Astronomy with Scientific Proof of Islam

9:51

2 Oct 2011

Miracles/Ijaz, Astronomy

Zakir Naik

Zakir Naik presents astronomical material that he believes is present in the Qurʾān.  He presents topics and then presents the Qurʾānic verses that he feels describe the science, miraculously as he holds, because the science could not have been known at the time Muhammad related the Qurʾān, a concept known as i’jaz.

Topics addressed here include:  the Big Bang as the origin of the universe and the creation of the Earth from “smoke” (using verses 21:30 and 41:11); the Earth being spherical (as compared to a flat earth), and in particular, in the shape of an ostrich egg, which he derives from verses 31:29, 39:5 and 79:30; the light of the moon as reflected light rather than its own light, which he derives from verses 25:61, 10:5, 71:15-16 and 86:3.  He begins, but in this clip does not finish, a discussion of an Earth-centered (geocentric) understanding of the solar system as compared to a sun-centered (heliocentric) model.  He notes the work of Copernicus and Kepler on these as the video ends.

The video includes labels for both Peace TV and Shahadah Project.

This clip is from a 2008 talk titled, “The Qur’an and Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible?” held at Anna Salai Chennai, India.

Evaluation:

Naik’s presentation of the Big Bang as originating from a “primary nebula” is wrong. His application of scientific facts to the Qurʾān is considered by most scientists to be a misapplication of scientific theories.

Although most of Naik’s representations from the Qurʾān are correct, his reference to Surah 25:61 is only partly accurate.

Some of the historical material is incorrect. There is, for instance, not a Nobel prize for astronomy (but physics), and Sir Francis Drake only began his voyage in 1577.

About Zakir Naik

Dr. Zakir Naik is a Muslim preacher and international orator from India. He was born in Mumbai on October 18th, 1965 and studied medicine at Topiwala National Medical College and the University of Mumbai. He has a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS). In 1991 he turned away from practicing medicine to found the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), a non-profit charitable trust in Mumbai, whose operations were closed down by the Indian government in November 2016.  The IRF serves to promote dawah, or the proselytization of Islam. He has additionally founded the Islamic International School, which is managed by the IRF, and is the founder and president of the Islamic educational television network Peace TV.

As a speaker Naik has achieved recognition and awards within India as well as internationally. He was honored with the 2013 Islamic Personality of the Year Award presented in Dubai. He has additionally been recognized twice by Indian news publication Indian Express as one of the “100 Most Influential People in India” and four times by George Washington University’s “500 Most Influential Muslims in the World,” most recently in 2014.

Naik’s subject matter, style and platform have all contributed to his prominence as a fairly well-known and fairly controversial preacher. Naik promotes a strict, literalist version of Islam, and is famous as a preacher for extensively quoting from the Qurʾān. He has been called an exponent of the Salafi ideology, although he himself does not use this label as he rejects any form of  Islamic sectarianism. He has maintained that the only absolute authority is the Qurʾān itself, and has made a name for himself with his Qurʾānic knowledge and memory.

Naik also holds the dubious distinction of being the speaker on science and Islam most commonly spoofed.  One may occasionally find videos using his name in the title in an effort to draw viewers, even if he does not appear in the video.

In July 2016, Naik was linked to bombers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the Indian government began investigating him.  The IRF in India has closed (including its web sites), and Naik has remained out of the country to avoid arrest.  It has been reported that Naik has taken citizenship in Saudi Arabia.  He continues to give lectures outside of India.

For a longer discussion of Naik, click here.

Select bibliography:

“Dr. Zakir Naik.” Islamic Research Foundation. Islamic Research Foundation, n.d. Accessed 18 Nov. 2014.

“King Salman grants Dr. Zakir Naik Saudi citizenship.”  The Siasat Daily, 19 May 2017.  Accessed 4 July 2017.

“Zakir Naik.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Nov. 2014. Accessed 18 Nov. 2014.

Biswas, Shreya. “Who Is Zakir Naik? Were the Dhaka Attack Terrorists ‘Inspired by Him’?” India Today, 6 July 2016.  Accessed 13 Sep. 2016.

Hassan, Rashid. “Ban on Peace TV Will Be Lifted Soon: Zakir Naik.” Arab News. Arab News, 6 July 2014. Accessed 18 Nov. 2014.