Religious Authority in the Digital Age through Online Fatwa Muslim Audiences and Digital Trust
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62731/rgjirs.v1i2.33Keywords:
Digital Religion, Online Fatwa, Religious Authority, Muslim Audiences, Digital TrustAbstract
This study aims to analyze religious authority in the digital age by examining how Muslim audiences access, assess, and trust online fatwa. The study responds to the growing use of digital platforms as spaces for religious guidance, where fatwas circulate through YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, official fatwa websites, and Islamic consultation forums. This research used a qualitative approach with a digital case study design. Data were collected from September to November 2025 through semi-structured interviews, non-participant digital observation, and documentation. The participants consisted of 20 to 25 Muslim audiences who had accessed online fatwa within the last six months, supported by 3 to 5 key informants, including digital da’wah content managers, online preachers, and academics in Islamic digital studies. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings reveal four main themes: the pluralization of religious authority, the layered construction of digital trust, the negotiation of conflicting fatwas, and the influence of online fatwa on everyday religious practice. The study shows that Muslim audiences do not passively receive online religious messages. They actively compare sources, evaluate credibility, and connect fatwa with personal, social, and cultural contexts. This study contributes to digital religion studies by placing Muslim audiences as active actors in the construction of religious authority. The findings also imply the need for more credible religious communication and stronger digital religious literacy.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Bilal Mahendra, Amina Fitria, Rania Kusuma Dewi (Author)
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