DR ZAKIR NAIK is an Indian Islamic preacher, who has been called an "authority on comparative religions", "May be the most influential Salafi ideologue in India", and "the world's leading Salafi evangelist". DR ZAKIR NAIK is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation which short form is IRF, and founder of the "comparative religion" Peace TV channel, through which DR ZAKIR NAIK reaches a reported 100 million audiences. Unlike many Islamic preachers, his lectures are colloquial, given in English language, not Urdu or Arabic, and DR ZAKIR NAIK wears a suit and tie rather than traditional garb. Before becoming a public speaker, DR ZAKIR NAIK trained as a medical doctor. DR ZAKIR NAIK has published booklet versions of lectures on Islam and comparative religion. Although DR ZAKIR NAIK has publicly disclaimed sectarianism in Islam, DR ZAKIR NAIK is regarded by some as an exponent of the Salafi ideology, and, as a radical Islamic televangelist propagating Wahhabism.
DR ZAKIR NAIK has held many debates and lectures around the world. Anthropologist Thomas Blom Hansen has written that Naik's style of memorising the Quran and Hadith literature in various languages, and his related missionary activity, has made him extremely popular in Muslim circles in the world. Many of his debates are recorded and widely distributed in video and DVD media, online as well. DR ZAKIR NAIK'S talks have been recorded in English language and broadcast on weekends on several cable networks in Mumbai's Muslim neighbourhoods, and on the Peace TV channel, which DR ZAKIR NAIK co-produces all over the world. Topics DR ZAKIR NAIK speaks on include: "Islam and Modern Science", "Islam and Christianity", and "Islam and secularism" as well. The Indian government banned the Peace TV channel in 2012. DR ZAKIR NAIK debated with William Campbell in Chicago on the topic of "The Qur'an and the Bible: In the Light of Science", one of his most-cited debates. On 21 January 2006 Naik held an inter-religious dialogue with Hindu Pandit Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in Bangalore about the concept of God in Islam and Hinduism. In February 2011 Dr Zakir Naik addressed the Oxford Union via video link from India. Every year since November 2007 Dr Zakir Naik has led a 10-day Peace Conference at Somaiya Ground, Sion, Mumbai. Lectures on Islam have been presented by Dr Zakir Naik and twenty other Islamic speakers.