Dr Zakir Naik among the 100 Most Powerful Indians

Dr Zakir Naik among the 100 Most Powerful Indians

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No. 3 on the Top 10 Spiritual Gurus list for 2009.

By Tahir Sema

A newspaper in Mumbai called The Indian Express recently published the list of the 100 Most Powerful Indians for the year 2009. India has a population of more then a billion people, of which the nominees were chosen from amongst these people. The 82nd position from among the 100 Most Powerful Indians was none other then Dr. Zakir Naik aged 42.

From amongst the few Muslims in this list of 100, Dr. Naik is the only Muslim Islamic preacher and scholar to be featured on the list. The few other Muslims featured were either film personalities, Politicians or Businessmen.

As inspiring, was Dr. Naik’s ranking among the Top 10 Spiritual Gurus for 2009, in a list called the special list. In this list also published in the same publication, Naik is ranked remarkably at the No. 3 position, making him the only Muslim in the Spiritual Gurus List.

In response to being among the 100 Most Powerful Indians in 2009 and among the top 3 in the Top 10 Spiritual Gurus List, Dr. Naik had the following to say “All Praises are due to Allah (swt) and the great efforts and sacrifices of our last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the eloquent Message of Islam for the entire humanity. I am merely a humble servant of Allah striving in His Way, by His Grace, for His Deen as per His Guidance. I pray Allah (swt) continues to guide and help me and the whole Muslim Ummah in overcoming our limitations and increase the “IMAN” and “STRIVING” in us for Islam and its proper understanding the world over”.

According to The Indian Express, comparative religion specialist Dr Zakir Naik has emerged as a cult figure of sorts among Muslims. His public lectures are broadcast on Peace TV, a channel aired in 125 countries that he runs with the help of donations. His lectures are also recorded and sold on CDs all over the world.

The newspaper believes that Naik’s success has stemmed from the past 13 years of relentless work, in which he has authored several books and delivered more than 1,200 public talks across the world, some of which were controversial. At a talk in Mumbai in December 2007, he angered Shias with justification, by glorifying Yazid, the alleged murderer of Imam Hussein.

At a separate incident that caught the world’s attention, Naik offered to have a “live public debate” with Pope Benedict XVI, this after the Pope quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor that had said negative things about Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The Pope is yet to respond to his invitation.

In response to what can we expect in the near future from this noble Islamic scholar, Naik was quick to respond, that he plans to launch a news channel.

Listing and keeping track of the most influential Indians is certainly not an easy task, the criteria that was used to measure the power of Naik and others, was a criteria based primarily on influence. Contributing factors to the measurement criteria were about achievement, visibility and or excellence.

“It’s about men and woman who have the power to influence or challenge the way we are. It’s about men and woman who are respected, some even feared, but all who can influence public or political opinion. Some of them have this power by virtue of their office, others because the effects of their actions or abdications touch us all” The Indian Express.