Islamic Scholar • Motivational Speaker • Educator • Youth Mentor • Social Reformer
Adv. Faiz Syed is an Indian Islamic scholar, motivational speaker, educator and founder of the Islamic Research Centre Education & Welfare Trust (IRC), established in Aurangabad in 2001. His work brings together Islamic learning, education, technology, public communication and community service.
He has delivered more than 2,000 Urdu lectures in India and abroad, speaking at conferences, universities, Islamic centres and community gatherings. His lectures are based on the Qur’an and authentic Hadith and are presented in a clear and accessible manner, while engaging directly with contemporary social, ethical, and spiritual challenges. Known for his structured presentations and interactive question-and-answer sessions, he appeals especially to youth seeking rational and practical understanding of faith in modern times.
Adv. Faiz Syed was born on 12 December 1979 in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, to Azam Ali Syed and Aliya Fatima. He grew up in a family environment that valued education, personal development and Islamic values. His parents supported his academic interests and his decision to pursue a path that combined formal education with Islamic learning.
He completed his primary and higher-primary education at Burhani National English High School, Aurangabad. He then pursued his junior college education at Maulana Azad College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Aurangabad.
His graduate education included Bachelor of Science in Computer – B.Sc, Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies -BAIS, Bachelor of General Law - BGL and Bachelor of Laws – LLB from Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Marathwada University as well as a Graduation through the International Islamic Academy Online – IIAO. At the postgraduate level, he completed a Master of Computer Applications - MCA from Tom Patrick Institute of Computer & Information Technology and an Master of Arts in Islamic Studied – MAIS from Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
These academic pursuits became part of a larger purpose. Computer science and computer applications gave him a technical foundation that later supported his use of digital media. Islamic studies strengthened his engagement with the Qur’an, Hadith, Seerah and Islamic scholarship. Law and related humanities studies contributed to his understanding of society, institutions and human relationships. He has brought these areas of learning together in service of education and community development.
While still a student, he began laying the foundations of what would eventually become IRC. A modest bedroom that also served as a garage and library became one of the early spaces in which he studied, reflected and worked on his ideas. Alongside formal education, he devoted substantial time to the Qur’an and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
His early years therefore combined academic study, religious learning and practical experimentation. He gradually developed his ability to communicate Islamic teachings to small groups, using a simple and direct style that would later become an important characteristic of his public speaking.
The beginning of Adv. Faiz Syed’s public journey grew out of a desire to understand authentic Islamic teachings deeply and to communicate them clearly. As a young student, he spent considerable time reading, reflecting on society and thinking about how authentic knowledge could be shared in a practical form.
A central concern was accessibility. Important Islamic works are often available in Arabic or Classical Urdu, while many people today do not have the language skills required to study those texts directly. Adv. Faiz Syed therefore developed an approach that placed emphasis on understanding the original teachings and explaining them in language that ordinary listeners could follow.
His early teaching took place in small rooms and modest settings, often before only a handful of people. These years helped him develop the communication style that later became associated with his lectures: clear explanations, a calm tone and an effort to relate Islamic teachings to everyday life.
At the same time, he continued his formal education and family responsibilities. His journey was not based on withdrawing from ordinary life, but on combining education, professional qualifications, family duties and religious service.
The idea of a more organized platform emerged from this period of study and reflection. He wanted to create an institution through which Islamic education could be combined with wider service to society. That vision took concrete form with the establishment of the Islamic Research Centre Education & Welfare Trust (IRC) in 2001.
The Islamic Research Centre Education & Welfare Trust - IRC was founded in Aurangabad in 2001. Its establishment was shaped by Adv. Faiz Syed’s concern about misinformation surrounding Islam and the need for greater access to authentic Islamic knowledge within the Muslim community.
From the beginning, IRC focused on communicating Islam through the Qur’an and authentic Hadith rather than through cultural assumptions presented as religious teachings. While its activities gradually broadened in response to wider community needs.
The early IRC operated with limited resources. Its development was gradual and depended on sustained effort, planning, teamwork and the support of donors and well-wishers. Over time, the organization expanded from a small centre for Islamic studies into a professionally managed institution working across education, healthcare, employment support, skill development, women’s empowerment and charitable service.
As IRC developed, its work expanded beyond Islamic education into structured social welfare. Healthcare, education, employment and women’s empowerment became important areas of community development.
The approach was grounded in a practical understanding of people’s needs. Religious and social wellbeing are often affected by circumstances such as access to healthcare, education, employment, food and clean water. IRC therefore sought to complement its educational work with programs that addressed these everyday needs.
Its activities have included free health camps, charitable healthcare, support for old age homes, nutritious meals, clean drinking water, employment assistance, technical and professional IT courses, women’s empowerment initiatives and educational, employment and medical support.
The organization has also developed a range of facilities in Aurangabad, including charitable clinics, a multispeciality hospital, dental clinics, a pathology laboratory, technical institutes, women’s empowerment centres, community centres, Arabic academy, drinking-water plants, study centres, libraries, skill hubs, sports academy and more.
The institutional record reports that more than one million people have directly benefited from IRC’s social and welfare programs. The scale of this work reflects the gradual transition from a small idea to a broader community-service organization.
He recognized early that technology could reduce the barriers of geography, cost and physical access. In 2001, smartphones, social media and YouTube were not part of everyday communication. Instead experimented with the technologies available at the time, including MP3 players, CDs and DVDs, and later pen drives.
In 2004, the he began renting video recording services for its programs. A donated Handycam subsequently helped build its recording capability. As digital technology developed, He moved into online distribution, beginning its YouTube channel in 2009 and later expanding through a dedicated website and social media platforms.
The principle behind this development was practical: use technology that is accessible, cost-effective and capable of reaching a wider audience. Digital platforms allowed lectures to travel beyond the places where they were delivered and created an enduring library of educational content.
Adv. Faiz Syed’s official youtube channels have got more that 4.5 million (45 Lakh) subscribers and view count of 1.2 billion (120 crore) his digital content is also described as reaching audiences in more than 50 countries, particularly among Urdu-speaking communities.
As new technologies emerge, including AI and advanced media tools, he continues to explore ways to improve the recording, presentation and reach of its educational content. The purpose remains the same: using technology to make Islamic knowledge easier to access while preserving the substance of the message.
Adv. Faiz Syed’s lectures have reached audiences beyond India through both digital platforms and in-person programs. His international lecture engagements include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and the United Kingdom.
In Saudi Arabia, he has delivered lectures at institutions and centres including King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, the World Assembly of Muslim Youth and Dawah centres in Jeddah, Taif, Madina and Makkah. In the United Arab Emirates, at Al-Manar Centre in Dubai. In the United Kingdom, his lectures have included Birmingham, London, Bradford, Preston, Reading and Cambridge.These programs are particularly connected with Urdu-speaking expatriate communities.
His work has also received recognition from several institutions. These include acknowledgement from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, for contributions in healthcare and social welfare; recognition from Al-Manar Centre, Dubai, including an honour associated with the Aman Ki Raah Urdu Conference in 2017; recognition from the Intezamia Committee of Jama Masjid Ahle-Hadees, Bhopal; facilitation by Supreme Global School and Supreme Commerce Classes; and a Social Warrior Award from Al Khidmah Group. Award of Outstanding Contribution From Government of Dubai, Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department (IACAD). Recognized Among The 100 Most Influential Muslims In India (2025) By Muslim Mirror
These recognitions form part of the broader history of his work, while the central focus of his journey remains Islamic education and community service.
Adv. Faiz Syed’s intellectual development has been shaped by continuous reading, reflection and engagement with different fields of knowledge. Raised in a practicing Muslim family, he developed an early interest in Islamic learning and later expanded his reading to literature, philosophy, science and technology.
The Qur’an & Sunnah remains central to his intellectual and spiritual outlook. He regards it not only as a source of religious guidance but also as a guide for personal development and transformation. His studies have also included Tafsir, Seerah, Islamic history and practical works of Islamic guidance.
His reading across different disciplines reflects a broader view of learning. Religious scholarship provides the foundation of his work, while wider intellectual interests contribute to his understanding of people, society, science and contemporary life.
Humility is another recurring principle in his personal philosophy. He values suggestions and correction and regards learning as an ongoing process. The same principle can be seen in his approach to leadership: gradual progress, patience, respectful engagement and consistent effort.
This philosophy has influenced both his personal conduct and the development of IRC. He has generally favoured steady progress over haste and communication that brings people into conversation rather than creating unnecessary distance.
Adv. Faiz Syed’s present work continues across, public speaking, education, digital communication, social welfare and institutional development through IRC.
IRC continues to develop programs related to healthcare, education, employment, skill development and community support. Digital communication remains an important part of how lectures and educational material are shared with audiences beyond physical locations.
The future direction described for IRC includes expanding skill-based courses and training, strengthening professional IT education, developing advanced computer laboratories, improving specialized healthcare services, increasing support for nutritious food, clean water and other basic needs, and making responsible use of emerging technologies to improve the quality of lectures and educational content.
Another important part of this vision is the development of people. The aim is not only to deliver programs, but also to help nurture a new generation of Islamic educators, skilled professionals and specialists who can contribute meaningfully to society.
The direction of his work remains connected to the principles that shaped its beginning: knowledge should be accessible, education should lead to constructive action, technology should widen access, and service should respond to genuine human needs.
The complete updated profile is available for online reading and download.