‘I haven’t quit acting’: Yashma Gill on Zakir Naik misunderstanding

Actress Yashma Gill recently addressed a misunderstanding involving Islamic scholar Zakir Naik and his presumption that she had left the entertainment industry.

A gathering was held at the Governor House in Sindh, Karachi, on October 5, attended by many people, including Yashma Gill. During a Q&A session with Dr. Zakir Naik, who is currently visiting Pakistan, she shared that, “I had once drifted away from my faith but later returned to religion after listening to Dr. Naik’s statements and watching his videos.”

Yashma Gill asked Dr. Zakir Naik, “When Allah has already written a person’s destiny, what control does a human have? If someone is doing right or wrong, who is responsible for it, since we believe that destiny is preordained, like a thief who steals?”

In response, Dr Naik said, “Our sister says she was previously an actress and later became religious after listening to my statements. I congratulate you for returning to the right path from the film industry. It is difficult to leave the media’s trap, but Allah is guiding many people.”

After the video of the event went viral, Yashma posted an Instagram story clarifying the situation. She wrote, “Last night, I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Zakir Naik a question, and I feel fortunate. I probably didn’t express myself properly due to the mic cutting out frequently and the noise from the crowd, which led to the misunderstanding that I had quit the entertainment industry.”

She explained, “To clarify, I am still a part of the industry and continue to work as an actress. If you watch the video from the beginning, you’ll understand. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I am trying to maintain a balance between my religion and career. I deeply value Zakir Naik’s thoughts, as he played a role in bringing me closer to my faith.”

She added, “I apologize if my words hurt anyone’s feelings.”

Later, Yashma posted another story addressing those asking why she didn’t correct Dr. Zakir Naik immediately. She wrote, “To those questioning why I didn’t correct Dr. Naik at that moment, my answer is that it would have been highly disrespectful to interrupt him.”