Communication in the Qur’an (07/11)

Different Methods of Communicating Religion

1. Combined oral and written presentations

Sulayman (as) wrote a letter introducing religion to the Queen of Sheba (Surat an-Naml: 28). To inform people about Allah’s religion in today’s world, written communication is absolutely necessary. For this purpose, letters can be sent and books, newspaper, and magazine articles can be written singly or as a series. This method is effective, since being permanent, books and articles can be read and reread.

2. Mass communication

As well as presenting religion to the leaders of society, Musa (as) brought all the people together to tell them about Allah’s religion (Surah Ta Ha: 59 and Surat ash-Shu‘ara’: 39). Today, believers must use all methods of mass communication (e.g., press, radio, television, letters, books, and the Internet) to reach all segments of society.

3. Introducing religion to a society’s leaders and ruling circle

Allah’s prophets and messengers are especially concerned to present religion to the society’s leaders and the ruling circle, because such people have power and authority. Therefore, opening a dialogue with these people is an important way of introducing religion to them.

4. Preparing to introduce religion

The Qur’an tells us that those who desire to further the Way of Allah must first prepare themselves:

The believers’ most important work today is disseminating information about religion. However, before they can do this successfully, they need to prepare themselves. There are two aspects to this: (1) preparing for written communication. This involves deciding which books and newspapers to use, establishing a plan of action to make the best use of special written information, and fundraising and (2) educating and preparing themselves, both morally and intellectually, to communicate Allah’s religion.

5. Developing expertise in presenting religion

Believers must also divide the work into suitable portions:

Every believer is expected to communicate the religion, and every assembly of believers is also an assembly of communicators. Many tasks have to be done to realize this goal, and each one will make a person a better and more effective communicator.

To be a skilled communicator of religion, believers must be well educated, have a thorough knowledge of the Qur’an, and have developed speaking and writing skills, all of which will result in better communication of religion.