ABSTRACT
Chapter 7 provides an account of the life and da‘wa of Zakir Naik, focusing on his practice of “comparative religion” and his participation in “scholastic Salafism.” Based on an analysis of Naik’s books, lectures and online content, the chapter also describes Naik’s discursive repertoire. This constitutes the most detailed treatment of the career of Zakir Naik to date. The chapter explores the ways Naik has carved out a distinctive niche for himself in modern da‘wa. By examining some of the controversies that have surrounded Naik, the chapter stresses the precariousness of Naik’s popularity. Chapter 7 concludes by suggesting that Naik and the IRF constitute another example of Indian bottom-up da‘wa and another distinctive Indian da‘wa modernity.
