Zakir will deliver a Friday sermon at the state mosque in Arau.

It will be streamed live on Facebook.

The poster on the event was shared on the Perlis mufti’s Facebook page, where Zakir was described as a “researcher and caller to Islam”.

Several muftis in Malaysia have expressed admiration for Zakir.

Selangor Mufti Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid regards him as a respected preacher.

Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria has come to Zakir’s defence against detractors.

Local Islamic TV channel Al-Hijrah shows daily interviews with Zakir on a variety of topics and features his talks.

Last year, Zakir made headlines after Hindustan Times reported that he held dual Indian-Malaysian citizenship. Malaysia’s home ministry, however, denied the claim.

Zakir, 51, was also reported to be sought by India’s Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

The republic’s National Investigation Agency was also investigating 78 bank accounts and investments amounting to Rs100 crore (RM65 million) linked to him, NDTV reported.

The Indian home ministry had declared Zakir free to travel as he was not on the terror list.

Federal minister Nazri Aziz was one of few local politicians who spoke out against Zakir.

Nazri said Malaysia had its own stock of scholars and did not need those from overseas to spread animosity in the country.

Zakir, a recipient of the 2013 Tokoh Maal Hijrah in Malaysia, had caused a stir last year after he was alleged to have insulted Hindu deities and practices.

Last April, his son, Fariq Naik, 22, delivered a talk titled “Misconceptions about Islam” in Penang, with state authorities telling him to stick to the topic.

Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy was vocal against Zakir, saying he was not welcome in Malaysia.

Zakir is also reported to have been banned from the United Kingdom and Canada, following his apparent support of terror group al-Qaeda.