Zakir Abdul Karim Naik (Urdu: ذاکر عبدالکریم نائیک; born 18 October 1965) is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF),[1][2] which is a non-profit organization that owns Peace TV channel based in Mumbai, India. A prominent Muslim figure in the Muslim world, Naik is also a public speaker and a writer on the subject of Islam and other comparative religion.
Naik originally began his career as a medical doctor, having attained a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Mumbai. After being inspired by Ahmed Deedat, Naik began part-time, and later switched to a full-time career, by giving Islamic speeches to the public.
| Zakir Naik |
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| Born | Zakir Abdul Karim Naik October 18, 1965 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | ||||
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| Education | Kishinchand Chellaram College | ||||
| Alma mater | University of Mumbai | ||||
| Occupation | President of Islamic Research Foundation, Orator, Public speaker | ||||
| Years active | 1991–present | ||||
| Board member of | Islamic Research Foundation | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
| Spouse | Farhat Zakir Naik | ||||
| Website | |||||
| IRF.net PeaceTV | |||||
Biography
Zakir Abdul Karim Naik was born on 18 October 1965 in Mumbai, 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 his native city and received his MBBS degree from the University of Mumbai.[citation needed] In 1991 he started working in the field of Da'wah Islam.
Naik says he was inspired by the late Ahmed Deedat,[4] who had been active in the field of Da'wah for more than 50 years.[5] 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the educated Muslim youth who have become apologetic about their own religion and have started to feel the religion is outdated",[6] He considers it a duty of every Muslim to remove perceived misconceptions about Islam and to counter what he views as the Western media's anti-Islamic bias in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon the United States.[7] Some of his articles are also published in magazines like the Islamic Voice.[8][9][10]
Anthropologist Thomas Blom Hansen has written[6] that Naik's style of memorizing the Qur'an and hadith literature in various languages and related missionary activity has made him extremely popular in Muslim and non-Muslim circles.[6] Many of his debates are recorded and widely distributed in video and DVD media as well as online. 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.[2][11] Topics he speaks on include: "Islam and Modern Science", "Islam and Christianity", and "Islam and secularism".
Apart from IRF, Naik is also the founder and chairman of the Islamic International School (IIS), Mumbai. He is also the founder of Peace TV Network.
Lectures and debates
Naik has held many debates and lectures around the world as well as in Mumbai, India. One of Naik's most cited debates took place in Chicago in April, 2000 featuring William Campbell of Pennsylvania, USA on the topic "The Qur'an and the Bible: In the Light of Science".[12] On 11 February 2011, the Oxford Union invited Dr. Zakir by a satellite link for a debate under the name Islam and the 21st century followed by questions and answers session .
Naik also stated that "despite the strident anti-Islam campaign, 34,000 Americans have embraced Islam from September 2001 to July 2002." He cited an article by Edward Said published in the TimeOrient have been written between 1800 and 1950 alone.[13][14] magazine, which said that 60,000 books about Islam and the
In a lecture at Melbourne University, Naik argued that only Islam gave women true equality.[15] He stressed the importance of the headscarf by arguing that the more "revealing Western dress" makes women more susceptible to rape.[16]
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 them. It was held in Bangalore, India with up to 50,000 attending at the Palace Grounds.[17]
In a lecture delivered on 31 July 2008 on Peace TV, Naik stated, regarding 9/11: "it is a blatant, open secret that this attack on the Twin Towers was done by George Bush himself", to give Bush reason to attack and control oil-rich countries.[18][19]
On 7 March 2010 Naik participated in a live discussion with Soha Ali Khan and others on a TV show We The People on NDTV.[20]
Peace conferences
Every year since November 2007, Naik has lead a 10-day "Peace Conference" at Somaiya Ground, Sion, Mumbai. Lectures on Islam have been presented by Naik as well as twenty other Islamic scholars from around the world.[21] Another prominent personality was the Malaysian politician, Anwar Ibrahim in 2008.[22]
During one of the lectures at the Peace Conference, Naik provoked anger among members of the Shia and Sunni communities, 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.[23] Others, however, believed the comment was blown out of proportion.[24]
In November 2009, the IRF organized a 10-day international Islamic conference and exhibition titled 'Peace – the solution for humanity' at the Somaiya grounds in Mumbai. Lectures on Islam were presented by Naik as well as thirty other Islamic scholars from around the world.[25]
Writings
In 2007, the Saudi publishing house, Dar-us-Salam Publications, published two titles written by Naik, entitled "The Concept of God in Major Religions"[26] and "The Qur'an and Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible?".[27]
Biological evolution
On the issue of the theory of evolution, Naik commented that it contradicts Islam since it remains "just a theory and not a fact". According to Naik, scientists "support the theory, because it went against the Bible – not because it was true."[28] According to Naik, there are hundreds of scientists and Nobel Prize winners who speak against Darwin's theory.[29]
Visit to New Zealand and Wales
In 2004, Naik visited New Zealand[30] and then the Australian capital at the invitation of Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia. At his conference in Melbourne, senior Age writer and columnist[31] Sushi Das commented that "Naik extolled the moral and spiritual superiority of Islam and lampooned other faiths and the West in general", further criticizing that Naik's words "fostered a spirit of separateness and reinforced prejudice".[32]
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 argued that Naik was 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.[33][34] Khushwant Singh, a prominent Indian journalist, politician and author 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". Singh disagreed with Naik's statement that "Western society claims to have uplifted women. On the contrary, it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses, and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers".[35] Singh wrote: "Dr. Naik, you know next to nothing about the Western society and are talking through your skull cap. People like you are making the Muslims lag behind other communities." Singh also noted that Naik's audiences "listen to him with rapt attention and often explode in enthusiastic applause when he rubbishes other religious texts".[36][37]
Fatwas
In August 2008, Darul Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa stating: "The statements made by Dr Zakir Naik indicate that he is a preacher of Ghair Muqallidin. One should not rely upon his speeches.".[38]
In 2008 the Lucknow-based cleric Abul Irfan Mian Firangi Mahali issued a fatwa against Naik, describing him as a "kafir" (non-believer) and stating in the fatwa that Naik should be ex-communicated from Islam.[citation needed] He argued that Naik is not an Islamic scholar, his teachings are against the Quran, that he insults Allah and glorifies Yazeed, the killer of Imam Hussain", and that Naik had supported Osama bin Laden. Naik, however, has said that his speeches have been misquoted and he has downplayed the fatwa.[citation needed] The All-India Sunni Board and Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Foundation defended Naik.[39][40]
Views on apostasy
Naik has stated that any Muslim is free to convert out of Islam if the person so chooses, but added that if a Muslim converts and then speaks against Islam it should be considered as treason. Naik stated that under Islamic law this is punishable by death.[citation needed]
During a question and answer session at Naik's lecture on May 29 on the Maldives, a 37-year old Maldivian citizen named Mohamed Nazim stood up and announced that he was struggling to believe in any religion and did not consider himself to be a Muslim. Nazim further asked what Naik's verdict would be under Islam and in the Maldives.[41] Dr Naik responded that he considers the punishment for apostasy does not necessarily mean death, since Muhammed was reported in the Hadith scriptures on some occasion to have shown clemency towards apostates, but added that if a Muslim apostate speaks and propagates against Islam under Islamic Shari’a rule then the apostate should be put to death.[citation needed] Mohamed Nazim was reported to have been arrested and put in protective custody by the Maldivian Police. He later publicly reverted back to Islam in custody after receiving two days of counseling by two islamic scholars, but was held awaiting possible charges.[42][43][44]
Views on terrorism
Naik's views and statements on terrorism have at times been criticised in the media and by the United Kingdom Home Secretary.[45] In a YouTube video speaking of Osama bin Laden, Naik said that he would not criticise bin Laden because he had not met him and did not know him personally. He added: "If he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him. If he is terrorizing the terrorists, America, the biggest terrorist, I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist. ... A terrorist is a person who causes terror. The moment a robber sees a policeman he is terrified. A policeman is a terrorist for the robber. Similarly every Muslim should be a terrorist for the antisocial elements of society, such as thieves, dacoits and rapists. Whenever such an anti-social element sees a Muslim, he should be terrified. It is true that the word ‘terrorist’ is generally used for a person who causes terror among the common people. But a true Muslim should only be a terrorist to selective people i.e. anti-social elements, and not to the common innocent people. In fact a Muslim should be a source of peace for innocent people."[45]
Debate with Hindu leaders
Naik argued in his writings that Vedas and other Hindu scriptures allude to the coming of Muhammad.[46] This evoked strong criticism from Hindus in general and Arya Samaj in particular, who consider Vedas to be revealed texts. Because Naik claimed to have defeated Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in a debate, he was challenged to debate Arya Samaj on this issue.[47] After he refused to officially respond, a detailed rebuttal of Naik's views along with the details of communications with IRF was made online by Arya Samaj.[48]
2010 exclusion from the UK and Canada
Naik has been denied entry into the United Kingdom and Canada since June 2010.[49][50][51][52][53]banned by the Home Secretary Theresa May. He had arranged to give talks in London and Sheffield. May said of the exclusion order regarding Naik, "Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behavior". She noted statements from Naik such as, "every Muslim should be a terrorist".[51][52] Naik's full quote is: "Every Muslim should be a terrorist. A terrorist is a person who causes terror. The moment a robber sees a policeman he is terrified. A policeman is a terrorist for the robber. Similarly every Muslim should be a terrorist for the antisocial elements of society, such as thieves, dacoits and rapists".[54] He was
Naik believed that the Home secretary was making a "political decision and not a legal one".[55][56] It was reported that Naik would attempt to challenge the ruling in the High court.[57] His application for judicial review was dismissed on 5 November 2010.[58]
Influence as revealed by published newspaper rankings
On 31 January 2010, the Sunday Express published The Indian Express list of the “100 Most Powerful Indians in 2010”. It ranked Naik at 89.[59] Of the Muslims in this list, Naik was the only Islamic preacher. The other Muslims were a political secretary, a politician, a government official, a business magnate and three film personalities.[60] He was the third most influential religious figure listed in 2009,[61] whereas in 2010 he rose to become the highest placed religious leader at No. 89 followed by Jaggi Vasudev at 94, Baba Ramdev at 99 and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at 100.[62]
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