Strategies of Indirect Da'wah in America of Post 9/11 Era: The Case of Yasir Qadhi

Abstract

Da'wah (call to Islam) is a religious activity that is considered one of the essential activities in Islam. While da'wah was part of America for many decades, 9/11 attacks with the rise of Islamophobia, served as a catalyst that boosted da'wah activity to battle the negative image of Islam. In this paper, I argue that forms of indirect da'wah have been essential strategies among mainstream American imams since 9/11, who tried to present Islam positively, by “Americanizing” the religion using attitudes of social aspects. As an example of this methodology, I use the case of Sheikh Dr. Yasir Qadhi, a prominent American cleric, who has updated many of his harsh views since 9/11, and has been deeply involved with the American Muslim community. Qadhi's Islamic reformation symbolizes the post-9/11 impact on American clerics, who promoted indirect da'wah forms to bolster Muslims to become an integral part of American society.