A deep survey of the means of Dawa that are mentioned in the Noble Koran and the Sunna show us clearly their common features. They consist of:

1. Accuracy and explicitness: both of them (the means that are mentioned in the Noble Koran and in the Sunna) apprise people of the essences of faith and the principles of Islam explicitly and accurately. Therefore, the receiver perceives them without any ambiguity.

2. Priority of considering the deeds: the means of Dawa give priority to the principle matters over the branches, and to the general matters over the partial ones.

3. The division of the goals: the means of Dawa subdivide its objectives into parts. They introduce Islam to people leniently, gradually and judiciously. So, they empty them of their devil character and fill them with the standards of Islam.

4. The power of influence: these means address people’s minds and sensibility. They rely on evidence and demonstration.

B) Types of the means of Dawa:

1. Narratives:

The narratives used in the Koran contribute immensely in promulgating Islam. They are influential, and they bear a meaning. they contain the literary elements of the story.

The Koranic narrative is the memory of the ancient nations’ history. The Almighty Allah said: «We narrated to you the best narratives which we revealed to you in this the Koran, yet before this you were certainly unaware». [Surat Yusef/the prophet Joseph, 03].

He also said: «And all we related to you of the tidings of the Messengers in order to mark firm your heart, in these has come to you the truth and admonition, and reminder to the believers». [Surat Hud/the prophet Hood, 120].

Among the verses that narrate the Koranic narratives, the following ones:

1. The story of the prophet Zakaria/Zachary.

«Kâf- Hâ- Yâ- Aîn- Sâd. A mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakaria, when he called his Lord secretly, he said: “My Lord my boons within me are feeble and my head is all aflame with hoariness, and in calling on you my Lord, I have never been unsuccessful». [Surat Mariam/ Marry, from 1to 4].

2.The story of El-Isra’ (El-Isra’ is the Nocturnal trip made by the prophet Muhammad- may peace be upon him):

«Glory to be to Allah, the One who did take his servant (Muhammad) on a night journey from the sacred Mosque to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the precincts of which we have blessed, that we might show him some of out signs. Indeed! Allah is the All Hearing, the All seeing». [Surat Al-Isrâ’/the Nocturnal trip, 1].

3. The story of Adam’s two sons: The Almighty Allah said: «And narrated to them the true story of the two sons of Adam, when they offered a sacrifice, and it was accepted of one of them, and not accepted of the other, the other said: “I will kill you” said the one, Allah only accepts from the those who are pious. Yet if you stretch out your hand to kill me, I will not stretch my hand to kill you. Indeed I fear God, the Lord of the worlds. I would rather prefer that

you should bear the burden of my sin and your sin, and so be an inhabitant of Fire, that is the recompense of the oppressors». [Surat Al-Mâ’ida/The Table Spread, from 27 to 29].

4.The story of the People of the Cave:

The Almighty Allah said: «When the youths took refuge in the cave and said: «Our Lord, have mercy on us and strengthen our hearts. Then We made them sleep in the cave for some numbered years. Then We awoke them to show which of the two disputants would count more accurately the length of time of their stay there. We relate to you their tidings in truth. They are youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance». [Surat Al-Kahf/the Cave, from 10 to13].

5.The story of the Jews: the story of the Jews is widely narrated in the Noble Koran than any other story, either to show their relation with the prophets or with the Muslims. These stories display their evil character and bad attributes, among them :

- Their enmity towards Islam and their support of the unbelievers. The Almighty Allah said: «Have you seen those who were given a position of the book, they believe in false deities and demons and falsehood, and they say to the unbelievers that they are better guided in the right way than the believers. Those are they whom Allah has cursed, and whoever Allah curses, you will not find any helper for him». [Surat An-Nissâ’/The Women, 51/52].

«If they have the upper hand over you, they will be your enemies, and will stretch out their hands and their tongues towards you will evil, and they wish that you may disbelieve». [Surat Al Mumtahina/The Examined one, 2].

- Their envious feelings of the Muslims: the Almighty Allah said: «Many of the people of earlier scripture desire to turn you back into unbelievers after you have believed, out of the envy of their hearts, after the truth has become clear to them. So, disregard and tolerate them until Allah enforces His judgment, surly God has power over all things». [Surat Al-Baqara/ the Heifer, 109].

- The harshness of their hearts: «Then even after that, your hearts were hardened and become as rocks or even yet harder, for indeed there are rocks from which rivers gush, and others which when split, water issues from them, and other tumble down in fear of Allah, and Allah is not unaware of what you do» [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 74].

- Their Killing of the prophets: The Almighty Allah said: «Indeed! We gave the Scriptures to Moses, and followed him with Messengers one after the other, then We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs, and supported him with a message you did not desire, you were insolent, some you rejected and others you killed». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer,87].

- Lie and falsehood: The Almighty Allah said: «Look how they forge lies about Allah, and that alone is a momentous sin». [Surat An-Nissâ’/The Women, 50].

He also said: «O people of earlier Scriptures! Why do you confound the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth knowingly?». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 71].

- Craftiness and deception: The Almighty Allah said: «They devised their devising, and their devising is known to Allah even though their devising was such as to remove mountains». [Surat Ibrahim/The prophet Abraham, 46].

- Worshiping gold and eating the forbidden things: the Almighty Allah said: «O you who believe! Most surely many of priests and Rabbis devour the wealth of the people in falsehood, and hinder them from the way of God, and those who hoard up gold and silver, and do not expend it in the cause of Allah, announce to them a painful chastisement». [Surat At-Tawba/the Repentance, 34].

- Committing enormities and atrocities: The Almighty Allah said: «The believers of the Children of Israel were cursed by the tong of David, and by Jesus, the son of Mary, because of their rebellion and their transgression. They did not forbid for each other the wrongs of things they committed, evil were their doings». [Surat Al-Mâ’ida/The Table Spread, 78/79].

- Haughtiness: the Almighty Allah said: «And when you said: “O Moses, we will not believe in you until we see Allah openly”, so the thunderbolt struck you while you were looking on». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 55].

He also said: «And when we took a covenant from the children of Israel: “ worship none but Allah, and treat with kindness your parents, your near of kin, the orphans and those in need, speak of good to the people , and establish prayer and pay the alms”. But with the exception of a few, you all slid back from it, and are paying no heed to it even now». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 55].

- The breaking of the covenants: the Almighty Allah said: «Therefore, for their breaking the covenants, and their disbelief in Allah’s revelation, and their killing the prophets unjustly, and fore their saying “our hearts are in impermeable. Allah set seal on their hearts for their disbelief, so they shall not believe, except a few». [Surat An-Nissa/The Women, 155]

2. Parable:

a) Its definition: it is a short saying that may be a prose or a poem. It expresses man’s experience and life. It is known from the ancient times by all nations.

This parable is used to:

1. Influence the receiver.

2. Make the meaning understandable. The prophet- may peace be upon him said: «The believers in their intimacy, sympathy and commiseration are like the body, if a part of it is suffering, all the other parts support it with fiver and insomnia». [Reported by Muslim].

3. Express the rational matters by using the perceptible ones.

B) The connotation of the word parable in the Noble Koran:

The word parable in the Noble Koran has two meanings:

1. Deception: the Almighty Allah said: «The likeness of the gardens which the pious are promised, beneath its rivers flow its fruits are eternal, and its shade is perpetual. Such is the reword of the righteous. And the ultimate abode of the unbelievers is Fire». [Surat Ar’Râd/The Thunder, 35].

2. Comparison: This comparison may be real like the example stated in this verse: «Indeed! with Allah the likeness of Jesus is of that of Adam, Allah created him from dust, then said to him “Be” and he was». [Surat Al-Imrân/The Family of Imrân, 59], or figurative like the Almighty Allah’ saying: «The likeness of those who were charged with the Torah(the scripture revealed to Moses) then they did not observe it, is as the likeness of an ass bearing books…». [Surat Al-Djumuâ/The Friday, 5].

In this verse, Allah the Great compared the Jews who are ordained to learn and work according to the Torah to an ass that bears useful books without making use of them. Then the Noble Koran added:

«Evil is the likeness of the people who disbelieve in Allah’s revelations, and Allah does not guide the evildoers». [Surat Al-Djumuâ/The Friday, 5].

What is noticeable in the examples mentioned in the Koran are addressed to all people. The Almighty Allah said:

« It gives its fruits every season, by the leave of its Lords. And Allah sets examples for peoples that they may be admonished ». [Surat Ibrahim,/The prophet Abraham, 25].

«And you dwelt in the dwelling places of those who wronged their souls, and it became clear to you how We dealt with them, and how We set similitudes for you». [Surat Ibrahim,/The Prophet Abraham, 45].

«And those similitudes, we set them for the peoples, but non understand them except those who have knowledge». [Surat Al-Ankabût/The Spider, 43].

«And we have indeed revealed to you clear verses, and an examples of the people who passed away before you, as an admonition for the pious». [Surat An-Nour/the Light, 34].

C)The preaching aims of the Koranic Parable:

1- To affirm Monotheism and its fruits, and deny the other deities. Allah the Great said:

«Have you not reflected how Allah has set a similitude? A good word is like a good tree, those roots are firm, and its branches are in heavens.. And the similitude of a malignant words is like a malignant tree, torn out from the earth having no stability». [Surat Ibrahim/The prophet Abraham, from 24 to 26].

«O people, a similitude is set, therefore listen to it. Surely those upon whom you invoke other than god, will never be able to create a fly, even if they banded together to do it, and if a fly should rob them of anything, they would never retrieve in from it. Feeble indeed alike are the seeker and the sought». [Surat Al-Hajj/The Pilgrimage, 73].

2.To show the state of those who worship others than Allah. The Almighty Allah said: «The similitude of those who have chosen guardians other than God, is the similitude of the spider when takes for itself a dwelling. Indeed, the flimsiest dwelling is the dwelling of the spider, if only they knew». [Surat Al-Ankabût/The Spider, 41].

3.To show the end of those who deactivate their senses and those who disregard the universe. The Almighty Allah said:

«And We have left for Hell many of Jinn and mankind, they have hearts but they do not understand with them, they have eyes but they do not perceive with them, they have ears but they do not hear with them. They are like cattle, no indeed they are further astray, those they are the heedless». [Surat Al-Araf /The Heights, 179].

4.To provide the Daiya (preacher) with patience and endurance. Allah the Great said: «Or do you suppose that you will be admitted to the gardens easily? Has the example of those before you not come to you ? they were tried with wretchedness and distress and were so shaken that even the messenger and the believers with him said: “when will Allah give us victory? And Allah guides whoever He pleases to a straight path». [Surat Al-Baqare/ The Heifer, 214].

5.To enlighten the called persons and inform them about the real meaning of life. Allah the Great said: «Most surely, the similitude of the life of this world is as water that we send down from the sky it mingles with plants of the earth which grew thereby, from which people and cattle eat ,until when the earth arrays itself ornately and is ripened in beauty, so that its owners presume they have power over it, then our command comes upon it, by night or by day, and we render it as stubble as though it had never flourished yesterday, thus we expound the signs for a people who reflect». [Surat Yunes/The Prophet Jonah, 24].

6.To show the merits of expenses for the sake of Allah. The Almighty Allah said: «Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah, their likeness is as grain growing seven ears, in each ear there are one hundred grains, and Allah multiplies His bounty for whom He pleases, and Allah is Infinite, All Knowing». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 261].

7. The inspiring and the frightening.

a) Inspiring the believers: The Almighty Allah inspires the believers in the following verse: «And Allah has set an example to the believers, the wife of Pharaoh, when she said: My Lord, build me a house in paradise with you, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from the unjust people». [Surat Atahrîm/The Prohibition, 11].

b) Intimidating the hypocrites: the Almighty Allah said: «They are like the one who lit a fire, when it illuminates all around him, God obliterated their light and left them in pitch darkness where they can not see». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 17]. He also said:

«Have you not seen the hypocrites saying to their brethren of the people of earlier scripture who disbelieve : if you are expelled we shall go forth with you , and we shall never obey anyone in your respect and Allah bears witness that they are utter liars. If they are expelled, they will never go forth with them, and if they are attacked, they will help them, and if they did help them they would certainly turn their backs, then they would not be helped». [Surat Al-Hashr/the Gathering, 11/12].

c) Frightening the unbelievers: the Almighty Allah said:

«The similitude of those who disbelieve in their Lord, their deeds are like ashes which the wind scatters on a stormy day, they have no power over what they have earned, this is the far error ». [Surat Ibrahim,/the prophet Ibrahim, 18].

3. Polemics:

A) Its definition: polemics is a means of Dawa. It can be in matters of faith or any intellectual and Fiqh matters.

The Almighty Allah ordered His prophet Muhammad -may peace be upon him- and then the preachers to use it. He said: «Call mankind to the way of your Lord with wisdom and sound advice, and reason with them in a well mannered». [Surat An-Nahl/The Bee, 125].

Polemics is of two kinds:

1. Laudable polemics: it is used to ascertain the truth and call to Allah’s way. It is also a means to defend Islam. As an example of this type of polemic, we mention the debates held by sheikh Ahmed Dedat with priests.

2. Dispraised polemics: It is not favoured because it aims at affirming falsehood or gaining money and status.

B) The preaching aims of polemics:

1.To respond to the unbelievers’ denial of the religious truth especially the unseen (Al-Ghaib), such as God, the Day of Resurrection, the Angles). The Almighty Allah said: «If there had been in heavens and the earth other gods but Allah, both would have been thrown into turmoil, Glory be to Allah! The lord of the throne, above what they attribute to Him». [Surat Al-Anbiyâ’/The Prophets, 22]. He also said:

«And they say “when will this threat come about if you are truthful?». [Surat Yunes, The Prophet Jonah, 48]. The Noble Koran responded to them and demonstrated the fulfilment of Allah’s promise. The Almighty Allah said:

«Say: you have an appointment day which you can neither put back for an hour, nor put forward an hour». [Surat Sabâ’/Shaba, 30].

«And He has set for us a similitude and forgotten how he was created, he says: who will revive the bones when they are rotten? Say: He shall revive them, the one who originated them the first time, He is all Knowing of all creation». [Surat Yâ-Sîn, 78/79].

2.To demonstrate the injunctions of the Islamic Charia.

The Almighty Allah said: «Those who devour usury will not stand except as one whom Satan has prostrated by his touch will stand. This is because they say, trading is like usury. But Allah has allowed trading and forbidden usury. So whoever takes admonition from his lord and desists, he shall have his past gains and his matter is for Allah, but whoever revert, those are the inhabitants of Fire, to dwell there forever». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 275].

«They ask you about intoxicants and gambling, say in both of them there is grievous sin, and some profits; but the sin is more grievous than the profit. They ask you how much they are to spend, say whatever you spare, so Allah expounds His commands to you, in order that you may reflect». [Surat Al-Baqara/The Heifer, 219].

3.To affirm the prophecy of the prophet Muhammad- may peace be upon him.

The Almighty Allah said: «So they said shall we follow a mortal, one like ourselves? Then indeed we should be in error and insanity!». [Surat Al-Qamar/The Moon, 24]. The answer is given by the Almighty Allah confirming the prophecy of the prophet Muhammad-may peace be upon him. He said:

«Certainly there has come to you a messenger from among yourselves grievous to him is your suffering, ardently anxious is over you, to the believers he is compassionate and merciful». [Surat At-Tawba /The Repentance, 128].

When the unbelievers asked him to bring them some visible miracles, the Almighty Allah answered them and said: «Or until you have a house adorned with gold, or you ascend to heaven, and we will not believe your ascending there until you bring down to us a book which we may read. Say Glory be to my Lord! I am only a mortal Messenger». [Surat Al-Isrâ’/The Nocturnal trip, 93].

4. To acquaint with people and display their tempers as to facilitate their calling to Allah since they have different characters. So, every one should be treated in a specific way. Allah the Great said: « O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you. Indeed Allah is All knowing, All Aware». [Surat Al-Hudjûrât/ The Chambers, 13].

5. To show the conversation that will be held between the people of Paradise and those of Hell. The Almighty Allah said: «And the inhabitants of Paradise shall call the inhabitants of Fire, we have found the promise of our Lord to be true. Have you found the promise of your Lord to be true? They shall say “yes”. Then a herald shall call in their midst, the curse of God is the on the sinners». [Surat Al-A’râf/ The Heights, 44].

4. The oath:

A) Its definition:

It is the act of swearing. It is used from the ancient times for many reasons, among them:

1.To confirm the news.

2.To extol the sworn by (eg: Allah…).

3. To attract people’ s attention to the matter about which one swears.

4. It is used as a proof.

People used to swear by many things, but Islam ordered them to swear only by Allah. In this context, the prophet-may peace be upon him- said: «He who swears by others than Allah is an unbeliever». [Reported by Anassa’i]. He also said: «Swear by no one but Allah, and swear not except if you are truthful». [Reported by Anassa’i].

The Almighty Allah said: «Those who sell the covenant of Allah and their own oath for a worldly profit, they shall have no share of the Hereafter, nor will Allah speak to them, nor loot at them on the Day of resurrection, nor will He purify them and they shall have a painful chastisement». [Surat Al-Imrân/the Family of Imrân, 77].

B) Its pillars:

1.The sworn by, (eg: Allah).

2. The thing about which one swears.

3.The preposition of swearing (eg: by. one says by Allah).

C) Its preaching objectives:

1.To extol and praise the sworn by (Allah), and to show the relationship between having faith in Allah and applying the rules of the Islamic Charia. The Almighty Allah said: «By your Lord, they will not believe until they accept you to judge between them in their disputes, and accept your decisions with entire submission without feeling the least resentment in their hearts». [Surat An-Nissa/The Women, 65].

2. To show the importance of the sworn by. «Yâ-Sîn. By the wise Koran. Indeed you are of the Messengers». [Surat Yâ-Sîn, from 1 to 3].

3.To show the role of the sworn by in the universe and life, and to confirm the holiness of the Almighty Allah through His signs in His creatures. «And by the night, when it withdraws». [Surat Al-Mudathir/The Uncovered, 33].

«By the afternoon. And the brooding night». [Surat El-Dhuha/ the Forenoon, 1/2].

4. To extol and show the greatness of the matter about which one swears.

5. To affirm the trueness of the sworn by especially in the unseen matters like the Day of Resurrection. Allah the Great said: «Those who disbelieve assert that they will not be raised, say yes indeed. By my Lord, you will raise again, and then you shall be informed of what you did, and what is easy for Allah». [Surat Ataghabun/The Winner and the Loser, 7].

6. To link the reword of the Day of Judgment to having faith in Allah and doing good deeds. «I swear by the era (time through the ages) . Most surely mankind is certain loser. Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and enjoin each other to follow the truth, and enjoin each other to be steadfast». [Surat Al-Asr/The Era (Time through the Ages].

7. To show the complementary role of both male and female through the two sings: night and day. «By the night and when it veils over it; and by the day in full splendour; and by He who created» [Surat Al-leil/The Night, from 1 to 4].

8. To affirm the prophecy of the prophet Muhammad-may peace be upon him, and deny all the evil attributes the prophet was accused with like lie, foolishness, deviation

The Almighty Allah said:

«By the star when it falls down, your companion (Muhammad) is not astray, nor is he deceived, nor does speak out of caprice. It is nothing but a revelation revealed». [Surat Al-Nadjm/the Star, from 1 to 4].

«But I indeed not to swear by that you see , and by that which you do not see. Most surely, it is the word of an honorable messenger and it is not the word of a poet, little do you believe. Nor the word of a soothsayer, little do you remember». [Surat Al-Hâqa/The Inevitable Truth, from 38 to 42]

5- The contemporary means: The origin of the means we have already mentioned and the remaining ones is allowance. The aim of these means is communication, information and the elucidation of Islam. This is why it is necessary to exploit all the contemporary means in Dawa (calling to Allah’s way) such as seminaries, expositions, mass media.

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Dawa
		The common characteristics of the means