Da'wah
/ˈdɑː.wə/noun
The Islamic practice of inviting people to understand, accept, or follow Islam.
Did you know?Daʿwah comes from the Arabic root d-ʿ-w, which also produces duʿāʾ, meaning a personal supplication or prayer addressed to God.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḍʕw
“To call, summon, or invite”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
daʿā
“He called, summoned, or invited”
Qur'anic Arabic
Arabic
daʿwah
“A call or invitation, including a call toward faith”
Medieval Islamic usage
Arabic
daʿwa
“Religious preaching, mission, or invitation to Islam”
20th Century
English
da'wah
“The Islamic practice of inviting others to learn about or follow Islam”