Jump to content

Zakir Naik

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by XSAFX (talk | contribs) at 15:34, 14 November 2009 (→External links: Dead link removed, updated link to videos added). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Zakir Naik
File:Dr. Zakir Naik.jpg
Born
Zakir Abdul Karim Naik

(1965-10-18) October 18, 1965 (age 58)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
EducationKishinchand Chellaram College
Alma materUniversity of Mumbai
Occupation(s)Islamic preacher, medical doctor, orator
Years active1991–present
Board member ofIslamic Research Foundation
SpouseFarhat Naik
WebsiteIRF.net
PeaceTV.tv

Zakir Abdul Karim Naik (Hindi: ज़ाकिर अब्दुल करीम नायक; born 18 October, 1965) is an Indian Muslim 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 (MBBS) from Maharashtra, but since 1991 he has started getting involved in Islamic proselytism (da'wah) and Comparative Religion part-time.[1] For few years he continued his practice as a Doctor and was also doing part-time "Da'wah". Since 1997 he started doing Da'wah full-time. He states that his main goal is to revive the crucial fundamentals of Islam in the context of modernity.

Zakir Naik is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF)[1][2] —a non-profit organization that owns and broadcasts the free-to-air TV channel network Peace TV from Mumbai, India.

Biography

Zakir Naik was born in a Muslim family in Bombay (now known as Mumbai) in India.[3] He attended St. Peter's High School (ICSE) in the city of Mumbai. Later he joined the Kishinchand Chellaram College and then studied medicine at Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital in Mumbai. He then received his MBBS degree from the University of Mumbai. In 1991 he started working in the field of Da'wah or proselytizing of Islam part-time[4]

Naik says he was finally inspired by the late Ahmed Deedat[5] who had himself been active in the field of Da'wah for more than forty years.[6] According to Naik, his goal is to "concentrate on the educated Muslim youth who have become apologetic about their own religion and have started to feel the religion is outdated"[7] and that it was the duty of every Muslim to remove perceived misconceptions about Islam to counter what he considers as the Western media’s anti-Islamic bias in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon the United States. [8] He has lectured and authored several books on Islam and Comparative religion[9] as well as those directed towards removing misconceptions about Islam.[10][11] Some of his articles are also frequently published in Indian magazines like the Islamic Voice.[12][13][14]

Thomas Blom Hansen, a sociologist who held academic positions at various universities, has written that Naik's style of memorizing the Qur'an and hadith literature in various languages, preaching Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims alike and travelling abroad to debate Islam with theologians, has made him extremely popular in Muslim and non-Muslim circles. Although he regularly speaks to audiences of several hundreds, and sometimes thousands, it is the videotapes and DVDs 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,[7] and on the channel Peace TV, which he co-promotes. [2][15] Topics he speaks on include: "Islam and Modern Science", "Islam and Christianity", and "Islam and secularism", among others.[7]

Lectures and Debates

Naik has held many debates and lectures around the world, he regularly holds lectures in Mumbai, India, and every year since 2007 leads a 10-day "Peace Conference" at Somaiya Ground, Sion, Mumbai with other prominent scholars, which included Malaysian politician, Anwar Ibrahim in 2008. [16]

In April 2000, Naik took part in a debate with William Cambell, the topic was Islam and Christianity in the light of science, where both discussed perceived scientific errors in the scriptures.[17]

Delivering a lecture titled Why Westerners embrace Islam in November 2002 at King Fahd Hospital auditorium in Jeddah, Zakir Naik argued that Islam offers practical solutions to various problems facing the West such as adultery, alcoholism and filial ingratitude. Naik also stated that "despite the strident anti-Islam campaign, 34,000 Americans have embraced Islam from September 2001 to July 2002." He cites a report published in the Time Magazine which said that about 60,000 books on Islam and the Orient have been written between 1800 and 1950 alone. - [18] [19]

In 2004, Naik visited New Zealand[20] 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 however, "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". [21]

On 21 January 2006, Naik held an inter-religious dialogue with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The event was about the concept of God in Islam and Hinduism, the aim being to bring understanding between the two major religions of India, and at best to point out the commonalities between both Islam and Hinduism, such as how idolatry is prohibited. It was held in Bangalore, India with up to 50,000 attending at the Palace Grounds.[22]

In August 2006, Naik's visit and conference in Cardiff (UK) were the object of controversy when Welsh MP David Davies called for his appearance to be cancelled. He described him as a 'hate-monger', and said his views did not deserve a 'public platform'; Muslims from Cardiff, however, defended Naik's right to speak in their city. Saleem Kidwai, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Wales, disagreed with Davies, stating that "people who know about him (Naik) know that he is one of the most uncontroversial persons you could find. He talks about the similarities between religions, and how should we work on the common ground between them", whilst also inviting Davies to discuss further with Naik personally in the conference. The conference went ahead, after the Cardiff council stated it was satisfied that he would not be preaching extremist views.[23][24]

Following a lecture by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2006, Naik offered to engage in a live public debate with him, but the Pope has not responded to this invitation.[25][26]

In November 2007, the IRF organized a 10-day international Islamic conference and exhibition titled The Peace Conference at the Somaiya grounds in Mumbai. Lectures on Islam were presented by Naik as well as twenty other Islamic scholars from around the world.[27]

During one of the lectures, Naik provoked anger amongst members of the Shia communities at the conference when he mentioned the words “Radiallah ta'la anho” (meaning 'May Allah be pleased with him') after mentioning the name of Yazid I and made remarks that the battle of Karbala was political.[28] Others however believed the comment was blown out of proportion [29]

In a lecture delivered on 31st July 2008 on Peace TV, Naik argued that 9/11 was an insider's job done by George Bush himself so that Bush could then attack oil-rich countries.[30][31]

In the issue dated 22 February, 2009 of the Indian Express list of “100 Most Powerful Indians in 2009” amongst the billion plus population of India, Zakir Naik was ranked No. 82. In the special list of the “Top 10 Spiritual Gurus of India” Zakir Naik was ranked No. 3, after Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, being the only Muslim in the list.

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. [32] In a lecture at Melbourne University, Naik argued that only Islam gave women true equality.[33] He stressed the importance of the headscarf by arguing that the more "revealing Western dress" makes women more susceptible to sexual harassment.[34]

Criticisms

Khushwant Singh, a highly prominent Indian journalist, argues that Naik's pronouncements are "juvenile" and said that "they seldom rise above the level of undergraduate college debates, where contestants vie with each other to score brownie points".[35][36]

References

  1. ^ a b Islamic Research Foundation - Introduction (Dr. Zakir Naik)[dead link]
  2. ^ a b Mazumdar, Sudip (2006-01-23). "Beaming In Salvation". Newsweek International.
  3. ^ "Zakir Naik". Tungekar.com. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  4. ^ http://drzakirnaik.com/Home/AboutMe/tabid/54/Default.aspx - Biography of Dr. Zakir Naik from DrZakirNaik.com (A website constructed by his students)
  5. ^ Spreading God’s Word Is His Mission - Arab News
  6. ^ Muslims Mourn Ahmed Deedat, IslamOnline.net, August 8, 2005
  7. ^ a b c Hansen, Thomas (2001). Wages of Violence: Naming and Identity in Postcolonial Bombay. Princeton University Press. p. 177. ISBN 0-691-08840-3.
  8. ^ Media Urged to Counter Anti-Muslim Bias - Arab news, Sunday October 9, 2005
  9. ^ Ten Most Common Questions asked by Christian Missionaries against Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik on IRF.net
  10. ^ Books Authored by Dr. Zakir Naik[dead link]
  11. ^ FAQs on Islam by Dr. Zakir Naik
  12. ^ Prohibition of Alcohol in Islam - Islamic Voice
  13. ^ Was Islam Spread by the Sword? - by Dr. Zakir Naik
  14. ^ Are Ram And Krishna Prophets Of God? - Islamic Voice
  15. ^ Syed Neaz Ahmad (February 23, 2007). "Peace TV Reaching 50 Million Viewers – Dr. Zakir Naik". Saudi Gazette. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  16. ^ Shahid Raza Burney (2007-12-31) Zakir Naik’s Remarks on Yazid Spark Anger Among Muslims Arab News. Retrieved on 2009-07-30.
  17. ^ Khaled Ahmed (2006-01-08) WORD FOR WORD: William Campbell versus Zakir Naik Daily Times. Retrieved on 2009-07-30.
  18. ^ New Muslims on the rise in US after Sept. 11
  19. ^ Time Magazine, Islam, Orientalism And the West; Monday, Apr. 16, 1979
  20. ^ "Scholar clears the air about Islam 'labels'" (PDF). Te Waha Nui. September 6, 2004. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  21. ^ "Between two worlds". The Age. July 28, 2005. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  22. ^ Religious dialogue for Spiritual Enlightenment Retrieved on 2009-07-20.
  23. ^ Row over Islamic preacher - WalesOnline.co.uk
  24. ^ Katie Bodinger (2006-08-21). "Cleric's address hailed a success". Icwales.icnetwork.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  25. ^ Dr Zakir Naik invites Pope Benedict XVI for open interfaith dialogue - Pak Tribune, September 29, 2006
  26. ^ Pope Benedict’s Provocative Utterances op ed by Latheef Farook, South Asia News Agency, October 18, 2006
  27. ^ Justice, peace & unity: The cornerstone of Islam by Syed Neaz Ahmad, Saudi Gazette,
  28. ^ Row_over_Islamic_preachers_remarks by Mohammed Wajihuddin,Times of India
  29. ^ Zakir Naik’s Remarks on Yazid Spark Anger Among Muslims by Shahid Raza Burney ,Arab News
  30. ^ | Naik:9/11 an insiders job
  31. ^ Naik:9/11 an insiders job (transcript)
  32. ^ "Second opinion: Zakir Naik's 'reverse orientalism' —Khaled Ahmed's TV Review". Daily Times. December 16, 2003. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  33. ^ "Islam's gender debate at the fore". Theage.com.au. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  34. ^ "The clash of ignorance". Theage.com.au. 2005-08-06. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  35. ^ One man’s belief is another’s shackle by Khuswant Singh,
  36. ^ Why Muslims lag behind by Khuswant Singh,
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zakir_Naik&oldid=325808060"