Messages of da‘wah for non-Muslims in the novel Ayat-Ayat Cinta

Abstract

This study examines the message of da‘wah to Non-Muslims in a novel entitled Ayat-Ayat Cinta by Habiburrahman El Shirazi. This study is qualitative research with an internal analysis approach (content analysis) which attempts to identify how a novelist inculcates messages of da‘wah in writing, specifically da‘wah towards non-Muslims along with messages of any aspect that the novelist wants to convey. The results of this study found that the method used by Habiburrahman El Shirazi is by featuring some non-Muslim characters in the novel such as the family of Mr. Boutros Rafael Girgis, (Maria, Yosoef, Mr. Boutros, Madame Nahed) and Alicia, a journalist, who is from the United States. Through these characters, he included critical topics of discussion in the Islamic point of that are widely misunderstood by some non-Muslims namely the role of women in Islamic teachings, relations between husband and wife, the mixing of non-mahram men and women, to how Islam functions as a guide and provides blessings to the community be it Muslim or non-Muslim. Similarly, through the plot of the story, the author of the novel conveys the Islamic message on the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims. It is hoped that this study shall open more minds to the fact that da‘wah can be conveyed effectively through writing and works of literature.