I’ve always thought Islam belongs on a billboard. Americans all over the nation, on every major highway, expressway, and tollway, deserve to be informed about and invited to the religion of God. A few weeks ago I left work heading home on 294 South. On the way I saw exactly what I had been thinking about.

How cool is that?! This is right by O’Hare International Airport. And there’s another one in Lombard, IL on the corner of Highland Ave and Roosevelt Rd (close to Islamic Foundation in Villa Park, IL).

This is none other than the work of ICNA. Masha’Allah, the group is very active all over America and they have a handful of other shiny projects that our Muslim brothers and sisters are working hard to push. In Chicago, they’ve got a weekly “Da’wah Ad” in the Chicago Tribune’s Metro section. And all over the US (in 19 major cities) they have a National Radio Ad Campaign where they’ll play this ad on the major radio stations for anyone listening:

877-WHY-ISLAM National Radio Ad Campaign

And all of these projects are part of the Why Islam project of ICNA. Non-Muslim and got questions about Islam? Call up 1-877-WHY-ISLAM or just log onto www.whyislam.org. Muslim and want a place to direct non-Muslims to learn about your religion? Do the same.So why mention all these projects beside offer a plug for our brothers and sisters working for them? I am just really impressed by the professionalism behind them.

For too long has Dawah in the US been prone to poorly designed ads, same ‘ol avenues and methods, and not enough creativity. Stuff like the Da’wah Billboard, Da’wah Ad, and Da’wah Radio Compaign, the Dawah is actually playing on a higher level, moving to where it belongs.

Think about it. Everyday you drive to school or work and you see dozens of ads for dozens of different things. The same goes for ads on the radio and in the newspaper. Wouldn’t it just make sense for Islam to be all up in the mix?

Islam is the religion of God. He even says so in Surah ‘Ale Imran verse 19. So really, an invitation to God’s religion has to be up on billboards, radio, newspapers, as well as on TV and in magazines. But in North America, most of our Dawah for a past two decades hasn’t really lived up to that. We’re basically a big league faith playing in the little leagues. And if there is any exposure, we all know that it’ll be from the likes of the neo-cons that thrive their ratings off of hatred towards God’s religion.

It’s nice to know some people have thought things through and there’s Dawah projects as well done as these. I can imagine it cost a lot of money to pay for these spots, so we should help donate for these drives as well as make dua for the brothers and sisters involved in them. I remember looking into billboard costs once and paying for some of the spots cost as much as $30,000 a month. Yowza!

May Allah (SWT) accept our work and purify our intentions, and guide more Americans to Islam.