Zayn Malik reveals he is no longer a practicing Muslim
16 November 2018, 12:50
He now falls under "spiritual".
Zayn Malik has revealed he no longer considers himself a Muslim. The former One Direction singer previously identified as a non-practising Muslim and was raised by Muslim parents. His mother Trisha – who is of Irish descent – converted to Islam when she married his British-Pakistani father, Yaser.
Zayn spoke about his religious practices in an interview with British Vogue. The 'Pillowtalk' singer declared that he no longer follows any particular religion. "I believe whatever people's religious beliefs are is between them and whoever or whatever they're practising," he explained. "For me, I have a spiritual belief of there is a god. Do I believe there's a hell? No."
Zayn was worried about opening up about his shift in belief incase it became "a religious fucking debacle of philosophers."
He added: "I just want to keep it between me and whatever I believe. I feel like that makes me move through life in a nice way. If I behave well, I will get treated well. That’s it. 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. 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 said it was "really easy" to break the news to his parents. He continued: "With my mum and dad, they were always there to educate us – I did go to mosque, I did study Islam – but they gave us the option so you could choose for yourself."
Sadly, some of his fans weren't so understanding of his decision.
Don't get me wrong I love zayn but honestly I'm so disappointed and shocked. I'm sure Muslim stans will get my point . Muslim people can't leave their religion it's not allowed . he did the wrong thing . god will absolutely make a special circle of hell for him I'm so sad:((
— Heba_HS (@heba1_d) November 7, 2018
Wait so I just read Zayn's statement about leaving Islam and it's a nice piece BUT like did he need to mock muslims and their practices while doing it? Gross @zaynmalik
— Georgette Smith (@GeorgetteSmithM) November 9, 2018
Hearing that zayn isnt a Muslim anymore is so heartbreaking.. Bc seeing a person leave the fold of the religion is just upsetting in itself.
— z (@hijaabee) November 7, 2018
The more I've been studying Islam the more I've been trying to practice it and falling in love with it and it's sad that that's not the
Ultimately, religion is very personal. It's Zayn's life and his choice. And most people understood that.
why were people mad at what zayn said about religion . He didn’t say anything bad??? He just said what he believes in??? chill out
— thank u, next (@perhcps) November 7, 2018
Y’all really Unstanning Zayn because he said he isn’t a Muslim anymore honestly y’all religion is personal and people need to accept. pic.twitter.com/C8eV5dRpEm
— Cleo (@guccixvans) November 7, 2018
Muslims have never claimed Zayn, he even got backlash for celebrating Eid, which is a normal fucking thing to do. Zayn has ~never~ claimed to be a representation of the religion, his beliefs and actions are personal, it’s really nobody’s business but his
— neelam (@zlorious) November 10, 2018