Zakir Naik
Zakir Abdul Karim Naik | |
|---|---|
| File:Zakirbooks.jpg | |
| Born | October 18, 1965 Mumbai |
| Occupation | Islamic Da'wah |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Website | |
| www.irf.net | |
Zakir Abdul Karim Naik (born October 18, 1965) is a Muslim Indian public speaker, debater of Konkani descent,[1], 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,[2] but since 1993 he has focused on preaching Islam.[3] 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Muslim youth who have become apologetic about their own religion and have started to feel that their own religion is outdated."[3] Topics he speaks on include: "Islam and Modern Science", "Islam and Christianity", and "Islam and secularism", among others.[3] He is the president of the Islamic Research Foundation, which he founded.[4]
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.[5]
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,[3] and on the channel Peace TV, which he copromotes.[4][6]
In 2004 he visited New Zealand[7] and then Australian capitals at the invitation of Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia.[8]
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' - a description rejected by Cardiff's Muslims. 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."[9]
Ali Sina, the founder of Faith Freedom International has said that Naik is a showman who 'twists the truth and fools his audience'.[9]
References
- ^ Khushwant Singh (July 30, 2005). "Putting the clock back". The Tribune. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
- ^ "To curb the anti-Islam propaganda, formation of English Channel and newspaper a must: Dr. Zakir Naik". The Siasat Daily. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- ^ a b c d Hansen (2001) p. 177
- ^ a b Mazumdar, Sudip (2006-01-23). "Beaming In Salvation". Newsweek International.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "Second opinion: Zakir Naik's 'reverse orientalism' —Khaled Ahmed's TV Review". Daily Times. December 16, 2003. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Row over Islamic preacher
- Hansen, Thomas (2001). Wages of Violence: Naming and Identity in Postcolonial Bombay. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08840-3.
External links
- Zakir Naik Official Website
- Islamic Research Foundation
- Zakir Naik Audio Links Directory of Naik's Lectures
- Zakir Naik on Polygomy
- Lectures by Dr Zakir Naik A video collection of Naik's lectures