The Reasons I Left Giving Public Lectures || Dr Zakir Naik || #zakirnaik ||

Summary

In this extensive discussion, the speaker, Dr. Zakir, explains why his public lectures have decreased. He recalls his early days of dawa and extensive travel, giving multiple talks daily. Over time, he shifted focus to media outreach, reaching larger audiences through satellite channels and social media. Security concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic further limited his travel. Despite this, he continues to engage audiences through online sessions like 'Ask Dr. Zakir,' which provide unique and impactful interactions. Looking ahead, he plans to resume more public lectures and larger conventions, continuing his mission to inspire and educate.

Takeaways

• 📜 The speaker, Isbah from Pakistan, asked about why there are fewer public lectures now.
• 🕰️ The speaker started giving public talks in the early '90s, with the first international talk in South Africa in 1994.
• 🌍 Over time, the speaker's public talks grew in audience size, especially during the late '90s and early 2000s, reaching audiences of up to a million people.
• 📡 The focus shifted to recording and broadcasting talks on satellite TV and social media from 2006 onward, increasing the global reach despite fewer live events.
• 🌐 The speaker's online presence has grown significantly, with millions of followers on platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
• ⚠️ Since 2016, due to pressure from the Indian government, the speaker has been selective about where to travel, accepting invitations only from countries with government support.
• 🦠 COVID-19 caused a halt in public events, leading to the creation of the major online series 'Ask Dr. Zakir' in 2020, answering thousands of questions from the public.
• 🎥 Plans are in place to resume more public lectures starting in 2024, with a focus on large audiences and new topics, while maintaining online sessions.
• 👥 The speaker finds public lectures more impactful due to live audience interaction, but acknowledges that the online Q&A sessions have a broader reach in terms of unique questions and information.
• 🎤 A major event, the Peace Sunnah Convention, is scheduled for January 2025, featuring 18 international speakers and aiming to inspire and educate a large audience.

Q & A

Why did the speaker stop giving public lectures as frequently as before?

The speaker stopped giving public lectures as frequently due to a change in strategy, focusing on fewer lectures with larger audiences and leveraging media and social media to reach a broader audience.

What was the speaker's experience with public lectures in the early days?

In the early days, the speaker traveled extensively and gave numerous public talks, sometimes delivering multiple lectures in a single day. The audience numbers were smaller initially but grew over time.

How did the speaker's audience change over time?

Initially, the audiences were smaller, but as the speaker's popularity grew, the numbers increased significantly, with audiences reaching up to a million people for some events in India.

How has the speaker adapted to changes in media consumption?

The speaker has adapted by focusing more on media and social media platforms, reaching millions of viewers through satellite channels and social media networks like Facebook and YouTube.

What impact did the Indian government have on the speaker's activities?

The Indian government, particularly under the BJP and Narendra Modi, pressured the speaker, leading to his relocation from India to Malaysia in 2016. This affected the countries the speaker could visit.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the speaker's activities?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a halt in international travel and public lectures, prompting the speaker to start the 'Ask Dr. Zakir' online sessions to continue engaging with audiences.

What is the format of the 'Ask Dr. Zakir' sessions?

The 'Ask Dr. Zakir' sessions are conducted online, where the speaker answers questions from the audience. Initially twice a week, the sessions were reduced to once a week and are now held twice a month.

How does the speaker select questions for the 'Ask Dr. Zakir' sessions?

The speaker's team filters through thousands of submitted questions to select around 100, from which 20 are chosen for the sessions, focusing on unique and previously unanswered questions.

What future plans does the speaker have for public lectures?

The speaker plans to resume more public lectures from 2024, traveling to various countries and aiming for larger audiences. Additionally, a PE Sunnah Convention is planned for January 2025.

What technological advancements has the speaker made for public lectures?

The speaker has invested in high-quality cameras and a smaller crew for recording public lectures, aiming to produce high-quality content for distribution on various media platforms.