Dakwah Itu Jangan Malah Menyingkirkan: Inversi untuk Komunikasi yang Membumi

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Dakwah Itu Jangan Malah Menyingkirkan: Inversi untuk Komunikasi yang Membumi

Pernah nggak sih, kamu ngerasa makin dekat ke organisasi, malah makin jauh dari orang-orang di sekitar?

Saya pernah. Waktu itu saya baru saja pulang dari rapat IPM yang penuh semangat—bahas program, kajian, kegiatan sosial, dan segala hal baik. Tapi pas saya nyapa teman di sekolah yang nggak ikut organisasi, dia cuma jawab singkat sambil jalan cepat-cepat. Mungkin dia males ngobrol sama "kader dakwah yang suka ngatur".

Lucu, ya. Niatnya nyebar kebaikan, tapi yang nyampe justru aura penghakiman. Saya jadi mikir, jangan-jangan cara kita berdakwah justru bikin orang merasa ditinggalin?

Makanya, tulisan ini bukan untuk ngajarin cara berdakwah, tapi ngajak kamu mikir kebalikannya—apa aja sih yang bikin orang malah minggir dari dakwah kita? Kita bahas dengan pendekatan "inversi". Bukan cuma mikir cara sukses, tapi cara gagal juga perlu dianalisis. Supaya nggak kita ulang terus-terusan.

Cerita Aneh Tapi Nyata

Saya punya teman, sebut saja Didi. Didi orangnya nyantai, nggak terlalu suka ikut organisasi. Tapi tiap ada acara IPM, dia selalu datang. Bukan karena dia suka materinya, tapi karena dia suka suasananya.

Sampai suatu hari, dia kena omelan dari panitia karena datang telat. “Kalau niat ngaji ya niat, jangan males-malesan,” katanya.

Sejak itu, Didi nggak pernah datang lagi. Bukan karena dia benci ngaji. Tapi karena dia ngerasa suasana yang tadinya hangat, berubah jadi ruang evaluasi tanpa kasih sayang.

Saya nggak nyalahin panitianya juga sih. Mungkin mereka capek, mungkin mereka pengen semua berjalan tertib. Tapi kita lupa, orang bisa belajar dari suasana yang bikin tenang, bukan dari tekanan yang bikin canggung.

Inversi: Bukan Cara Berhasil, Tapi Cara Gagal

Kalau biasanya kita tanya, “gimana caranya bikin orang makin dekat sama dakwah?”, kali ini coba tanya: “apa aja yang bikin orang justru menjauh?”

Misalnya:

• Ngomong pake istilah-istilah yang ribet, padahal lawan bicara baru pertama kali ikut ngaji.
• Maksain orang berubah dalam satu kali pertemuan.
• Ngomel soal akhlak padahal belum kenal orangnya secara pribadi.
• Bikin program yang sibuk tapi lupa ngobrol santai sama anggota baru.

Kalau kita kebanyakan fokus di pencapaian, bisa jadi kita lupa bahwa komunikasi adalah soal rasa. Bukan cuma soal "apa yang disampaikan", tapi juga "gimana orang ngerasainnya".

Kadang Kita Terlalu Serius

Kita sering nganggap diri kita agen perubahan. Tapi kadang, terlalu semangat jadi agen, kita lupa jadi teman.

Kayak ngajak orang naik perahu ke arah kebaikan, tapi lupa ngasih tahu kalau mereka belum bisa berenang. Jadi yang mereka rasain bukan semangat, tapi cemas.

Dan dalam dunia dakwah yang kita geluti—serius boleh, tapi jangan sampe kehilangan rasa. Jangan sampe orang yang belum paham, malah kabur karena dikira "nggak layak" ikut.

Tips Praktis Biar Nggak Menyingkirkan

• Dengerin Dulu, Baru Ajak: Nggak semua orang butuh ceramah. Kadang mereka cuma butuh didengerin.
• Hindari Bahasa “Langit”: Ubah istilah tinggi jadi bahasa sehari-hari. Contoh? "Tingkatkan keimanan" bisa jadi "yuk bareng-bareng belajar biar hati tenang."
• Senyum Itu Dakwah: Klise? Emang. Tapi orang lebih inget keramahan ketimbang khutbah panjang.
• Jangan Grasa-grusu: Perubahan butuh waktu. Jangan buru-buru ngebentuk orang jadi versi ideal menurut kita.

Menutup, Tapi Nggak Nutup

Tulisan ini bukan manual dakwah. Saya juga masih banyak salah. Tapi kalau kita bisa mulai mikir: “jangan-jangan selama ini cara kita malah bikin orang minggir”, mungkin kita bisa lebih lembut. Lebih membumi. Dan lebih siap jadi kawan, bukan penghakim.

Karena dakwah itu bukan soal siapa yang paling tahu. Tapi siapa yang paling bisa bareng-bareng tumbuh. Dan tumbuh itu... kadang perlu dipeluk, bukan diminta segera berubah.

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Welcome to IPM Ranting Dahu

Da’wah Shouldn’t Drive People Away: Inversion for Grounded Communication

Have you ever felt that the closer you are to your organization, the further you get from the people around you?

I have. I once returned from an IPM meeting full of enthusiasm—talking about programs, study circles, social activities, all the good stuff. But when I greeted a friend at school who wasn't part of the organization, he just gave a short reply and walked away. Maybe he didn’t want to talk to “that bossy da’wah person.”

Funny, isn’t it? Our intention was to spread good, but what came across was judgment. I began to wonder—what if our da’wah actually makes people feel left out?

So this piece isn’t to teach how to preach. It’s an invitation to think in reverse—what exactly makes people walk away from our da’wah? Let’s use “inversion thinking”: not just thinking about what works, but what causes failure. So we don’t repeat the same patterns.

A Strange But True Story

I have a friend—let’s call him Didi. He’s chill, not into formal organizations. But every time IPM held events, he came. Not because he loved the content, but because he liked the vibe.

Until one day, a committee member scolded him for being late. “If you really care about learning, don’t come half-heartedly,” he said.

After that, Didi never came again. Not because he hated study groups, but because what once felt warm turned into a courtroom.

I don’t blame the committee either. Maybe they were tired, maybe they just wanted things to run smoothly. But we forget—people learn better in calm atmospheres, not tense ones.

Inversion: Not How to Succeed, But How to Fail

Instead of asking “how can we get people closer to da’wah?”, try asking: “what pushes people away?”

Examples?

• Using complicated jargon with first-time attendees.
• Expecting people to change overnight.
• Preaching morals before even getting to know someone personally.
• Making busy programs but forgetting to have casual conversations with newcomers.

If we only focus on achievements, we might forget that communication is about feelings. Not just “what is said”, but “how it’s felt”.

Sometimes We’re Too Serious

We often see ourselves as agents of change. But in the rush to be agents, we forget to be friends.

It’s like inviting someone on a boat ride to a better place, but forgetting to ask if they know how to swim. So instead of excitement, they feel anxious.

And in the da’wah world we live in—being serious is okay. But don’t lose your warmth. Don’t make people feel unworthy just because they’re new.

Simple Tips to Avoid Pushing People Away

• Listen First: Not everyone needs a sermon. Sometimes, they just want to be heard.
• Avoid Sky-Language: Use down-to-earth words. Like turning “increase your faith” into “let’s find peace together.”
• Smile as Da’wah: Sounds cliché? Maybe. But people remember warmth more than long speeches.
• Don’t Rush: Change takes time. Don’t force people into ideal molds too soon.

Closing Without Ending

This is not a da’wah manual. I’ve made many mistakes too. But if we start asking, “could my way be driving people away?”, maybe we’ll become gentler. More grounded. And more ready to be a friend, not a judge.

Because da’wah isn’t about who knows more. It’s about who’s willing to grow together. And growth… often needs a hug, not pressure.