Dialogue Between Christian Mission and Islamic Da’wah

The central objective of this study is to demonstrate the possibility of constructive dialogue between Christianity and Islam through a comparative examination of two concepts closely related to the transmission and expansion of religious faith: mission and da’wah. Although both terms refer fundamentally to the communication of one’s faith to others—and may, therefore, appear to be associated with a logic of competition between religions—each also contains an intrinsic dimension of respect for the other. This dimension becomes particularly evident when their authentic meaning is understood not in terms of coercion or violence, but as a form of witness expressed through one’s way of life. Moreover, these concepts should not be interpreted solely as activities directed toward those outside the religious community. They also function as dynamics addressed to the believing community and to the individual believers themselves, with the purpose of deepening, renewing, and revitalizing faith. In this sense, the Christian notion of first proclamation—understood qualitatively as a renewed encounter with the Gospel—and the Islamic understanding of da’wah directed to the umma as a call to spiritual conversion reveal a significant point of convergence. This shared perspective may, therefore, provide an important foundation for constructive dialogue between the two religious traditions.