The use of performance as a tool for communicating Islamic ideas and teachings
[Thesis]
Kasar, Rahees
University of Birmingham
2016
Thesis (Ph.D.)
2016
The emergence and growth of performance for the purpose of communicating Islamic ideas and teachings is a topic that has gained popularity with no real academic research, which is vital as it is utilised as a tool for da'wah, propagation and communication. The thesis aims to look at the acceptability of performance for propagation and the most effective way in which performance can be used for communicating Islamic ideas and teachings. The general view by the majority of schools of thought within Islam is that performance is acceptable for da'wah if it does not involve anything which is forbidden. However, deeper issues such as women's involvement and depicting the Prophet Muhammad in performances have more nuanced opinions. Furthermore, research into Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed shows that Muslim artists have fallen into the Aristotelean system of coercion and manipulation which contradicts the fundamental pillar of da'wah and propagation which states that there should be no compulsion in religion and sets out to introduce a technique for a more effective way of using performance as a tool for da'wah through Forum Theatre techniques. These findings will not only improve da'wah through performance but will help remove coercion and manipulation which is evident in many performances by Muslim artists and organisations.
BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc; PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater