Zakir Abdul Karim Naik (born 18 October 1965) is an Indian Islamic televangelist and
preacher.He is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and
Peace TV.

Dr. Zakir Naik was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He attended Kishinchand Chellaram
College and studied medicine at the Topiwala National Medical College & BYL Nair
Charitable Hospital and later the University of Mumbai, where he obtained a Bachelor of
Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).

In 1991 he started working in the field of Dawah, and founded the Islamic Research
Foundation (IRF). Naik's wife, Farhat Naik, is the President of the women's section of the
Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).

Dr. Zakir Naik said in 2006 that he was inspired by Ahmed Deedat, an Islamic preacher whom he met in 1987. (Naik is sometimes referred to as "Deedat plus", a label given to him by Deedat.)

Dr. Zakir Naik founded the Islamic International School in Mumbai and United Islamic Aid, which provides scholarship to poor and destitute Muslim youth.