Introduction to the science of الدعوة

Introduction to the Science of Da'wah Mohammad Abu Al-Futouh Al-Bayanuni Volume 453, pages, white paper Comprehensive methodological study of the history of Da'wah, its fundamentals, methodologies, techniques, means, and its problems in light of transmission and reason The call to Islam and the doctrine of monotheism are among the most important duties of a Muslim person, even though – like the Holy Quran and other fundamental matters in Muslims' lives – they have become obscured due to many political traditions, especially colonialism and tyranny. In fact, there are technical or artistic problems at the level of Da'wah work, which have contributed to the loss of appeal of the Da'wah discourse, and its deviation from its primary message in many cases. In this context, the recent Islamic revival decades have witnessed diligent efforts to re-establish the foundations of Islamic Da'wah and the sound Da'wah discourse, through returning to the roots—namely the Holy Quran, the noble Sunnah, and trustworthy Muslim scholars—through peer-reviewed books and studies committed to the scientific method in presentation, including the book before us. The book, authored by Dr. Mohammad Abu Al-Futouh Al-Bayanuni, an associate professor at the Higher Institute of Islamic Da'wah in Medina, came in 454 pages and bore a subtitle: "A comprehensive methodological study of the history of Da'wah, its fundamentals, methodologies, techniques, means, and problems in light of transmission and reason." What is most notable in this book is the author's placement of reason alongside transmission in coordinating Da'wah work, its tools, and mechanisms. This is a significant development in Islamic Da'wah thought after centuries of reliance solely on transmission, which led to stagnation in discourse and consequently, the audience's disengagement from the preachers' talks. At the beginning of his book, which is organized into six chapters, in addition to introductions and a conclusion, with various indexes based on their thematic content, the author emphasizes the existing shortcomings in Da'wah work—between those who neglect the scientific aspects and focus on preaching and rhetoric at the expense of scientific rigor, and those who stop at certain aspects of Da'wah issues without considering others. It is noticeable that the author adhered greatly to the scientific side in his book; he started with introductions and preambles clarifying the concepts he uses, including the science of Da'wah, Sharia, and methodology. Chapter one discusses the history of Da'wah from before Islam, then during the Prophethood, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the Umayyad era, the Abbasid era, the Ottoman period, and finally in the modern era. Chapter two covers the fundamentals of Da'wah, starting from the Holy Quran, the Sunnah, and the conduct of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, up to the intellectual output and efforts of scholars in this field. It also discusses the pillars of Da'wah, beginning with the caller, then the called, with its various types, and how to deal with each type. Chapter three deals with different Da'wah methodologies, including the rational approach and its pillars, and the general characteristics of Da'wah methodologies, such as discipline, gradualism, and continuity. Chapter four focuses on Da'wah methods, emphasizing the importance of wisdom, example, debate, and the method of good advice, urging continuous development of Da'wah methods according to circumstances and new developments. Chapter five discusses the means of Da'wah and their Shariah regulations, highlighting the importance of patience, perseverance, and planning. Finally, chapter six addresses the problems and obstacles facing Da'wah, whether internal—especially "subjectivity"—or external, such as the cunning of enemies of religion and the nation, and the efforts of Da'wah. In terms of solutions, it is observed that the author emphasizes the importance of detachment and sincerity, as well as cooperation in facing the problems of Da'wah in our contemporary world.