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| Zakir Naik is also the founder and ] of the ] (IRF), a non-profit organization that owns ] network.<ref name="IRF" /> | Zakir Naik is also the founder and ] of the ] (IRF), a non-profit organization that owns ] network.<ref name="IRF" /> | ||
| Critics have decried the style and substance of his presentations. | |||
| ==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| Zakir Naik was born on ], ] in ], ]. He is of ] descent.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050730/saturday/above.htm | title = Putting the clock back | date = July 30, 2005 | author = Khushwant Singh | work = ] | accessdate = 2007-05-23 }}</ref>His first educational institution was ''St. Peter's High School'' (]) situated in Mumbai. After which he joined ] in the same city. After his higher secondary degree he studied medicine at ] and at ] in Mumbai. He completed his ] degree from ]. In ] he gave up his activity as a physician and started working for Dawah or preaching of ].<ref> - Biography from the website of Zakir Naik constructed by his students.</ref> | Zakir Naik was born on ], ] in ], ]. He is of ] descent.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050730/saturday/above.htm | title = Putting the clock back | date = July 30, 2005 | author = Khushwant Singh | work = ] | accessdate = 2007-05-23 }}</ref>His first educational institution was ''St. Peter's High School'' (]) situated in Mumbai. After which he joined ] in the same city. After his higher secondary degree he studied medicine at ] and at ] in Mumbai. He completed his ] degree from ]. In ] he gave up his activity as a physician and started working for Dawah or preaching of ].<ref> - Biography from the website of Zakir Naik constructed by his students.</ref> | ||
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| ==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
| In 2004 Naik visited New Zealand<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tewahanui.info/pdfs/4/twn04pg04.pdf | title = Scholar clears the air about Islam ‘labels’ | work = ] | date = September 6, 2004 | accessdate = 2007-05-20 }}</ref> and then Australian capitals at the invitation of ]. 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 |
In 2004 Naik visited New Zealand<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tewahanui.info/pdfs/4/twn04pg04.pdf | title = Scholar clears the air about Islam ‘labels’ | work = ] | date = September 6, 2004 | accessdate = 2007-05-20 }}</ref> and then Australian capitals at the invitation of ]. 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."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/sushi-das/between-two-worlds/2005/07/27/1122143904716.html | title = Between two worlds | date = July 28, 2005 | work = ] | accessdate = 2007-05-20 }}</ref> Journalist ] claims that Naik's pronouncements are 'juvenile', saying that "they seldom rise above the level of undergraduate college debates"<ref> - Khushwant Singh; retrieved Dec 26, 2007</ref> He believes that Naik 'rubbishes other religious texts to extol' Islamic scriptures.<ref> - Khushwant Singh</ref> Political Analyst ] considers that Zakir Naik, by his criticism of other religions, and by his claims of Islam's superiority over other religious faiths, practices what he calls "reverse Orientalism" when discussing comparative religion.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_16-12-2003_pg3_4 | title = Second opinion: Zakir Naik’s ‘reverse orientalism’ —Khaled Ahmed’s TV Review | work = ] | date = December 16, 2003 | accessdate = 2007-05-20 }}</ref> | ||
| In August 2006, Naik's visit and conference in ] (UK) were the object of controversy. Welsh MP ] called for his appearance to be cancelled and described him as a 'hate-monger'. According to the South Wales Echo, "Mr Davies said Dr Naik's views, which have included calling for the execution of Muslims who reject their faith and calling all Americans 'pigs', did not deserve a public platform."<ref></ref> Naik's conference went ahead, with the Cardiff council stating it was satisfied that he would not be preaching extremist views.<ref></ref> | In August 2006, Naik's visit and conference in ] (UK) were the object of controversy. Welsh MP ] called for his appearance to be cancelled and described him as a 'hate-monger'. According to the South Wales Echo, "Mr Davies said Dr Naik's views, which have included calling for the execution of Muslims who reject their faith and calling all Americans 'pigs', did not deserve a public platform."<ref></ref> Naik's conference went ahead, with the Cardiff council stating it was satisfied that he would not be preaching extremist views.<ref></ref> | ||
| ] who supported the ban on ]'s book has said that he finds Naik's pronouncements as 'juvenile', adding that "they seldom rise above the level of undergraduate college debates"<ref> - Khushwant Singh; retrieved Dec 26, 2007</ref> Singh has said that Naik and Muslims who listen to him are 'trivialising' Islam.<ref> - Khushwant Singh ()</ref> He has praised Naik's memory but observes that Naik 'rubbishes other religious texts to extol' Islamic scriptures.<ref> - Khushwant Singh</ref> | |||
| Ali Sina, the founder of ] believes Naik 'twists the truth and fools his audience'.<ref name=ICWales> </ref> Political Analyst ] considers that Zakir Naik, by his criticism of other religions, and by his claims of Islam's superiority over other religious faiths, practices what he calls "reverse Orientalism" when discussing comparative religion.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_16-12-2003_pg3_4 | title = Second opinion: Zakir Naik’s ‘reverse orientalism’ —Khaled Ahmed’s TV Review | work = ] | date = December 16, 2003 | accessdate = 2007-05-20 }}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 14:15, 28 December 2007
| Zakir Naik | |
|---|---|
| School | Islam |
| Website | www.irf.net |
Zakir Abdul Karim Naik (Arabic: زاكر نايك) (born: October 18, 1965) is an Indian Islamic scholar, 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.
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."
Naik says he was inspired by Muslim Scholar Ahmed Deedat who has called him 'Deedat Plus' . Deedat said that Naik had achieved in four years what he could not in forty years.
Lectures
Thomas Blom Hansen, a sociologist at the University of Edinburgh, has written that 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 copromotes. 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 including United States, Canada, U.K., Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, South Africa, Mauritius, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand and Guyana (South America).
Criticism
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 claims that Naik's pronouncements are 'juvenile', saying that "they seldom rise above the level of undergraduate college debates" He believes that Naik 'rubbishes other religious texts to extol' Islamic scriptures. Political Analyst Khaled Ahmed considers that Zakir Naik, by his criticism of other religions, and by his claims of Islam's superiority over other religious faiths, practices what he calls "reverse Orientalism" when discussing comparative religion.
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'. According to the South Wales Echo, "Mr Davies said Dr Naik's views, which have included calling for the execution of Muslims who reject their faith and calling all Americans 'pigs', did not deserve a public platform." Naik's conference went ahead, with the Cardiff council stating it was satisfied that he would not be preaching extremist views.
See also
References
- ^ Islamic Research Foundation - Introduction (Dr. Zakir Naik)
- Khushwant Singh (July 30, 2005). "Putting the clock back". The Tribune. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
- http://drzakirnaik.com/Home/AboutMe/tabid/54/Default.aspx - Biography from the website of Zakir Naik constructed by his students.
- ^ Hansen (2001) p. 177
- ^ Spreading God’s Word Is His Mission - Arab News
- ^ Mazumdar, Sudip (2006-01-23). "Beaming In Salvation". Newsweek International.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - Syed Neaz Ahmad (February 23, 2007). "Peace TV Reaching 50 Million Viewers – Dr. Zakir Naik". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- "Scholar clears the air about Islam 'labels'" (PDF). Te Waha Nui. September 6, 2004. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- "Between two worlds". The Age. July 28, 2005. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- Why Muslims lag behind - Khushwant Singh; retrieved Dec 26, 2007
- One man’s belief is another’s shackle - Khushwant Singh
- "Second opinion: Zakir Naik's 'reverse orientalism' —Khaled Ahmed's TV Review". Daily Times. December 16, 2003. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- Row over Islamic preacher
- Cleric's address hailed a success
- Hansen, Thomas (2001). Wages of Violence: Naming and Identity in Postcolonial Bombay. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08840-3.
External links
- Islamic Research Foundation (official website)
- Peace TV (official website)
- Zakir Naik Audio Links Directory of Naik's Lectures
- Lectures by Dr Zakir Naik A video collection of Naik's lectures