The Distinct Features and Social Roles of Islam Didactic Literature as Expressed in Muslim Bangkok Journal News

Abstract

This study analyze 1) distinctive features in content, teaching strategies, and 2) social roles of Islam didactic literature, as expressed in Muslim Bangkok Journal News.  The research data consisted of didactic literature in the form of printed didactic proses collected from 52 issues of Muslim Bangkok Journal, a monthly journal, from the first (July 2014) to the last issue (April 2020).  Each issue contained four didactic pieces of literature (except issue 44, which contained only one didactic prose).  Therefore, 205 didactic pieces of literature were analyzed according to the study’s purposes. For the distinct features of the content, the results revealed that the didactic proses aimed to educate people in both general and in a particular group.  The content of didactic proses that aimed to educate people in general was consistent with Bangkok’s current social and cultural contexts.  The content provided many vital guidelines for solving problems, such as the doctrine about loyalty towards the Monarch institution, critical reception of information, harmony, aptitude and wisdom in solving problems, donation, gratitude to parents, vote-buying and selling, determination, violation of the rights of others, etiquette for business contact, and eliminating the root cause for problem-solving.  For the didactic proses that aimed to educate people in a particular group, Islam influenced the content.  The content was classified accordingly with the characteristics of the religion, such as the doctrine about the six articles of faith, five principles of practices, inviting people to Islam (Dawah), business ethics in Islam, Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), Islamic insurance (Takaful), the act of sacrificing a livestock animal (Qurban), improvement of the quality of life, possession of the public mind, landscape development, and Waqf properties’ management; adjustment to a new society and explanation to the old society for better mutual understanding. For the distinct features of the teaching strategies, it was found that writers used many interesting strategies, such as referencing Islamic jurisprudence analysis, referencing Islamic history, teaching biography, providing further explanation of the meaning of the official documents, showing the results of action, using stylistic devices, referencing news or essential events, telling funny stories, and using pictures or charts. Moreover, the finding showed that the Islam didactic literature, as expressed in Muslim Bangkok Journal News, as informational folklore, served many roles to the society, such as supporting ethics, educating, confirming the importance of Islamic ceremonies, propagating Islam, informing information, recording history, creating entertainment, responding to social discourses, and promoting good health.  These roles influenced people in society, both individually and nationally.  Additionally, some social roles reflected Thai-Muslim identity, which showed Muslims' attempts to maintain the identity, elevate people’s minds, and create a perfect society according to the guidelines of Islam.