Da’wah Exploration in Sarawak (DESA 10) : Introductory Part

Pursuing the successful series of the Outreach to Mabul Island, MISI Club IIUM has been looking forward to continue the mission of dakwah at Sarawak particularly in Kuching. Da’wah Exploration in Sarawak (DESA 10) is a project involving three villages which are Kampung Gayau, Kampung Gawang and Kampung Ruan as it was held on 30th Jun until 8th July 2010. It is a week and two days project with several activities together with the community there.

Background of the Villages

Kampung Gayau is one of the villages located at Pantu Sri Aman which is 50km from Kuching. Kg. Gayau is a small village that has more than 100 people which is the majority of them is Iban ethnic. Moreover, there are 10 doors occupying the Rumah Panjang which represents 10 families. The families had converted to Islam on 1 August 1995, and that makes them Muslims for 15 years. However, the villagers also live with non-Muslim community, but not in the same Rumah Panjang. The main daily routine and source of income for the villagers are farming, fishing, planting paddy, and they also cattle animals like ducks and chickens. Converted to Muslim for about 10 years ago, but their knowledge about Islam is still in low level since they do not have any permanent teacher who teach them about Islam. Most of the da’i that come from outside of the village have problem with the high cost of transportation.

Kampung Gawang is also located in Simunjan district, about 3 hour journey from Kuching city. The village is divided into three areas, namely Kampung Gawang Lama, Kampung Gawang Tengah, and Kampung Gawang Ulu. The 3 villages placed 17 muallaf families, and several other non-Muslim families’ altogether. The villages existed ever since the residents there converted into Islam. Like the villagers in Kampung Gayau, the villagers’ main source of income is through farming, fishing, planting paddy, and cattle. Converted to Muslim since 1970s, but their knowledge about Islam is in lower level since they do not have any permanent teacher who teach them about Islam. There is a da’i that comes to teach them but rarely since he also needs to teach in 4 others villages.

Kampung Ruan is more or less the same as Kampung Gayau and Kampung Gawang. Like the two previous villages, this third village is located in Simunjan district. The village is divided into two major areas, which are Kampung Ruan Lama and Kampung Ruan Jaya. There are 7 muallaf families living in Kampung Ruan Lama, and 9 other muallaf families living in Kampung Ruan Jaya. It makes the number of families to 16 families in total. The community there is Iban ethnic, and they also live together with the non-Muslim community. The main daily routine and source of income for the villagers are farming, fishing, planting paddy, and they also cattle animals like ducks and chickens. Converted to Muslim since 1970s, but their knowledge about Islam is in low level since they do not have any permanent teacher who teach them about Islam. There is a da’i that comes to teach them but he comes to the village seldomly due to some problems.

InsyaAllah on 14th October 2010, we'll post the next article which show you the activities and programmes that we already made there. Later on 17th October 2010, we'll share with you the outcome of our servay with the villagers. Wait yaa!! Many things awaits YOU...