CHALLENGES FACING DAˁWAH IN THE CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN SOCIETY:SOLUTIONS FROM AL-ILORĪ'S TĀRĪKHUD-DAˁWAH

Abstract

The mission of the Prophets and their successors was to spread the message of Islām, enjoin
righteousness and forbid evils. Thus, the reformation of the individual and society was the basis for
which they were sent by Allāh. However, globalization poses challenges to contemporary Daˁwah.
Against this, this study delineates major challenges facing contemporary Daˁwah, and responses to
them with particular reference to Al-Ilorī's Tārīkhu-d-Daˁwah. The research adopts historical and
analytical methods. It reveals that the ineffectiveness of contemporary Daˁwah is consequential to
the behavioral and interactional perspectives of Daˁwah workers, which includes the lack of
cooperation among Islamic preachers, misusage of modern technology, and proliferation of
Christian missionary in the Muslim world. Therefore, a successful Daˁwah strategy cannot be
actualized without considering the internal and the external challenges in a realistic manner. Having
identified the challenges, the study recommends certain resolutions that are essential for every
Daˁwah worker in transforming Daˁwah to suit the limelight of the 21st century.