Da’wah Training

A ten day specialised course offering students in-depth insight, confidence and skills in the duty of communicating the message of Islam.

 “Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to God and works righteousness and says I am one of those who bow down in Islam" (Surah Fussilat 41:33)

Nothing is an accident, rather a reflection of God’s will and wisdom, He is after all, Al Khaliq (the Creator), Al ‘Aleem (the Most Knowing), Al Qadir (The All Powerful), Al Hakeem (The Most Wise). So our presence in Britain is a historically unique opportunity, and it is incumbent upon us that we reflect the light of God in this land, becoming a community of positive purpose rather than a minority of self-interest.

As da’ees however, we need to ask some tough questions: why, despite many individual and collective efforts in da’wah over the past years, do we not seem to be making much difference to public attitudes: Islam is still seen as a foreign and eastern religion, even though Muslims are now moving into their third generation here? What is more, recent years have witnessed an alarming growth in anti-Muslim and anti-Islam attitudes. For the success of da’wah in our country, it is therefore crucial that we understand this dangerous trend and forge an intelligent and dynamic da’wah strategy to reverse it.

This course will guide students through the complexity of da’wah today: effective communication requires not only a sound understanding of the message, but also an awareness of the public’s preconceptions, values and culture. This course will show how, rather than simply preaching, effective da’wah is understanding, learning, sharing ideas and experiences, and that transforming attitudes is more important than the utterance of well-worn phrases.

The course will provide knowledge and skills in the best modes and techniques for communication, including strategies to bring entire communities into dialogue, rather than just individuals, as well as addressing the key factors that are working against a better understanding of Islam and Muslims in our society. (see page 11-15 for further details).

 

Aims of the Course

How will this intensive course benefit you?

• It will strengthen your understanding and confidence in Islam
• It will deepen your insight and understanding of the nature of da’wah, based on the Qur’an and sunnah and the experiences of reverts
• It will give you a comprehensive overview of the attitudes of the wider public towards Islam and the key challenges that da’wah faces in Britain today
• It will develop your knowledge of the key misunderstanding that people have of Islam today, and how to respond to them
• It will give you an awareness appreciation of the crucial field of Fiqh of Da’wah through leading scholars in this area
• It will help you understand the key stumbling blocks to da'wah within the Muslim community: need for priorities, culture, attitudes and fiqh that are relevant to Britain and the challenges of indigenising, identity and loyalty
• It will improve your skills and sophistication in communicating Islamic teachings
• It will help you understand British society and its people better
• It will help you discover effective ways of improving public opinion, bringing greater understanding and winning hearts (through contact and training with leaders and pioneers in the field of da’wah)

Course contents

Insha’Allah, the course will achieve these aims by employing a variety of methods (lectures, videos, group discussions and role play) to cover the following learning outcomes:

Module: Understanding Da’wah:

• The deeper meaning of da’wah – including behaviour and community aspects – is it about converting or conveying?
• How to portray the beauty and wisdom of the Islamic message – so that it touches minds and hearts
• Understanding the long journey to Islam – the key factors and experiences that have influenced reverts in their eventual choice of Islam
• How Islam established itself in the hearts of people in past centuries

Module: Fiqh of Da’wah:

• A deeper understanding of Islamic teachings and shari’ah
• How to live and portray Islam in a way that is genuine, yet natural and appealing to the British public
• Understand the fiqh of engagement – the practicalities of engaging with non-Muslims (inter-community relations, food, dress, drink, gender issues, etc.)
• Understand the diversity and moderation of the shari’ah, to ease people’s entry into the religion
• Defending the character of the Prophet (s)

Module: Heart and Tongue in Da’wah:

• The skills of effective communication, one to one, and with the media (with practical training)
  
• The spiritual requirements for da’wah as well as the spiritual pitfalls to avoid

Module: The British Context:

• Understanding the British character and psyche
• The main attitudes and misconceptions that the public have towards Muslims and how to address them, e.g. the fear of shari’ah, ‘Political Islam’, a clash of cultures and civilisations
• Understanding the Muslim community’s own stumbling blocks to da’wah: need for priorities, culture, attitudes and fiqh that are relevant to Britain , the challenges of indigenising, identity and loyalty
• A threat analysis of the Muslim community - what is driving the rapid growth in anti-Islam attitudes and what can be done about it?
• Key faiths and ideologies in Britain today

Module: The Arenas of Da’wah:

• Detailed understanding of the internet - how it influences public opinion and how to make best use of it - to educate thousands with a single click – including hands-on, practical cyber-training
• How to engage the media and press
• Explore the successes and challenges of different platforms for da’wah
• How to bring communities together, improving trust, mutual understanding and friendship

Students will be offered the choice of specialising in one of two practical modules:

A)  Cyber-Da’wah

B)  Verbal Da’wah – (one-to-one and media training)

Further information, including details of all the topics being covered by the course are available in the prospectus.

Apply now