Let's Become Effective Da'ees - International Da'wah Training Programme - Part 80 | by Dr Zakir Naik
Dr. Zakir Naik conducts a live training exercise where participants compete to recite the names, numbers, and meanings of the first 25 Surahs of the Quran as fast as possible. Three participants attempt the challenge, with the final contestant completing it in just 46 seconds, beating the initial benchmark of 1 minute 3 seconds. The session emphasizes memorization speed, self-testing, and continuous improvement as tools for effective da'wah.
Summary
This segment from Dr. Zakir Naik's International Da'wah Training Programme (Part 80) centers on a practical memorization drill. The session begins with a participant reciting the names, chapter numbers, and English meanings of the first 25 Surahs of the Quran — from Surah al-Fatiha (chapter 1, The Opening) through Surah al-Furqan (chapter 25, The Criterion). This recitation is timed and completed in 1 minute and 3 seconds, which Dr. Naik uses as the benchmark for subsequent competitors.
Dr. Naik then challenges the audience to beat that time, describing the goal metaphorically as moving from a 'slow train' to a 'bullet train.' Three volunteers — Brother Fadli, Arsh, and Farooq — are called up. Brother Fadli's attempt takes 2 minutes 26 seconds and includes three omissions and some ordering errors, though Dr. Naik praises it as a respectable first effort. Arsh completes the recitation in 1 minute 11 seconds with no major omissions, described as 'close to the fast train.' The final contestant, Farooq, completes the recitation accurately in just 46 seconds, prompting enthusiastic takbirs from the audience.
Between attempts, Dr. Naik interjects important pedagogical and spiritual reflections. He encourages participants to practice self-testing at home to identify their own weaknesses. He also discusses the Islamic concept of 'sawab e jariya' (continuous reward after death), citing a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad about three deeds whose reward continues posthumously — charitable wealth, beneficial knowledge, and righteous children who pray for the deceased. Dr. Naik expresses that he wants his students to surpass him, as their success would represent ongoing spiritual reward for him. He also assigns a homework reference — Surah al-Ankabut (chapter 29, The Spider) — as the next memorization target. The session concludes with nasheed music.
Key Insights
- Dr. Naik benchmarks the first participant's recitation of 25 Surah names and meanings at 1 minute 3 seconds, and uses this as a competitive target, framing faster recitation as moving from a 'slow train' to a 'bullet train' in terms of da'wah preparedness.
- Dr. Naik argues that self-testing at home is essential for improvement, noting that when participants practice on their own they discover their actual knowledge gaps — illustrated by Fadli's 2 minute 26 second attempt with three omissions.
- Dr. Naik expresses that he is happier when his students surpass him than when they merely match him, because their superior performance represents 'sawab e jariya' — continuous spiritual reward — that will benefit him even after death.
- Dr. Naik cites a hadith stating that when a person dies, their account of deeds closes except for three ongoing sources of reward: wealth spent in charity, beneficial knowledge imparted to others, and righteous children who pray for them.
- The final contestant Farooq completes the recitation of all 25 Surah names, numbers, and meanings accurately in just 46 seconds, significantly beating the 1 minute 3 second benchmark set at the start of the exercise.
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