DA’WAH PROGRAMMES AT THE INSTITUTE FOR AQIDAH STABILISATION AND CADRE TRAINING OF MALAYSIA (IPHAM) TO STRENGTHEN AQIDAH OF TEENAGER

Program Dakwah di Institut Pemantapan dan Perkaderan Akidah Malaysia (IPHAM) dalam Memantapkan Akidah Remaja

Abstract

The issues of faith among teenagers are increasingly worrying. Unstable faith is hazardous and yet can spark a phenomenon of apostasy. An approach and method that is appropriate to da’wah targets is crucial to strengthening teenagers faith. The Institute for Aqidah Stabilization and Cadre Training of Malaysia (IPHAM) under the management of the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM) is a government institution that is responsible for the aspects of faith in Malaysia. The Institute organizes specific programs to the Muslim community in an effort to strengthen the faith based on the creed of Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaah. The courses and programs organized have specific objectives in strengthening the community's faith. This article explains and analyzes da'wah programs in strengthening teenagers’ faiths that include courses conducted on target groups among teenagers. This study uses a qualitative approach that collects data through interviews. Since the target group for this course are teenagers, this study focuses on the program under the Strengthening and Ilaj Cluster group. The findings show that IPHAM has conducted a number of courses on target groups among teenagers. By and large, IPHAMs’ efforts and initiatives have been successful when the involvement of teenagers in its programs received acknowledgement from various levels of study. There are four specific programs to strengthen the faith among teenagers, namely the Strengthening of the Faith and Islamic Thought, the Personality Development and the Strengthening of the Faith, the Discussion on Current Issues of faith and Intellectual Discourse of Faith under the Wasatiyyah Approach: The Current Ideological Threat. Although government institutions such as IPHAM have implemented programs to strengthen the faith among teenagers, commitment and collaboration of various societies such as family institutions and NGOs are necessary and should work together in order to produce teenagers who follow the true Islamic faith.