al-Alaqa al-Muthla bayn al-Duaat wa-Wasail al-Ittisal al-Haditha fi Daw al-Kitab wa-al-Sunna
- Author died
- 1440 AH
- Editions
- Safir Press
al-Alaqa al-Muthla bayn al-Duaat wa-Wasail al-Ittisal al-Haditha fi Daw al-Kitab wa-al-Sunna (The Ideal Relationship between Preachers and Modern Means of Communication in the Light of the Qur'an and Sunnah) is a treatise by the Saudi scholar Saeed bin Ali bin Wahf al-Qahtani (d. 1440 AH / 2018 CE) examining the theoretical foundations and practical application of modern media and communication technologies in Islamic propagation (da'wah).
Background and Composition
The work originated as a brief research paper assigned to al-Qahtani in 1407 AH (1986–1987 CE) during his preparatory coursework for his master's degree at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, under the supervision of Sayyid Muhammad Sadati al-Shinqiti. The author initially withheld the paper from publication out of concern over authentic hadiths warning against image-making and the depiction of animate beings. In 1431 AH (2010 CE), noting the serious risks posed by modern mass media if left entirely to misguided voices, he revised the text and finalized it on the afternoon of Sunday, 1 Rajab 1431 AH (13 June 2010 CE).
Structure and Content
The book is organized into an introduction, three chapters, and a conclusion:
- Chapter One: Definitions and Concepts covers linguistic and technical definitions of communication tools, media (i'lam), da'wah, and enjoining good and forbidding wrong (al-amr bi-al-ma'ruf wa-al-nahy 'an al-munkar). It analyzes the conceptual differences between media and communication, compares the concepts of da'wah and i'lam, discusses why the Qur'an favors the term da'wah over i'lam, and outlines communication processes and models.
- Chapter Two: The Legal Ruling on Da'wah and the Virtue of Knowledge and Scholars treats the Islamic legal ruling on calling to God, the virtues of religious knowledge, scholars, and preachers, the prerequisites of sincerity (ikhlas) to God and adherence (mutaba'ah) to the Prophet ﷺ, and the severe danger of concealing beneficial knowledge.
- Chapter Three: Preachers and Means of Communication details the significance and perils of modern communication technologies and the ideal stance that religious scholars and callers should adopt toward them. It dedicates practical sections to utilizing thirteen specific mediums in Islamic outreach: the press, books, radio, television, cinema, audio cassettes and compact discs (CDs), slide tapes, motion pictures/films, video tapes, landline telephones, fax machines (al-nasukh), mobile phones, and the Internet. It concludes with the duties of scholars regarding published media and the overarching objective that Muslims seek from information outlets.
Themes
The book argues against the isolation of Muslim scholars, preachers, and educators from contemporary mass communication channels, warning that withdrawing from public media leaves audiences vulnerable to harmful messaging. It emphasizes the responsibility of Islamic media practitioners to educate Muslims about their faith, counter hostile narratives, and actively employ available technologies to convey Islamic teachings.
Answer updated