Arab News has two interesting pieces on dawa—the invitation to join Islam or to improve one’s performance within it. Both pieces caution that being heavy handed about it is, at best, counter-productive.

The first focuses on the relatively recent phenomenon of women taking up the duty to teach their sister how to behave properly. These women, not part of any government organization, believe it is their duty to set their sisters right on matters like how an abaya is to be worn or what constitutes modest dress. The article notes that some recipients of this advice feel that their privacy is being infringed and that those who offer the advice should be better mannered. Others welcome the suggestions and pamphlets the women hand out.

Guiding all to the straight and narrow

The second piece looks at how dawa in Saudi Arabia seems to be fixated on the negative, with fire-and-brimstone lectures warning of the penalties of straying from the path. Where is the aspect of mercy that underlies Islam, some ask in dismay. In general, according to the article, many find that the Saudi approach to Islam strips it of the joy it might have, the humility it must have.

Terrorizing people in the name of dawa

Both pieces are worth reading.