METHODS OF DAWAH

RKUD 3030

SEMINAR
2
DEFINITION;
NATURE;
NEED; AND
IMPORTANCE
DAWAH

of

WHAT IS METHOD(S)?
Method: It is a way of doing something, or
an order, or an efficient habit.
Methodology: It is a set of methods used in
a particular area of activity.
The Arabic term for method is Manhaj
or - Minhaj (pl. - Manahij):
Open, plain and easy road, or programme.
The word Minhaj occurs in the Quran:

(48 :)

To each among you We have prescribed

law and a clear way. (al-Maidah: 48).

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a
2

Cont

ther Arabic words related to method(s):

Uslub (pl. Asalib) meaning ways, method,
manner and style,
Wasilah (pl. Wasail) meaning means,
medium.

M
ethod(s) of Dawah, hence, denotes:
1.

ways of doing Dawah,

2.

ways of propagation of or inviting others to Islam, and

3.

ways of informing others about Islamic way of life.

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DEFINITION OF DAWAH

The Arabic
term ( )Dawah is a verbal noun of the root verb ( )Daawa
or ( )Daaa that signifies the following meanings:

to pray,

to
supplicate,

to desire
or require,

to call or
summon,

to invite
people to food, and

to call to
ones aid.
Arabic-English Lexicon, Edward William Lane (London: Willams & Norgate, 1863), p. 883.

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*Reference:

Cont
The term - Dawah signifies:
A single time or act of prayer and of
imprecation calling down a curse that invoke
to evil ( - Duaa),
the call ( - Nida)
the call to prayer ( - Adhan)
a call or an invitation to Islam ( Dawah)
An invitation to food ( - Walimah)
Confederation to aid or assist (

- halfun)
(Lane, 1863, p. 884).
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RKUD 3030 - Dr. Fatmir Shehu

The Definition of Dawah by Muslim Scholars

1

. Abd al-Karim Zaydan (1981, p. 5) in his Usul alDawah defines it as:

The call to Allah, as Allah says: (

( ) 108: )

Say this is my way, I call on Allah with sure

knowledge, I and whosoever follow me (Yusuf: 108),
so what is meant by call to Allah is the call to his
)
religion, and that is Islam: (
(19: ) Indeed religion with Allah is Islam
(al-Imran: 19) which Muhammad (a.s.w.) brought from
His Lord.
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Cont

. Adam Abdullah al-Aluri (1988, p. 17) in

his Tarikh al-Dawah Ila Allah Bayna al-Ams

wal-Yawm:
Firstly Changing the opinion of the people and
their thinking either to aqidah, which is
beneficial to them or to interest (maslahah)
which also benefits them, and,
Secondly a call to save man either from
committing an error which they closely fall into
it or from misfortune which encircled them.
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Cont
3
. Muhammad al-Ghazali (1997, p. 13) in his Maa
Allah defines Islamic Dawah as:

a perfect programme that consists of all required knowledge that

mankind is a need in order to know the purpose of their life, and
trace his path of life as experienced by guided people.

4
. Al-Shaykh al-Bahi al-Khuli (1984, p. 39) defines it as:

Shifting the Ummah from one situation to another (i.e. from the
stage of ignorance to knowledge).
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Cont
. RIDZUAN A. WU (1990, p. 53) defines
Islamic Dawah as:
The introduction of beliefs and teaching of Islam
to Muslims and non-Muslims. To non-Muslims it
is essentially the introduction that there is
Creator, and that life in this world is temporary
and man will face God in the Hereafter.
For people who believe in Islam, Dawah
would imply the translation of this belief into
personal, family, day to day life as well as his
social, political, economic life as whole.
Islamic Dawah is also the communication of
Islam to Muslims as well as non-Muslims.
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Cont..
. M. MANAZIR AHSAN

(1989:3-4) asserts

that:
Dawah is a continuous process, a perpetual endeavor
aimed at inviting ones own self, every Muslim and all
those who are not yet Muslims to embrace Islam
willingly and completely.

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Conclusion

It can be concluded that Islamic Dawah is:

call for people to know, then choose,

accept and practice Islam as their way of
life.

process of reviving the Islamic ways and

its system in both, the individual and the
societal aspects of life.
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Nature of Islamic Dawah

The nature of Islamic Dawah is
universal - a call addressed to
all human beings.
It is directed to:
1. the black,
2. the white,
3. the Muslims, and
4. the non-Muslims.
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Cont
It is not limited to a particular:
1.
2.
3.
4.

race,
color,
community, or
religion.

Islamic Dawah introduces humanity to a new

order the Islamic transcendental way of life.
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Need for Methods of Dawah

M
ethods of Islamic Dawah are very much needed
as they enable the Muslim Caller to inform both,
Muslims and non-Muslims about the beauty of
Islam as a comprehensive way of life, which
comprehends all aspects of human life the seen
and the unseen.

T
he Prophet (a.s.w.) conveyed Islam to others in
such a way. Allah (s.w.t.) says:

And our duty is only

message). (Yasiin: 17).
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to

convey

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plainly (the
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Importance of Methods Of Dawah

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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To inform people about Islamic values,

To make people appreciate Islam,
To give to people a clear understanding
of Islam,
To avoid chaos in society,
To show Islam through examples,
To differentiate Islam from other
religions in term of propagation.
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Outline Of Islamic Dawahs Methods

)

(...

( 125 :)

his Quranic verse points out the following

methods:
1. Wisdom,
2. Goodly advise, and
3. Debate in gracious manner.
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Sources Of The Science Of Dawah

ccording to Abd al-Karim Zaydan (1999,

pp. 413-416):
1) The Quran,
2) The Prophetic Sunnah,
3) Sirah al-Salaf al-Salih (Way of Pious
Predecessors),
4) Results of Muslim scholars inquiry,
5) Experience.
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Cont

b. Aziz Mohd Zin (1991, pp. 7880), summarizes the sources of

Islamic Dawah into three:
1) The Quran,
2) The Sunnah, and
3) Experience.
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