Moderation in Zakir Naik’s Lecture Misconception about Islam: A Positive Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The study tries to investigate how moderation and positive ideologies are discursively constructed in Dr. Zakir Naik’s lecture Misconception about Islam. Although moderation, which involves avoiding excessively extreme religious attitudes or actions and respecting the religious beliefs and practices of others who belong to different religious groups, is an important concept, it is not yet adequately examined by other researchers, especially within the framework of discourse analysis from a positive perspective according to the researchers’ knowledge. To bridge this knowledge gap, the researchers try to respond to the following inquires: (1) What are the semantic devices that are positively used to promote religious moderation in Dr. Zakir Naik’s Misconception about Islam 2009? (2)  What is the most frequently used ideological devices create religious moderation in this lecture? The study designed an eclectic model to analyse six extracts selected from Zakir Naik’s lecture. The researchers employ a mixed-method approach to analyse religious moderation both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results show that the semantic devices which are positively used to promote RM in MAI 2009 and creating positive social change all around the world are quotation, euphemism and lexicalization. RM is also expressed via positive ideologies such as inspiration, solidarity, equality, peaceful coexistence, and anti-radicalism.