Exploring the Da’wah Discourse: A Maqāṣidī Perspective on Challenges and Receptivity in the Western Cap

Abstract

This article approaches the discourse of da’wah from an Islamic thought Maqāṣidī̄ approach, using the known Maqāṣidī cycles of reflection. The purpose is to address pertinent questions when examining the state of da’wah within contemporary South African society. It further examines the reasons for a lack of receptivity by the public from the `ulamā fraternity, referred to as lughah al-khiṭāb.1 Adopting a Maqāṣidī approach to this overarching theme, a survey was constructed and distributed to 137 anonymous persons throughout the Western Cape Province of South Africa, using social media platforms as the main medium of distribution. This case study surveyed Western Cape inhabitants to ascertain the concerns of youth and to further understand the elements that play an integral part in their receptivity to da’wah within the Western Cape, particularly in terms of the uses and effects of social media. The
outcome of this study was aligned with the null hypothesis, which states that there is no relationship between the levels of knowledge of participants and their interaction with the survey. Secondly, this study proposes an alternative hypothesis which states that there is a relationship between knowledge and interaction. However, since the results of the survey aligned with the null hypothesis, it is evident that our society has a major concern with its da’wah discourse.