Maria Akbar, who had high hopes for Andrew Tate when he embraced Islam, says she has been hugely disappointed at his un-Islamic behaviour and lack of allegiance to fellow Muslims since his conversion.
Two years ago, Andrew Tate’s conversion to Islam became the focus of online polemics. While many embraced him warmly, others remained cautious due to his controversial background and divisive lifestyle.
I myself wrote an article defending him and arguing that he was already more in step with Islam than many “Muslim feminists.” That piece proved highly divisive with supporters saying that Islam requires new Muslims to be welcomed into the deen no matter who they are, and haters (most of them radical feminists) unable to see past his previous sins.
But it is well-known that embracing Islam means that Allah SWT forgives everything that preceded it. Therefore, it was the mercy and compassion of our faith that guided us to rightfully turn a blind eye to his past.
We were hoping that, given sufficient time, his beliefs and actions, especially those which were public, would change to reflect his deen. So we were optimistic about his conversion, and the fact that he was a prominent figure and influential meant that he had the potential to be a force for good. In short, expectations were high.
Within months of his conversion, there was an uproar pertaining to his and his brother’s arrests for heinous alleged crimes, including rape and human trafficking. But we stayed quiet and stood by him because we knew that the burden of proof must be met to prove a crime. We also wanted to avoid unnecessary provocation or negativity in the public space and to avoid fitnah.
And it is also important to add that all criminal accusations against Tate remain unproven in a court of law so simply cannot be asserted as if they are fact.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Tate needs to do better
That said, Tate needs to do much, much better.
Overall, there has been very little visible reflection of Islam in his behaviour. This is troubling, especially since Tate is outspoken. Given his prominence, one would expect his faith to manifest in some form. Islam demands action and is not meant to be kept hidden in a person’s private life.
Yet, surprisingly, we’ve seen the opposite. Instead of embracing Islamic values, he continues to flaunt his jahil (ignorant) way of living. Moreover, he has been at the forefront of spreading controversy and misinformation online, which raises concerns about his loyalty to the Ummah and his standing within it.
Some may argue that it’s unfair to hold him to such high standards as we are all human and prone to mistakes. But I believe that someone with such a vast platform has an even greater responsibility to behave responsibly. For this reason, he needs to be called out.
Tate’s theatrics have simply no place in Islam – the man who claims to represent the epitome of masculinity continues to post videos of himself in revealing attire, surrounded by jahil environments, focusing on materialism.
Whilst Islam does not demand perfection, he has a duty to do better. At the very least he should keep his sins private instead of broadcasting them to millions around the world. The worst part is that he is fully aware of his influence, particularly on the youth.
To be clear, a true man is defined by his adherence to the Quran and Sunnah, as opposed to his indulgence in whims and desires.
Tate’s lack of wilaya
Moreover, Tate’s lack of wilaya (allegiance) to fellow Muslims is clear through the very fact that he has been integral in spreading fake news and stirring Islamophobia. His alliances seem to be with enemies of Islam including far-right thug Tommy Robinson, and the inept “intellectual” Elon Musk. Need I say more?
Problematically, when he supports the likes of these people, he’s feeding into a narrative that harms Muslims and gives ammunition to those who already seek to tarnish our faith. These actions are not only disappointing, they are dangerous and could lead to physical harm.
Rather, the principle of “al-wala wa-l bara” (loyalty and disavowal) for the sake of Allah should underpin our relationships. With regards to al wala (loyalty) Allah says in the Quran:
“Indeed, your ally (Wali) is Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed – those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship].”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:55)
With regards to al bara (disavowal) Allah says in the Quran:
“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred…”
(Surah Al-Mujadila, 58:22)
These verses highlight the need for association to other believers and disassociation from anyone who is in opposition to Allah, even when it comes from close relationships.
Spreading misinformation
Tate doesn’t stop there. He is actively involved in stirring anti-Islamic propaganda. Most recently he took to X where he tweeted that Britain had an “Islamic crime” problem, referring to the grooming scandal that took place nearly 13 years ago.
With this he has misconstrued facts, misrepresented the truth and misinformed many. His posts on X have further amplified Islamophobia putting us at risk. We can only speculate what his motivations for doing this could be.
It was only a few months ago that he contributed to instigating the far-right fuelled riots that took place after the Southport attacks. He hastily took to X and spread inaccurate information about the perpetrator without any evidence.
Islam on the other hand encourages us to verify news to prevent harm or spreading falsehood.
“O you who have believed, if a wicked person comes to you with any news, verify it, in case you harm a people out of ignorance…”
(Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:6)
In conclusion, there are times when change and reform are required within our communities and issues should be discussed privately. This is to protect the honour and reputation of Islam. Tate on the other hand, seizes public opportunities to publicly portray Muslims negatively.
Yes, he may have spoken up about Gaza; yes, he may have introduced Islam to millions around the world who otherwise may not have been interested in it. But that does not give him a free pass to say harmful things about Muslims for the rest of his life.
So whilst Tate’s journey is his own, he cannot be immune to the effect of his actions. Until his actions align with Islam it remains our responsibility to call out harmful behaviour and ensure that the essence of our faith is preserved, no matter who misrepresents it.
