Islamic Da ‘Wa and Christian Mission: Towards a Comparative Analysis

DAVID A. KERR [*] 1:0 Introduction Christianity and Islam have in common fact that -- like Buddhism -- they are missionary religions. While this is acknowledged by missiologists and comparative religionists, little scholarly attention has yet been given comparative study of Islamic da 'wa and mission. Nearly twenty-five years ago, in 1976, International Review of Mission devoted an issue Christian Mission and Islamic Da 'wah. It contained papers by Muslim and participants in a week-long dialogue conference held in Chamb[acute{e}]sy (June 1976), together with verbatim excerpts from conference discussions, and a final conference statement agreed among participants. [1] Although several Muslim and groups subsequently republished some of papers and common statement, no significant attempts have been made advance discussion of substantive issues. The present paper seeks regenerate interest in this topic, problems and opportunities of which have become more evident in last two decades of Christian-Muslim encounter. The paper is written as part of an international research project of theologians concerned with future of theological education in Muslim societies. [2] It contains material that was presented an international seminar of missiologists and missionaries in Overseas Ministries Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, in October 1999. [3] It also reflects issues discussed at a consultation on Religious Freedom, Community Rights and Individual Rights: a Christian-Muslim Perspective, sponsored by World Council of Churches at Hartford Seminary, Connecticut, also in October 1999. The paper is not intended address issues of Islam or, in practical terms, Muslim da 'wa among Christians. It offers a summation of various studies of and da 'wa since 1976, and sets out a basis for certain comparisons between and Islamic understandings of and da 'wa. In conclusion it proposes ten theses for renewed discussion about and da 'wa among Muslims and Christians. 1:1 The Meaning of Da'wa The Arabic word da'wa [4] expresses sense of or invitation. [5] It comes from verb da'a, to call, of which da'i is active participle, one who calls or invites. The question immediately arises whether words da'wa and da'i bear English translation of mission and missionary. In Arabic they imply a centripetal action of calling into, whereas implies centrifugal action of sending. Whether this etymological distinction has any comparative significance is a question be addressed in last section of this paper. In order not prejudge issue, words da'wa and da'i (plural du'ah) will be transliterated rather than translated, unless they are cited in quoted translation in which case translated terms will be italicized. [6] 2:0 Da'wa in Qur'an The verb da'a occurs frequently in Qur'an. Sometimes its subject is God: for example, God calls Home of Peace (dar al-islam), and He guides whom He pleases a straight path. [7] On other occasions subject is prophet: for example, the Messenger invites you believe in your Lord. [8] Frequently subject is people of faith who call upon God: for example, They cry unto God, making sincere their religion unto Him. [9] The noun da'wa also occurs several times in Qur'an, in reciprocal senses of God's call humankind, and believers' call or prayer God. In relation concerns of this paper, locus classicus of verb da'a is found in Sura Al Imran (The Family of Imran: Q3:104). I quote it in variant translations from two widely respected English versions of Qur'an: And there may spring from you a nation [umma] who invite [10] goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency. …