Journal of Education and Social Sciences, Vol. 6, (February) ISSN 2289-1552 2017 9 METHODOLOGY OF PROPHETIC DA‘WAH AND ITS RELEVANCE TO CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL SOCIETY Fatmir Shehu ABSTRACT Protection of Deen (religion) is the highest objective of Maqasid al-Shariah, followed by protection of life, protection of offspring, protection of intellect and protection of wealth and property. Qur’an and Prophetic Sunnah have addressed many ways and methods meant for all times and space on how to protect the religion of Islam. Da‘wah is prescribed by both Islamic sources as one of the most important ways concerning the protection of Deen al-Islaam (Islam and its teachings). It was the best way used by all God’s Prophets and their followers. However, contemporary situation of the Muslim world, where Deen al- Islaam – its teachings, its Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) and its followers – has been misunderstood, misinterpreted and mistreated especially by Western media, intellectuals, and politicians, shows the weakness of Muslims in their Da‘wah discourse. How does a matured Muslim protect his/her religion – Deen al-Islaam? What is the right methodology to be used by a Muslim in his/her Da‘wah discourse? To answer these questions, this study attempts to look at the Prophetic Da‘wah for extracting the methodology employed by him (p.b.u.h.) as a relevant tool for Da‘wah activities in contemporary world. Pre-Islamic Arabian society, the Prophecy of Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), special characteristics and methodology of Prophetic Da‘wah, and its relevance to contemporary society are the main issues discussed in this paper. Descriptive and analytical methods are used in this study. This research adds to the existing literature on Islamic Da‘wah significant findings, which serve as a key reference for young Muslim scholars/leaders and a source of clarification for non-Muslims. Key words: Deen al-Islaam, Prophetic Da‘wah, Maqasid al-Shariah, methodology, contemporary society, framework. Introduction The right channel of people’s quest for the TRUTH as introduced by Islamic Sources – Qur’an and Prophetic Sunnah, does not create conflicts between them and especially between Muslims and non-Muslims in the present-day. Rather, it is the blind channel, which speculates the TRUTH. Therefore, people’s misunderstanding of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)’s true mission – al-Islaam and its teachings, has come as a result of their ignorance by getting access to such information blindly based on what others do say about Islam and not on what Islam does say about it. It is this approach that has created currently many barriers and conflicts between Muslims and Muslims as well as Muslims and other fellow humans. In order to clarify the bad image of Islam and its Prophet (p.b.u.h.) as well as the position of Muslims, this study has found very crucial to undertake a research on: – Methodology of Prophetic Da‘wah and its Relevance to the Contemporary Global Society. Methodology of Prophetic Da‘wah has been a very important subject discussed from time to time by many Muslim scholars in direct or indirect form. Muhammad al-Ghazali maintains that the selection of the right methodology used in Islamic Da‘wah, which is in line with Qur’an and Sunnah has a great impact on people’s awakening towards their way of thinking followed by their self-awakening. Certainly, Islamic Da‘wah will achieve its objective if people’s mind-set or view about the Truth has been corrected. (al-Ghazali, 2005, pp. 15-16) Ismail Raji al-Faruqi has mentioned methodology in general where he asserts that calling people to Islam is “the effort by the Muslim to enable other men to share and benefit from the supreme vision, the religious truth, which he has appropriated.” Therefore, according to him, Islamic Da‘wah requires a methodology, which does not impose force on people’s consciousness and intellect, rather it should remind them about their true nature – Fitrah – directed to both Muslims and non-Muslims through a friendly communication. (al-Faruqi, 1982, pp. 33-39) Abdullah Muhammad Zin asserts that Da‘wah methodology denotes “method, means, plan, etc., anything connected with the systematic propagation of the da‘wah.” (Zin, 1995, p. 48) He has mentioned that the three methodologies addressed by Qur’an – wisdom, goodly counsel, and argument in gracious manner, will help a Muslim Da‘i to “formulate most of the general principles of methodology applying in any situation and condition.” (Zin, 1995, pp. 49-58) Muhammad Mumtaz Ali maintains that “the methodological principles presented and practiced by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) are derived from the Revelation of the Qur’an.” He has mentioned in his work the most distinctive principles of the methodology of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) in conveying the Message of Islam, such as, belief in God, excellent conduct, wisdom, and so on. (Ali, 2009, pp. 44-58) The literature of abovementioned scholars has not covered all aspects concerning the subject on Prophetic methodology. Therefore, this research will attempt to present Prophetic methodology in a way to fill the gap left by previous Muslim scholars. The discourse or dialogue between God and human started with Adam (p.b.u.h.) and accomplished with Muhammad (p.b.u.h.). When a group of people or a nation used to go astray previously, God showed His mercy by sending another Prophet or Messenger to guide them, to remind them as well as to give them good tidings. Certainly, all God’s P rophets and Messengers were wise and skillful in inviting their own people to the TRUTH – To worship Only One True God – Allah (s.w.t.), and avoid false or any other form of worship. Da‘wah to the Path of Allah (s.w.t.), according to the Qur’an, was a duty of every Prophet