Reframing Intercultural Dakwah Through Action: Quranic Foundations of al-Ta'aruf, al-Tafahum, al-Ta'awun and al-Ta'ayush

Abstract

This study discusses contemporary da‘wah approach to the community in Brunei Darussalam considering the diversity and cultural background of three non-Muslim Brunei Malay indigenous groups. Globally, the increasing plural societies, Islamic da‘wah faces a great challenge of remaining relevant and compassionate for da‘wah activity towards non-Muslim. Da‘wah for Muslim often rely on da‘wah bil-lisan. However, da‘wah towards non-Muslim the existing challenges require local Bruneian Malay Muslim Da’i to have a capability and ability in managing the best da'wah complimenting both da‘wah bil-lisan and da‘wah bil-hal. Therefore, this study analyse da‘wah bil-hal based on these four Qur’anic principles and to explore how this da‘wah bil-hal is applied within the context of intercultural da‘wah toward non-Muslim indigenous communities in Brunei Darussalam. Using qualitative phenomenological approach, this study will conduct semi-structured interviews, observation, and institutional documents of the Pusat Da‘wah Islamiah, Negara Brunei Darussalam. All the data will be discussed and presented according to the specific themes. The findings showed that there were many approaches that can be used for da'wah purposes to non-Muslims which begins with al-ta‘aruf as recognition, evolving into al-tafahum as understanding, al-ta‘awun as cooperation, and culminating in al-ta‘ayush as sustained coexistence. The study concludes that reframing da‘wah through action redefines Islamic da‘wah outreach towards non-Muslim indigeneous communities as an embodied praxis that aligns spiritual mission with intercultural harmony.