Bilal Philips
Born	January 7, 1952 (Age 57) Kingston, Jamaica
Nationality	Canadian
Religious beliefs	Islam -
Website www.bilalphilips.com

Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips is a Muslim teacher, speaker, and author, resident in Qatar.^[1][2] He appears on Peace TV, which is a 24-hour Islamic satellite TV channel broadcasted to many countries around the world. Dr. Philips played a significant role in preaching Islam to the american soldiers during the gulf war which resulted in the conversion of nearly 3000 soldiers.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Education 1.2 Islamic Information Center 1.3 Controversies 2 Publications 2.1 Books 2.2 Videos 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Education

Dr. Philips was born January 7, 1952 in Jamaica, but grew up in Canada, where he converted to Islam in 1972.

[edit] Islamic Information Center

In 1994 he founded (and continues to direct) an Islamic Information Center, now known as Discover Islam, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

[edit] Controversies

In April 2007, Australian and U.S media reported that Philips was denied a visa to enter Australia to speak at an Islamic conference in Melbourne. Immigration minister Kevin Andrews said that the denial was based upon a check of the "the movement alert list, which contains approximately three million records of persons of concern, including those who may pose a national security risk".^[1] The report stated that the US Government had named Philips as an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, that he was deported from the US in 2004 and that "Sheik Philips, 50, a Canadian citizen who lives in Qatar, had once written that "Western culture, led by the United States, is the enemy of Islam."

In an interview given at that time, Philips accused the Australian authorities of "blindly following American allegations and unsubstantiated false accusations" claiming that investigations in the UK, Canada and Australia had found no evidence that he was connected with terrorism.^[2] In this interview, he also stated that he had not entered the USA since 1995, characterizing the accusation that he had been deported in 2004 as an "outright lie". Philips also called the statement that he was an "unindicted co-conspirator” in the 1993 World Trade Center "really a joke", claiming that it was based on a "supposedly leaked report" of over 100 prominent Muslims who were never charged. His response to the issue is posted on YouTube as "Bilal Philips replies on Australian Visa denial".

He was also prevented from delivering a speech at the Queen Mary University in London, during the Queen Mary Islamic Society Annual Dinner held in 6 March 2009.^[3]

[edit] Publications

[edit] Books

• Islamic Studies Al-Basheer 2002
• Funeral Rites International Islamic Publishing House
• The Fundamentals of TAWHEED (Islamic Monotheism) International Islamic Publishing House
• The Purpose of Creation 84pp, Islamic Book Services 2002; ISBN:8172313586
• The True Message of Jesus Christ Islamic Book Services 2006; ISBN:9788172313609
• Polygamy in Islam Islamic Book Services
• Purpose of Creation

(and many others)

[edit] Videos

• Sundry videos at You Tube
• Sundry videos at LightUponLight.com

[edit] See also

• Muslim converts
• List of Da'ees
• Dawah
• Islam in Canada
• Zakir Naik
• Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo
• Muhammad bin Jamil Zeno

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} McManus G Radical sheik refused entry for Islamic talks The Australian/Herald Sun, 4 April 2007
2. ^ ^{a b} Austrolabe: Exclusive Interview with Dr Bilal Philips at Islamic Information & Services Network of Australasia, 11 April 2007
3. ^ Annual Dinner 2009at Queen Mary Islamic Society

[edit] External links

• Bilal Philips' official website
• Bilal Philips audio and video lectures
• Interview with Bilal Philips on Famous Muslims
• Lecture: Hardening of the Heart