debate quoted verse 8:36 of the Qur’an: “Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert people from the way of Allah. Then it will be for them a source of regret; then they will be overcome.”

Sahil’s journey from believer to critic and back again had drawn considerable public attention. Raised in a devout Muslim family in Mumbai’s Dharavi neighborhood, he had joined Tablighi Jamaat activities in his youth before renouncing Islam during the COVID-19 lockdown.

His online presence, marked by critical commentaries on Islamic beliefs, made him a popular figure among Hindu far-right and Islamophobic networks.

In his final posts, Sahil shared a photograph with his late mother, writing in Hindi, “My mother’s last wish was to be buried in the Dharavi cemetery, and I have fulfilled that duty.” He later confirmed that he had fulfilled her request and would now withdraw from public life.

Hindu nationalist influencers who had amplified his anti-Islamic rhetoric appeared unsettled by his reversion, with several describing it as a setback to their narrative. Conversely, Muslim activists saw it as exposing how the far right exploits ex-Muslim voices for ideological battles before discarding them.

Analysts say Sahil’s return underscores how personal faith, family obligations, and grief intersect with the politicized nature of religion in India.

Sahil has since remained offline and has not made further public statements. For many within the Muslim community, his quiet withdrawal and re-embrace of faith serve as a moment of reflection on forgiveness, compassion, and the enduring power of belief.