al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj al-Dawa Ilayh

al-Dīn al-ʿĀlamī wa-Manhaj al-Daʿwah Ilayh (The Universal Religion and the Methodology of Calling to It) is a treatise by the Egyptian Azhari scholar Atiyya Saqr (d. 1427 AH / 2006 CE), devoted to demonstrating the universal scope of Islam and establishing systematic principles for Islamic proselytization (da'wah) al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1.

Background and Composition

The book represents a condensed abridgment selected from Saqr's larger, comprehensive work titled al-Daʿwah al-Islāmiyyah Daʿwah ʿĀlamiyyah (The Islamic Call is a Universal Call) Fatawa Dar al-Ifta al-Mis…+1. It was published in Cairo by the Islamic Research Academy (Majma' al-Buhuth al-Islamiyya) as part of its scholarly series (Silsilat al-Buḥūth al-Islāmiyyah), featuring an introduction by Abd al-Fattah Abd Allah Barakah, then Secretary-General of the Academy, who presented its second edition as part of al-Azhar's ongoing intellectual outreach al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1.

Themes and Structure

Saqr begins by defining religious universality, arguing that a truly universal religion must transcend boundaries of race, skin color, language, and regional geography, addressing humanity as an enduring framework rather than serving a specific era or ethnic group al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1. In contrast to earlier revealed messages that were legislated for particular communities and limited historical periods, he presents Islam as the final, comprehensive message for all mankind al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1.

To establish Islam's universality, the author organizes his arguments into three categories:

• Textual Evidence (al-Adillah al-Naqliyyah): Passages from the Quran and the Sunnah indicating the global reach of the Prophet's mission al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1. Saqr emphasizes early Meccan verses to refute the claims of Western orientalists—specifically naming William Muir and J. J. Saunders—who alleged that the concept of universality was not present in the early message of the Prophet but was merely invented later by his successors during periods of conquest al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj….
• Intrinsic Evidence (al-Adillah al-Dhātiyyah): An analysis of Islam's intrinsic tenets, flexibility, and compatibility with innate human nature (fitrah) and social development al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1.
• Practical Evidence (al-Adillah al-Wāqiʿiyyah): Historical precedents detailing how the Prophet and the early Muslim community communicated the message across different regions and backgrounds, demonstrating the real-world adoption of Islam across varied cultures and civilizations al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1.

Methodology of Proselytization

In the latter part of the book, Saqr outlines the duties of Muslims toward preserving and propagating their faith, emphasizing the need for structured planning, psychological awareness, and pedagogical wisdom in outreach al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1. Grounding the methodology in the Quranic command: ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ("Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best" [al-Naḥl: 125]), he stresses the necessity of adapting discourse to diverse audiences, refuting hostile ideological incursions, and providing spiritual grounding in response to modern materialism and ideological crises al-Din al-Alami wa Manhaj…+1.