24/12/2025
Good friendship, meaningful dialogue, and effective Dawah are the fundamental pillars of education and service to mankind.
— For Wali Rahmani and Khan Sir
Best Regards,
Obaid Rahmani
Saharsa, Bihar
For those seeking clarity about my past criticism of Khan Sir Khan Global Studies and his recent invitation, this is my stand. I request you to read it in fully:
A few years ago, I publicly criticised Khan Sir and asked people not to promote his YouTube content because I genuinely believed some of his narratives were contributing to Islamophobia. I stand by that criticism. I never deleted those tweets, and I never ran away from my position.
At that time, I had no intention of ever meeting him.
It so happened that on one occasion, at a public gathering in Patna, his Personal Assistant met me and conveyed that Khan Sir had been observing my work, appreciated it, and was desirous of meeting me. Following this, there were a few exchanges between his office and mine. However, at that point, I was not comfortable meeting him and was clear about my public criticism and reservations. As a result, the meeting did not materialise then.
In May 2025, Khan Sir personally called me and invited me to his marriage. During that very call, I clearly told him that I had spoken against him publicly and that meeting me might be difficult and uncomfortable. I did not attend that wedding.
Months later, in November 2025, during his younger brother’s marriage, he again called and requested me to attend, once more expressing his desire to meet. I asked him directly why he would want to meet someone who had criticised him publicly.
His response was consistent and clear.
He said he wanted to understand what I was trying to do for the Muslim community.
He said he admired the educational model of my school and wanted to see it closely.
And most importantly, he said:
“Despite our differences, can we not sit for dialogue on common ground—education—and see how we can work for the community?”
I did not see this as validation.
I did not see this as a fame hunt.
I did not see this as a PR exercise.
I saw it as an opportunity for dawah.
In December 2025, his Personal Assistant informed me that Khan Sir would be in Kolkata for official work and wished to meet me and visit the school and it so happened that a few days later we were having our school’s annual day so I invited him to our School Annual Day because if someone genuinely wants to understand our work, that is the day when a full year of tarbiyah, discipline, values, and excellence becomes visible through the children.
He agreed.
He arrived a day before the Annual Day, spent hours visiting the school in detail, and then we sat in my office for a two-hour closed-door conversation. It was not polite small talk. It was intense. At moments, it was uncomfortable. There were real clashes of ideas.
I even suggested that we do a podcast and discuss our differences openly. He declined and said something important:
“If the intention is clarity and understanding, one-to-one conversation is better than going on air.”
He was right.
Had I recorded that discussion, it might have gone viral. But would it have won his heart? Would it have shifted his thinking? I do not believe so.
Alhamdulillah, that private conversation shifted something—even if just a little—towards Haq
Let me be very clear.
This first meeting did not lead to friendship.
It led to acquaintance, dialogue, and the possibility of change.
It would be unfair of me not to acknowledge one thing I observed closely during our interaction. I sensed that he genuinely feels for the poor and the underprivileged, which perhaps explains his efforts towards setting up a hospital for them. That intent is appreciable. I also realised that, at his core, he is a teacher by heart, someone deeply attached to education and to the act of teaching itself.
The reflection of a shift was visible the very next day in how he spoke, what he spoke, and the respect with which he spoke about the Muslim community from the Annual Day stage. That was not optics. That was impact.
Yes, he extended his hand for friendship—not once, but multiple times.
But more important than friendship is accountability.
I sincerely believe, and time will tell, that people will now notice a change in tone when Khan Sir speaks about Muslims, InshaAllah. I pray that this change remains consistent.
And let me state this clearly, without ambiguity.
If he ever returns to the same narratives of the past, I will be the first to oppose him again publicly and unapologetically.
I pray that does not happen. Because someone with his reach and influence can become a source of benefit for the community and the nation, if guided rightly.
Before he left, I gifted him three books:
1. Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtoom (The Sealed Nectar) by Shaykh Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
2. Absent in Politics by Abdul Rehman, Retired IPS Officer
3. Designing Deprivation: Muslims of India by Abdul Rehman, Retired IPS Officer
I explained why I chose these books and discussed their core ideas with him.
You may troll me.
You may misunderstand me.
But I will not apologise for choosing dialogue when arrogance was easier, and dawah when distance felt safer.
If a door to hearts opens, I will walk through it even if it is uncomfortable.
That is my stand.
