DAWUH : Islamic Communication Journal

Reconstructing Pedagogical Da'wah through Transnational Islamic Journalism: A Comparative Study of Al-'Urwa al-Wuthqa and Al-Manar

Armiah Armiah — 2026-09-02

This article aims to analyze the role of Al-‘Urwa al-Wuthqa (1884) and Al-Manar (1898–1935) as transnational Islamic press in reconstructing an educational and transformative model of da'wah. This study employs a qualitative approach using historical-critical methods and discourse analysis of primary texts alongside literature on Islamic modernism. The findings reveal that the ideas of Jamaluddin al-Afghani and Muhammad Abduh, as articulated in Al-‘Urwa al-Wuthqa, function not only as instruments of religious and political communication but also as a form of public pedagogy that fosters critical awareness among Muslims through anti-imperial narratives, Pan-Islamic solidarity, and the promotion of ijtihad and rationality. Together with Al-Manar, these media bridged religious thought, politics, and modernity within a transnational Islamic communication space. However, previous studies tend to situate these publications within a historical-ideological framework, overlooking their pedagogical dimensions. Meanwhile, contemporary da'wah studies largely emphasize digital media effectiveness while neglecting critical literacy. This study highlights the importance of integrating classical Islamic media heritage into da'wah communication learning to develop a reflective, critical, and contextually relevant educational da'wah model in the digital era.

Children’s Enjoyment and Recognition of Character Strengths in Bawang Merah Bawang Putih: Implications for Character Education

Mohamad Alppy Valdez — 2026-09-02

Children's character education is often taught through monotonous methods. Narrative is believed to be an effective method for persuading children through folktales. Folklore is a narrative that has been verbally transmitted through the generations. This method was used to teach children about moral concepts in an interesting way, such as the story of Bawang Merah Bawang Putih. However, there is limited evidence that Bawang Merah Bawang Putih can instill character in children. Thus, this study aims to investigate the enjoyment and character traits emphasized in Bawang Merah Bawang Putih. Using a one-group post-test design, involved children aged 10 to 12 from schools in Indonesia. After watching a theatrical performance of Bawang Merah Bawang Putih, the children completed questionnaires measuring enjoyment using scales from Oliver and Bartsch and the Values in Action – Youth from Park and Peterson to assess character strengths. Data were analyzed using a one-sample t-test and a within-subjects ANOVA. The results show that 38 students experienced enjoyment and identified positive character strengths from the story, namely perseverance, forgiveness, zest, bravery, humility, honesty, and prudence. These findings suggest that Bawang Merah Bawang Putih can support character education by increasing children's enjoyment and recognition of positive character strengths.