Most Shopping Malls allow non-profit organizations to put up a “community table” at the mall. This community table is available for a day, completely free of charge. Some malls have a restriction of allowing on organization only once per quarter. The community table is provided only for non-commercial use, such as leafleting. For us, the community table is a wonderful opportunity to perform our obligation of Dawah in a prominent public place. The Dawah booth can be used to give out free literature on Islam.

1. Find out the phone number of the mall’s management office. Call the management office and speak with the marketing manager. Introduce yourself and clearly mention that you are calling on behalf of the Islamic Circle of North America, or the organization that you represent.

2. Enquire whether the mall provides a community table. Most probably it does. Explain that you would like to apply for a community table in order to distribute free literature on Islam and Muslim culture. Request for an application.

3. Don’t hesitate to give your home address for the application. Most probably, an application will be mailed to you. Fill out the application completely. Along with this application, send a letter to the marketing person you had spoken with over the phone, as well as samples of the literature you intend distributing at the booth. A sample letter and sample application is enclosed in this package. Specify that you would like to have the community table from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, or the mall hours.

4. The application will ask for names and phone numbers of people who will be manning the booth. Fill out a few names. It’s ok if you don’t know all the people who will man the booth. Also indicate the day you on which you would like to have the community table. For a good response, it’s always preferable to have the community table on a weekend.

5. The application will usually need to be accompanied by a deposit and/or insurance premium. Do not forget to send checks for these. Some malls will make a display sign for you, and charge you about $10 for it. Clearly indicate the text you would like the sign to display, and mail a check for the appropriate amount along with the application. If the mall does not make a sign for you, request them for permission to put up your own professionally made sign on an easel.

6. Usually the mall will get back to you indicating their approval of the community table. If you do not hear from them in a couple of weeks, follow up with the marketing person or the person you have established contact with. It’s possible that the mall has simply misplaced your application.

7. InshaAllah, your application will be approved. Thank the mall for the approval. At a time, at least two people should man the booth. Divide the day into two-hour slots, and request people to volunteer for any one slot. Before the day of the Dawah booth, make sure all your slots are filled. There should be separate slots for brothers and sisters. Hijab should be observed.

8. Inform the press and other media outlets about the Dawah booth. Have volunteers who are proficient in communicating with the media, ready to give interviews.

9. There should be one person who is overall in-charge of the booth. This person should take the first slot. He/She should set up the booth in the morning. People should come in time for their slot and relieve the people whose slot is over. The person in charge should be contactable by phone/cellular in case some volunteers fail to come. At no point should the booth be left unmanned.

10. The volunteers should have basic knowledge of Islam and should have good communication skills. They should preferably have been exposed to Dawah training. They should maintain perfect decorum at the booth, and should not engage in any behavior that is unbecoming of a Muslim. Care should be taken that the volunteers do not eat, chat, read books or otherwise engage in any activity that may discourage people from coming to them and asking questions on Islam. Every mall has some rules regarding the community table. Be sure to read these rules, and adhere to them.

11. Ensure that the booth is attractive. Place 877-WHY-ISLAM brochures in plastic holders. Also keep books like “A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam” and “Towards Understanding Islam” at the booth. It’s a good idea to have a small bowl full of candy as well as other toys that can attract children. Some malls will allow you to have a television display. Use this opportunity to the fullest. Show a nice video on Islam, such as “Islam in America”.

12. Posters can add tremendous value to the booth. Use laminated “Discover Islam” posters. These can be ordered from www.discoverislam.com. These posters, attractively placed on easels can attract shoppers to read them and initiate a discussion.

13. At the end of the day, one person should be in-charge of packing up and moving the material out of the mall, before the mall closes. Do not leave behind any material.

14. On the next business day, call up the marketing person and thank him/her for the community table. Also send a thank you letter to him/her on behalf of the organization.

15. Take photographs or video clips of your Dawah booths for your records.