| Zakir Naik | |
|---|---|
| Born | Zakir Abdul Karim Naik October 18, 1965 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Education | Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery |
| Alma mater | Kishinchand Chellaram College Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital University of Mumbai |
| Occupation | President of Islamic Research Foundation, public speaker |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Known for | Dawah |
| Influenced by | Ahmed Deedat |
| Board member of | Islamic Research Foundation |
| Religion | Islam |
| Spouse | Farhat Naik |
| Website | |
| IRF.net PeaceTV.tv |
|
Zakir Abdul Karim Naik (Urdu: ذاکر عبدالکریم نائیک; born 18 October 1965) is an Indian public speaker on the subject of Islam and comparative religion. He is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF),[1] a non-profit organization that owns the Peace TV channel based in Dubai, UAE. He is sometimes referred to as a televangelist.[2][3] Before becoming a public speaker, he trained as a doctor.[3] He has written booklets on Islam and comparative religion. He is regarded as an exponent of the Salafi ideology,[4][5] but in his own statements he has rejected the relevance of sectarian or Madh'hab designations.[6]
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Zakir Abdul Karim Naik was born on 18 October 1965 in Mumbai, India. He attended St. Peter's High School in Mumbai. Later he enrolled at Kishinchand Chellaram College, before studying medicine at Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital and later the University of Mumbai, where he obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).[1] His wife, Farhat Naik, works for the women's section of the IRF.[7]
In 1991 he started working in the field of Dawah, and founded the IRF.[8] Naik says he was inspired by Ahmed Deedat, an Islamic preacher, having met him in 1987.[9] (Naik is sometimes referred to as "Deedat plus", a label given to him by Deedat himself.)[9][10] Naik says that 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the educated Muslim youth who have become apologetic about their own religion and have started to feel the religion is outdated."[11] He considers it a duty of every Muslim to remove perceived misconceptions about Islam and to counter what he views as the Western media's anti-Islamic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 the September 11, 2001 attacks (also known as 9/11) in the United States.[12] Some of his articles are published in magazines such as Islamic Voice.[13]
Anthropologist Thomas Blom Hansen has written that Naik's style of memorizing the Quran and Hadith literature in various languages, and his related missionary activity, has made him extremely popular in Muslim and non-Muslim circles.[11] Many of his debates are recorded and widely distributed in video and DVD media and online. His talks are usually recorded in English and broadcast on weekends on several cable networks in Mumbai's Muslim neighborhoods, and on the Peace TV channel, which he co-produces.[14][15] Topics he speaks on include: "Islam and Modern Science", "Islam and Christianity", and "Islam and secularism".
Naik is the founder of the Islamic International School in Mumbai.[16]
Naik has held many debates and lectures around the world. One of Naik's most-cited debates was with William Campbell in Chicago in April 2000 on the topic of "The Qur'an and the Bible: In the Light of Science".[17]
Naik has said that "despite the strident anti-Islam campaign, 34,000 Americans have embraced Islam from September 2001 to July 2002." He says Islam is a religion of reason and logic, and that the Quran contains 1000 verses relating to science, which he says explains the number of Western converts.[18] A popular theme of Naik's is to demonstrate how scientific theories were prophesised by the Quran. For example, he says certain verses of the Quran accurately describe embryological development.[19]
On 21 January 2006 Naik held an inter-religious debate with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bangalore about the concept of God in Islam and Hinduism.[20]
In 2008 an Islamic scholar in Lucknow, shahar qazi Mufti Abul Irfan Mian Firangi Mahali, issued a fatwa against Naik, saying that he supported Osama bin Laden, and that his teachings were un-Islamic.[21]
In February 2011 Naik addressed the Oxford Union via video link from India.[22]
Every year since November 2007 Naik has led a 10-day Peace Conference at Somaiya Ground, Sion, Mumbai. Lectures on Islam have been presented by Naik and twenty other Islamic scholars.[23]
During one of the lectures at the 2007 Peace Conference, Naik provoked anger between members of the Shia and Sunni communities, when he said the words "Radiallah ta'la anho" ("May Allah be pleased with him") after mentioning the name of Caliph Yazid I—a figure hated by many Muslims, but particularly by Shias—and said the battle of Karbala was political.[24] Others, however, believed the comment was blown out of proportion.[25]
In 2007 Saudi-based Dar-us-Salam Publications published two booklets written by Naik: The Concept of God in Major Religions and The Qur'an and Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible?
Naik has said that the theory of evolution is "only a hypothesis, and an unproven conjecture at best".[26] According to Naik, most scientists "support the theory, because it went against the Bible – not because it was true."[27]
In 2004 Naik, at the invitation of the Islamic Information and Services Network of Australasia, made an appearance at Melbourne University, where he argued that only Islam gave women true equality.[28] He said the more "revealing Western dress" makes women more susceptible to rape.[29] Sushi Das of The Agecommented 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".[30]
In August 2006 Naik's visit and conference in Cardiff caused controversy when Welsh MP David Davies called for his appearance to be cancelled. He said Naik was a "hate-monger", and that his views did not deserve a public platform; Muslims from Cardiff, however, defended Naik's right to speak in the 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.[31]
Naik has said that any Muslim is free to convert from Islam if the person so chooses, but added that if a Muslim converts and then speaks against Islam it should be considered treason. Naik stated that under Islamic law this is punishable by death.[32]
Naik's views and statements on terrorism have at times been criticised in the media. 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 that, "If bin Laden is fighting enemies of Islam, I am for him," and that "If he is terrorizing America — the terrorist, biggest terrorist — I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist."[33]
In 2010, he said he had been quoted out of context regarding these remarks on terrorism. "As far as terrorist is concerned," he said, "I tell the Muslims that every Muslim should be a terrorist. ... What is the meaning of the word terrorist? Terrorist by definition means a person who terrorises. So in this context every Muslim should be a terrorist to each and every anti-social element. I’m aware that terrorist is more commonly used for a person who terrorises innocent human beings. So in this context no Muslim should ever terrorise a single innocent human being."[34]
In a subsequent interview with Time, he later said: "I have always condemned terrorism, because according to the glorious Koran, if you kill one innocent person, then you have killed the whole of humanity".[35]
In a lecture delivered on 31 July 2008 on Peace TV, Naik said, regarding the September 11 attacks: "it is a blatant, open secret that this attack on the Twin Towers was done by George Bush himself",referring to various 9/11 conspiracy theories to give the United States reason to attack and control oil-rich countries.[36]
Naik was denied entry into the United Kingdom and Canada in June 2010.[37][38] He was banned from entering the UK by Home Secretary Theresa May after arranging to give talks in London and Sheffield. May said of the exclusion order, "Numerous comments made by Dr Naik are evidence to me of his unacceptable behavior". [37] Naik argued that the Home Secretary was making a political decision and not a legal one, and his lawyer said the decision was "barbaric and inhuman". He also claimed that his comments were taken out of context.[39] Film producer Mahesh Bhatt supported Naik, saying the ban constituted an attack on freedom of speech.[40] It was reported that Naik would attempt to challenge the ruling in the High Court.[41] His application for judicial review was dismissed on 5 November 2010.[8] Naik was forbidden from entering Canada after Tarek Fatah, founder of Muslim Canadian Congress, warned MPs of Naik's views.[38]
Naik was ranked 89 on The Indian Express's list of the "100 Most Powerful Indians in 2010".[42] He was ranked 82 in the 2009 edition.[43] According to Praveen Swami, Naik is "perhaps the most influential Salafi ideologue in India".[44] Sanjiv Buttoo says he is acknowledged as an authority on Islam, but is known for making negative remarks about other religions.[37] Sadanand Dhume writes that Naik has a "carefully crafted image of moderation", because of his gentle demeanor, his wearing of a suit and tie, and his quoting of scriptures of other religions.[45] He is also mentioned in the book "The 500 most influential muslims - 2011" under honorable mentions.
Khushwant Singh, a prominent Indian journalist, politician, and author, says he "disagree[s] with almost everything [Naik] has to say about misconceptions about Islam". Singh argues that Naik's pronouncements are "juvenile", and said "they seldom rise above the level of undergraduate college debates, where contestants vie with each other to score brownie points".[46] Singh also says Naik's audiences "listen to him with rapt attention and often explode in enthusiastic applause when he rubbishes other religious texts".[47]
Yoginder Sikand wrote in 2011 that influential sections of the Deobandi community in India were beginning to hold a negative view of Naik. They said he was not abiding by ijma (Islamic consensus) and qiyas (analogical deduction of the Quran and Hadith), and therefore, in Sikand's view, was undermining their authority.[48]
Khaled Ahmed criticized Naik for "indirectly support[ing]" Al-Qaeda by referring to Osama bin Laden as a "soldier of Islam".[49]
