Let's Become Effective Da'ees - International Da'wah Training Programme - Part 81 | by Dr Zakir Naik
In this session of Dr. Zakir Naik's Da'wah Training Programme, participants compete to recite the names and meanings of all 114 Quranic surahs as quickly as possible. The exercise benchmarks memorization speed, with one participant ('Farik') setting a record of approximately 26 seconds for the first 25 surahs. Dr. Naik uses the activity to motivate trainees to practice and internalize Quranic knowledge.
Summary
This segment of the International Da'wah Training Programme focuses on a memorization speed exercise in which participants recite the names, chapter numbers, and English meanings of the 114 surahs of the Quran as rapidly as possible. Dr. Zakir Naik opens the session by challenging a participant to complete the first 25 surahs in under one minute, expressing confidence that it was achievable while cautioning against overconfidence.
The first participant completes the recitation in approximately 46 seconds, surprising even himself. Dr. Naik explains that strong foundational knowledge allows speed to be maintained even when switching between different recitation styles, though there may be some slowdown. He contextualizes this by projecting the full 114-surah recitation time at roughly three minutes and seven seconds based on that pace.
A second participant, identified as Kaleem, who previously held the class record at three minutes 48 seconds for all 114 surahs, attempts the exercise in an alternate style and completes the first 25 in 41 seconds. Dr. Naik notes that the style change added only minimal time, demonstrating solid command of the material regardless of format.
The standout performance comes from a participant named Farik, who completes the first 25 surahs in just 26 seconds — earning the title of 'Indian bullet train' from Dr. Naik, who uses a humorous comparison to India's bullet train project with Japan. Dr. Naik acknowledges he initially did not intend to put Farik and another participant (Arsh) in the spotlight, but did so specifically to show hesitant participants that such speeds are achievable with proper practice.
Dr. Naik closes this segment by discussing the motivational dynamics of competition: for some trainees it pushes them to work harder, while for others it can be discouraging. He encourages all participants to use Farik's record as a personal benchmark to beat, and invites others to try. The session ends with further attempts from other participants amid music interludes.
Key Insights
- Dr. Naik argues that if a trainee knows their material very well, switching recitation styles will slow them down, but not drastically — demonstrating that deep knowledge transcends format.
- Dr. Naik reveals he intentionally had Farik and Arsh perform the exercise not to spotlight them, but to prove to hesitant participants that fast recitation is achievable with proper preparation.
- Participant Farik completes the first 25 surahs in 26 seconds, which Dr. Naik projects extrapolates to approximately three minutes for all 114 surahs, setting a new class record.
- Dr. Naik cautions that while confidence is good for da'wah training, overconfidence is dangerous — illustrated by his own admission that he stopped competing after his record was surpassed.
- Dr. Naik observes that competition-based learning has mixed effects: it motivates competitive trainees to push harder, but can discourage others, suggesting the approach must be applied selectively.
Topics
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