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Zakir Abdul Karim Naik (Arabic: زاكر نايك) (born: October 18, 1965) is an Indian public speaker, and writer on the subject of Islam and comparative religion. By profession, he is a medical doctor, attaining a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Maharashtra, but since 1991 he has focused on preaching Islam.

Zakir Naik is also the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), a non-profit organization that owns Peace TV network.

Biography

Zakir Naik was born on October 18, 1965 in Mumbai, India. He is of Konkani descent.His first educational institution was St. Peter's High School (ICSE) situated in Mumbai. After which he joined Kishinchand Chellaram College in the same city. After his higher secondary degree he studied medicine at Topiwala National Medical College and at Nair Hospital in Mumbai. He completed his MBBS degree from University of Mumbai. In 1991 he gave up his activity as a physician and started working for Dawah or preaching of Islam. Naik says he was inspired by Muslim Scholar Ahmed Deedat. According to Naik, the goal is to "concentrate on the educated Muslim youth who have become apologetic about their own religion and have started to feel that their own religion is outdated."

Lectures and visits

Thomas Blom Hansen, a sociologist at the University of Edinburgh, has written Naik's style of memorizing the Qur'an and hadith literature in various languages, and travelling abroad to debate Islam with theologians, has made him extremely popular in Mumbai. Although he usually speaks to audiences of several hundreds, it is the videotapes of his talks which are widely distributed. His talks are usually recorded in English, to be broadcast at weekends on several cable networks in Mumbai's Muslim neighborhoods, and on the channel Peace TV, which he co-promotes. Topics he speaks on include: "Islam and Modern Science", "Islam and Christianity", and "Islam and secularism", among others. He is the president of the Islamic Research Foundation, which he founded.

Besides delivering numerous public talks in India, Naik has delivered more than 600 public talks in various other countries. He has also authored several books on Islam and Comparative religion as well as those directed towards removing misconceptions about Islam. In 2004 Naik visited New Zealand and then Australian capitals at the invitation of Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia. In his conference in Melbourne, according to journalist Sushi Das, "Naik extolled the moral and spiritual superiority of Islam and lampooned other faiths and the West in general," adding that Naik's words "fostered a spirit of separateness and reinforced prejudice." Journalist Khushwant Singh believes similarly, and claims that Naik's pronouncements are 'juvenile', saying that "they seldom rise above the level of undergraduate college debates" Political Analyst Khaled Ahmed considers that Zakir Naik, by his claims of Islam's superiority over other religious faiths, practices what he calls "reverse Orientalism." In August 2006, Naik's visit and conference in Cardiff (UK) were the object of controversy. Welsh MP David Davies called for his appearance to be cancelled and described him as a 'hate-monger'. Saleem Kidwai, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Wales, disagreed, stating that "people who know about him (Naik) know he is one of the most uncontroversial people you could find," also inviting Davies to discuss further with Naik. Naik's conference went ahead, with the Cardiff council stating it was satisfied that he would not be preaching extremist views. Naik provoked anger amongst some Sunni and a majority Shia comunity at a Mumbai peace conference when he spoke of Yazid I in a positive light, though others believed the comment was blown out of proportion.

References

1. ^ Islamic Research Foundation - Introduction (Dr. Zakir Naik)
2. Khushwant Singh (July 30, 2005). "Putting the clock back". The Tribune. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
3. http://drzakirnaik.com/Home/AboutMe/tabid/54/Default.aspx - Biography from the website of Zakir Naik constructed by his students.
4. Spreading God’s Word Is His Mission - Arab News
5. ^ Hansen, Thomas (2001). Wages of Violence: Naming and Identity in Postcolonial Bombay. Princeton University Press. p. 177. ISBN 0-691-08840-3.
6. ^ Mazumdar, Sudip (2006-01-23). "Beaming In Salvation". Newsweek International. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
7. Syed Neaz Ahmad (February 23, 2007). "Peace TV Reaching 50 Million Viewers – Dr. Zakir Naik". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
8. Replies to the Most Common Questions asked by Non Muslims
9. QUR'ÂN AND MODERN SCIENCE - Compatible Or Incompatible
10. "Scholar clears the air about Islam 'labels'" (PDF). Te Waha Nui. September 6, 2004. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
11. "Between two worlds". The Age. July 28, 2005. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
12. Why Muslims lag behind - Khushwant Singh; retrieved Dec 26, 2007
13. One man’s belief is another’s shackle - Khushwant Singh
14. "Second opinion: Zakir Naik's 'reverse orientalism' —Khaled Ahmed's TV Review". Daily Times. December 16, 2003. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
15. Row over Islamic preacher
16. Cleric's address hailed a success
17. Zakir Naik’s Remarks on Yazid Spark Anger Among Muslims

External links

• Islamic Research Foundation (official website)
• Peace TV (official website)
• Zakir Naik Audio Links Directory of Naik's Lectures
• Lectures by Zakir Naik - Download Lectures By Zakir Naik
• Lectures by Zakir Naik A video collection of Naik's lectures

• Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from May 2008
• 1965 births
• Living people
• Muslim scholars
• Konkani Muslims
• People from Mumbai
• Indian Sunni Muslims