Islamic Da wah in the West: Muslim Missionary Activity and the Dynamics of Conversion to Islam

This book explains the concept of Islamic "da'wah", or missionary activity, as it has developed in contemporary Western contexts. Poston traces the transition from the early "external-institutional" missionary approach impracticable in modern Western society, to an "internal-personal" approach which aims at the conversion of individuals and seeks to influence society from the bottom upwards. Poston also combines the results of a questionnaire-survey with an analysis of published testimonies to identify significant traits that distinguish converts to Islam. Early expansion of Islam was predicated upon an "external-institutional" missionary approach which involved the political conquest of nations followed by the establishment of Muslim institutions. Conversion occurred as the masses became enculturated to the new environment. This external-institutional approach proved impracticable in the modern West, however, and Islam effected a transformation in its method of outreach. Poston here explores the concept of dawah--Islamic missionary activity--as it has evolved in contemporary Western societies. As a response to the demands of the Western social context, he shows, Muslims in the West have adopted an "internal-personal" approach, which aims at the conversion of individuals and seeks to influence society from the bottom upwards. Beginning with the teachings of Hasan al-Banna' and Abul A'la Mawdudi, this adaptation has led to the establishment in America and Europe of "para-mosque" organizations. Poston documents the institutionalization of the new missionary strategy in North America, profiling various organizations and institutions established for the propagation of the Muslim faith, and analyzing their missionary philosophies, strategies, and techniques. Turning his attention to those who heed the "call", Poston creates a profile of the "typical" convert to Islam. Examining the experiences of numerous converts, he compares them to a psychological profile of the "typical" religious convert. The results of a questionnaire-survey are combined with an analysis of published testimonies to identify significant traits that distinguish converts to Islam. CONTENTS......Page 10 INTRODUCTION......Page 14 I: Da'wah in Islam: From East to West......Page 20 1. Da'wah in the East: The Expansion of Islam from the First to the Twelfth Century A.D.......Page 22 2. Da'wah in the West: The Arrival of Muslims in North America......Page 37 II: Toward an Islamic Pietism......Page 58 3. External-Institutional Versus Internal-Personal: Fundamental Strategies of Religious Proselytization......Page 60 4. Hasan al-Bannā' and Abul A'lā Mawdūdī: Pioneers of Modern Islamic Pietism......Page 75 5. Khurram Murad: Contextualization of the Islamic Movement for the Western Audience......Page 92 III: The Institutionalization of Da'wah in Western Societies......Page 102 6. "Paramosque" Structures and Their Development......Page 104 7. Paramosque Strategies and Methodologies......Page 126 8. Contemporary Apologetics: The Literature of Proselytization......Page 146 IV: The Dynamics of Conversion to Islam......Page 154 9. Religious Conversion: The Traditional Western Paradigm......Page 156 10. Conversion to Islam......Page 169 CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE OF DA'WAH IN THE WEST......Page 192 NOTES......Page 198 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 208 C......Page 224 D......Page 225 H......Page 226 I......Page 227 M......Page 228 P......Page 229 V......Page 230 Z......Page 231 An examination of Islamic evangelism, or da'wah, as it has been interpreted and practiced by Muslims in the West. Beginning with a history of Islamic expansionism, the author traces the concept of da'wah from the earliest followers of Islam to new missionary strategies in North America