Street dawah in Kuala Lumpur
Every Sunday afternoon we set up a table in Bukit Bintang and in USJ, hand out pamphlets, and talk to whoever stops. That is the whole thing. Street dawah in Kuala Lumpur is far less dramatic than the name suggests, and you can join this Sunday.
What actually happens
Somebody walks past. You offer a pamphlet. Most people say no thanks and keep walking, and that is completely normal. Some take it and keep walking. A few stop, and then you are just two people having a conversation on a Sunday afternoon.
The conversations are ordinary. People ask what the pamphlet is, or why you are standing there, or something they have wondered about for years and never had anyone to ask. You are not delivering a speech and nobody is keeping score.
Nothing is sold and nothing is asked for. If a conversation goes somewhere interesting, we invite them to a free mosque tour where there is time to talk properly.
Where and when
Every Sunday, 12pm to 6pm. Come for the whole afternoon or for an hour, whichever suits you.
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Heavy foot traffic and a lot of visitors from overseas, so conversations here are often in English.
USJ, Selangor
Quieter and more local. A gentler place to start if the thought of Bukit Bintang makes you nervous.
If you have never done this before
You do not have to speak to anyone on your first visit. Plenty of people spend their first Sunday standing at the table, handing out pamphlets, and listening to how others answer. That is a real contribution and it is how most of us started.
When you do speak, you will not be alone. There is always someone experienced within a few steps, and if a question comes up that you cannot answer, the honest reply is I do not know, let me find out for you. Nobody has ever been offended by that.
If you would like the fuller picture of how we train people first, read getting started with dawah.
Three ways to take part
Pick whichever you are comfortable with, and change your mind whenever you like.
The booth
A fixed point people can walk up to. Someone stays here the whole session, which matters because it gives hesitant people somewhere to approach on their own terms.
The table
Free Qurans, pamphlets and translations laid out. Handing something over gives both people something to do with their hands, which makes the first thirty seconds much easier.
Walking the area
Moving through the crowd and starting conversations. The hardest of the three, and the one that improves fastest with practice.
Questions people ask before joining
Is street dawah allowed in Malaysia?
Yes. We work in open public space, and the authorities including DBKL have no issue with it provided nothing is being sold. We do not sell anything and we do not collect money, so the question rarely comes up.
Do I have to register first?
No. You can simply turn up on a Sunday. Registering just means we can tell you exactly where to meet, which saves you wandering around looking for us.
What if my English is weak?
USJ is mostly local conversations, so start there. Bukit Bintang is where English matters more, and it is also the fastest place to improve.
What do I say to someone?
Usually nothing clever. Offer the pamphlet, say what it is, and answer what they ask. If you want a sense of how we explain things, our page on what Islam is is written in exactly that tone.
Who runs this?
A small academy in Setapak and a group of volunteers. The story behind it is short and worth reading.
Join this Sunday
You are welcome to just turn up. If you would rather we look out for you, leave your details and we will send the meeting point.
Not ready for the street yet
That is a completely reasonable place to be, and the street is not where most people should start.
Guiding a mosque tour is gentler, because visitors arrive already curious and already inside. Many of our students do that for a few months before they ever stand at a table in Bukit Bintang.