Life and Work of Dr .Zakir Naik

Islam never taught terrorism or taught to support any terrorists, Islam never taught to over rule the rights of women, neither prohibited girl’s education nor backed any force marriage etc. How many times have you heard this from any Muslim? May be many times but its sounds not too impressive when we see the other side of the coin where majority of terrorists of the world are killing innocents in the name of Islam, when we see Taliban is stopping young girls from going to school and more blah blah!

But story does not end here, but it has got a new start from here when an Indian medical doctor and a religious researcher became an orator and cleaned many misconceptions, myths and false propaganda of people who raise their finger against Islam which is undoubtedly a peaceful and pure religion, the youngest religion of the world and now has also reached to the top position in comparison to any other religion of the world regarding its followers.

According to Times Online, this doctor cleaned all those misconceptions about Islam not only among non-Muslims but also among Muslims because if Islam is blamed for anything wrong then the reason is the wrong teachings of correct religion to them.

That is Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, very well known as Dr. Zakir Naik. A thin bodied man wearing skull cap and western dress i.e. jacket and trouser speaking confidently about Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism and many other religions of the world. He is remarkably intelligent and a fast learner who has learned by hearted most of the holy books according to pages, verses and lines.

References:

This may be called the preface or the context setting paragraph for this report.

First, I will discuss about the life of Dr. Zakir Naik and then I will move towards their work regarding preach and Islam.

Background:

Dr. Zakir Naik was born in Mumbai, India on the 18th of October, 1965. He is Indian by nationality. His full name is Zakir Abdul Karim Naik .His public joint or joint name is Dr. Zakir Naik.He got his medical degree from the University of Mumbai but it is as an orator in Islam and Comparative Religions that he has become renowned all over the world.

He is of Konkani descent. He attended St. Peter's High School (ICSE) in the city of Mumbai (previously known as Bombay). 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 gave up his activity as a medical doctor and started working in the field of Da'wah or proselytizing of Islam.

References:

http://cintaagung.blogspot.com/2007/07/dr-zakir-abdul-karim-naik.html

He is an international speaker and writer on the subject of Islam and comparative religion. He is one of the leading Daa'ees (propagators) of Islam. By profession, he is a medical doctor but since 1991 he has become focused only on preaching Islam and has become a well known scholar.

Basic information:

A medical doctor by degree, he is renowned as a dynamic international orator on Islam and comparative religion.

Any person who listens to his question and answers session is going to be astonished and overwhelmed as he clarifies Islamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam, using the Quran, authentic Hadith reciting each and giving each Surah, Ayah number(by heart) and he has not only learned Quran and Hadith by heart but has also learned several Bibles, the Talmud and the Torah (the Jewish scriptures), the Mahabharata and the Bhagwat Gita (the Hindu holy books), and other scriptures and gives very satisfying answer in conjunction with reason, logic and scientific facts.

He has learned hundred and thousands of pages from different books by heart and has the knowledge of scientific and mathematical facts and theories. He is popular for his critical analysis and convincing answers to challenging questions posed by audiences specially non-Muslims, after his public lecture. By the way remember he is not 70 years old, but just 44.

References:

http://www.famousmuslims.com/zakirnaik.html

http://search.statemaster.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?query=dr+zakir+naik&submit=+Search+%C2%BB

http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Zakir-Naik

http://profiles.incredible-people.com/zakir-naik/

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Zakir_Naik

Inspiration and his goal:

Dr Zakir Naik says he was inspired by the late Ahmed Deedat who had himself been active in the field of Dawah for more than forty years. According to Dr. Zakir Naik, his 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" and that it was the duty of every Muslim to remove "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. He states that his main goal is to revive the crucial fundamentals of Islam that most of the Muslim youth are either oblivious to or poorly understand in context of modernity. He has lectured and authored several books on Islam and comparative religion as well as those directed towards removing misconceptions about Islam. Some of his articles are also frequently published in Indian magazines like the Islamic Voice.

Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, the world famous orator on Islam and comparative religion, who had called Dr. Zakir, "Deedat plus" in 1994, presented a plaque in May 2000 awarded to Dr. Zakir Abdul-Karim Naik for his achievement in the field of Dawah and the study of comparative religion. These are the words which were engraved on the plaque

"Son, what you have done in 4 years had taken me 40 years to accomplish, Alhamdullilah."

References:

http://www.irf.net/ http://islamevents.com/speakers/speaker_detail.php?spid=13 http://irf.net/index.php?

option=com_content&view=article&id=156&Itemid=168

Public speeches:

He appears regularly on many international T.V. channels in more than 100 countries of the world. He is regularly invited for T.V. and radio interviews. More than a hundred of his talks, dialogues and debates are available on video cassettes, video CDs and audio cassettes. By 2002, he had delivered more than 600 public talks in many countries, in addition to his numerous public talks given in India.

In a lecture at Melbourne University, he argued that only Islam gave women true equality. He stressed the importance of the headscarf by arguing that the more “revealing Western dress” makes women more susceptible to sexual harassment. Naik said that according to National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice (U.S. Department of Justice) in the year 1996 alone everyday on an average 2,713 rapes took place. Under Islamic jurisdiction, he said, a man who raped a woman was punished with the death penalty. He states that music intoxicates a person and takes one away from the path of Allah.

He has done speeches followed by the questions and answers session on the topics such as

Focus on Islam and universal brotherhood If the label shows your intent-wear it Interest free economy: promulgated by the Quran Religion in the right perspective Islam the universal religion Salah - the program towards righteousness T.V. talks on Kuwait TV-2 Concept of God in major religions Is the Quran God's word? Muhammad(PBUH) in various world religion scriptures Quran and modern science: conflict or conciliation Concept of God in Hinduism, Christianity and Islam Women rights in Islam

He has held many 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. References:

http://www.onlineislamicstore.com/audio-lectures-speeches-single-tapes-dr--zakir-naik.html

http://www.ilovezakirnaik.com/videos/index.htm

Dialogues and controversies:

He has participated in several symposia and dialogues with prominent personalities of other faiths. His most famous debate was a public dialogue with William Campbell, a Christian missionary from the United States, on the topic of "The Quran and the Bible in the light of science", which was held in Chicago, Illinois on April 1, 2000.

In 2004, he visited New Zealand and then Australian capitals at the invitation of Islamic Information and Services Network of Australia. In this conference in Melbourne, according to a famous journalist Sushi Das, he extolled the moral and spiritual superiority of Islam.

In December 2005, he took part in a debate with Dr William Cambell; the topic was Islam and Christianity in the light of science, where both discussed perceived scientific errors in the scriptures. At the end of the debate a weary William Campbell was unable to answer any of the allegations that Dr. Zakir Naik raised about the Bible. However, Zakir Naik was able to clear all the misconceptions about the Quran.

On 21 January 2006, he 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.

References:

http://wardoons.wordpress.com/dr-zakir-naik-is-an-islamic-star/ http://www.downtr.net/find/

Quran+And+Bible+In+The+Light+Of+Science+Dr+Zakir+Naik+Vs+Dr+Campbell.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:5faizan/Zakir_Naik

http://wardoons.wordpress.com/dr-zakir-naik-is-an-islamic-star/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zakir_Naik

In August 2006, his visit and conference in Cardiff (UK) was 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.

In November 2007, the IRF organized a 10-day international Islamic conference and exhibition titled ‘The Peace Conference’ at the Somaiya grounds in Mumbai which witnessed huge gathering. Lectures on Islam were presented by him as well as twenty other Islamic scholars from around the world.

Recently he has extended an invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to have an open interfaith dialogue in front of a world audience on the Quran and the Bible. The invitation has yet to be accepted.

References:

http://www.netpakistani.com/features/zakir-naik/ http://www.paklinks.com/gs/religion-and-scripture/209761-concept-of-

god-in-hinduism-and-islam-dr-zakir-naik-vs-sri-sri-ravishankar.html http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Zakir_Naik

Islamic Research Foundation (IRF):

In 1991 he founded the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) which is a non profit organization, making charitable trust and as its Chairman, he actively promotes Islamic understanding through television channels, radio programs, and the internet and through the written word. The aim of the foundation is to get rid of misconceptions about Islam and he does this through his intensive knowledge about the Quran and the Hadith. DVDs and video recordings of his lectures and debates are available on www.irf.net.

He is also the chairman of the IRF Educational Trust, and the president of Islamic Dimensions. IRF is a non-profit Islamic organization that owns and broadcasts the free-to-air TV channel network Peace TV from Mumbai, India.

The Islamic International School (IIS), Mumbai is also managed by the IRF Educational Trust which imparts the best of education in an Islamic environment for the children.

IRF uses modern technology for its activities, wherever feasible. Its presentation of Islam reach millions of people worldwide through international satellite T.V. channels, cable T.V. networks, internet and the print media. IRF's activities and facilities provide the much needed understanding about the truth and excellence of Islamic teachings - based on the glorious Quran and authentic Hadith, as well as adhering to reasons, logic and scientific facts.

Books authored:

He has authored many books on Islam and comparative religion in order to preach Islam and remove misconceptions about it especially in the non-Muslim’s minds. The names of some of the books authored by him are

Replies to the most common questions asked by non-Muslims Quran and modern science-compatible or incompatible Concept of God in major religions Islam and terrorism Women’s rights in Islam-protected or subjugated? Al-Quran-should it is read with understanding? Is the Quran God’s word? Islam and terrorism Similarities between Hinduism and Islam

References:

http://www.irf.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=120&Itemid=74

http://www.irf.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=75

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/off-topic-section/islam/2140-dr-zakir-naik.html

His salient skills:

He is a popular figure on various satellite and international TV channels all around the world and he answers the questions raised by his audience about Islam using the Quran and authentic Hadith. He has learnt these by heart and each of his answers is validated by the exact number of the Surah as it appears in the Quran. His knowledge extends not only to the Bible and the Torah (the Jewish scriptures) but also includes the Indian holy books like the Mahabharata and the Bhagwat Gita. In addition to his extensive religious knowledge he has also learnt scientific and mathematical facts by heart and these are used in his lectures to reply to questions posed by the audience. The audience does not just comprise of Muslims but Non Muslims alike.

He is regularly quizzed and interviewed by the media worldwide, specially on "Why Islam conflicts with issues of women’s rights, human rights, modern science and secularism?” .But his dynamic resolve to dispel "media myths" about Islam with facts, specific references and in proper context stands out to rectify or neutralize the prejudice or bias (if any) about Islam.

At only 44 years, he explains the teachings of Islam and clears misconceptions convincingly with the help of reason, logic and science. He has tremendous ability to quote extensively from the Holy Quran and other religious scriptures.

One example of his abilities was revealed during an airport incident in Los Angeles. Where the security precaution post-9/11 has spawned complaints by visiting Muslims about harassment, especially over their inability to express themselves well enough to give convincing answers. But not for Dr. Zakir Naik, , who landed in Los Angeles airport on October 12 for a day's visit to receive an award for Service to Islam and humanity given by the International Islamic Internet University in Los Angeles.

References:

http://peacetv.tv/

With his beard and Islamic skullcap, Dr. Naik did not escape notice at Los Angeles airport and so was immediately hauled in for questioning. After he was taken to the investigation room for question and answers, the custom officers started asking the question about different topics and also asked about his views on Sep 11 attacks he condemned the attacks, then the officers asked about the word “JIHAD”, he started quoting from several versions of the Bible, the Holy Quran, the Talmud and the Torah (the Jewish scriptures), the Mahabharata and the Bhagwat Gita (the Hindu holy books), and other scriptures he know by heart. And he proved that the concept of true “JIHAD” is not only Islamic but universal. Custom officers became curious and started putting more and more question; he continued to reply with his wisdom, knowledge and logic. Afterwards custom officers told that they were just astonished and they had never seen a person with so much knowledge.

He continues to amaze people with his genius personality and continues to travel around the word giving lectures and conducting Dawah training programs including international training programs for training Muslims to effectively convey the message of Islam.

References:

http://www.haqeeqat.com/documentaries-other-video/56-dr-zakir-naik-los-angeles-airport-officers.html

Limelight:

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, he was ranked No. 82.

In the special list of the “Top 10 Spiritual Gurus of India” he was ranked No. 3, after Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, being the only Muslim in the list.

In the last 12 years, he has delivered more than 700 public talks in the U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, South Africa, Mauritius, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Guyana (South America) and many other countries, in addition to numerous public talks in India. His list of guests includes ambassadors of the respected countries, army generals, political leaders, sports persons, religious scholars, entrepreneurs, and most importantly the ordinary people.

References:

http://www.thedeenshow.com/show.php?action=guest&id=26 http://www.xomba.com/

lectures_and_debates_zakir_niakterrific_answer_dr_naik

http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?

name=Lectures&d_op=viewdownload2&cid=2

Views of different people about his personality and work:

A large number of people like their lifestyle, hard work and dedication for the search of truth. He has thousands and millions of fans which have very positive thinking about him and his dedicated work.

Because of the page limit, I will quote view of only one person which is a professor and a sociologist and got higher academic positions at various universities of the world.

Professor Thomas Blom Hansen has written in an article that Naik's style of memorizing some portions of the Quran and Hadith literature in various languages, and traveling abroad to debate Islam with theologians, has made him extremely popular in Muslim circles. 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 co-promotes.

Recommendations:

After knowing the life and work of this gentleman, it becomes our responsibility to support such personalities which are working day and night for the preaching of Islam. Being a Muslim, we should support the Islamic trust organizations like IRF and Islamic International School (IIS).We should corporate with Islamic TV channels such as peace TV. We should read the lifestyle of such great personalities in order to become desirous of living like their lifestyle.

References:

http://www.helium.com/items/1154243-biography-dr-zakir-naik http://www.thedeenshow.com/show.php?action=guest&id=26

http://www.facebook.com/Dr.zakirabdulkarimnaik

Bibliography

List of websites:

http://cintaagung.blogspot.com www.famousmuslims.com http://search.statemaster.com http://profiles.incredible-people.com www.absoluteastronomy.com www.irf.net http://islamevents.com www.onlineislamicstore.com www.ilovezakirnaik.com http://wardoons.wordpress.com www.downtr.net http://en.wikipedia.org www.netpakistani.com www.paklinks.com www.absoluteastronomy.com www.cssforum.com.pk

http://peacetv.tv/

www.haqeeqat.com www.helium.com www.thedeenshow.com www.facebook.com www.xomba.com

www.ahya.org