Religious Authority in the Age of Instagram: Unveiling the Contestation of Islamic Discourses
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Abstract
This research explores the contestation of Islamic religious authority in the digital space of Instagram, where traditional boundaries of religious interpretation are increasingly challenged by new forms of expression. With the rise of social media, platforms like Instagram have given rise to virtual Muslim communities, or the "e-Ummah," transforming the landscape of religious authority in Indonesia. The study examines three prominent Instagram accounts—@nuonline_id (Nahdlatul Ulama), @lensamu (Muhammadiyah), and @indonesiabertauhidofficial (an independent Salafi account)—to analyze how they represent, challenge, and redefine religious authority. Through qualitative content analysis, it investigates how these accounts utilize various forms of digital content, including infographics, videos, and quotes, to convey differing interpretations of Islamic teachings. The findings reveal significant variations in influence, with @indonesiabertauhidofficial boasting the largest following, indicating its considerable impact on digital discourse. The content of each account reflects distinct religious perspectives: @indonesiabertauhidofficial emphasizes Salafi principles, focusing on purification and strict adherence to the Qur’an and Sunnah, while NU and Muhammadiyah highlight traditional practices and moral guidance. The contestation of religious authority is particularly evident in discussions about the role of the state, interfaith relations, and the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
الملخص
تبحث هذه الدراسة في تنازع السلطة الدينية الإسلامية في الفضاء الرقمي على إنستغرام، حيث تتحدى الحدود التقليدية للتفسير الديني بشكل متزايد أشكالًا جديدة من التعبير. مع ظهور وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، أدت منصات مثل إنستغرام إلى ولادة مجتمعات إسلامية افتراضية، أو ”الأمة الإلكترونية“، مما أدى إلى تغيير مشهد السلطة الدينية في إندونيسيا. يفحص هذا البحث ثلاثة حسابات بارزة على إنستغرام، وهي@nuonline_id (نهضة العلماء)، @lensamu (المحمدية)، @indonesiabertauhidohidofficial (حساب سلفي مستقل)، لتحليل كيفية تمثيلها وتحديها وإعادة تعريفها للسلطة الدينية. من خلال تحليل المحتوى النوعي، تبحث الدراسة في كيفية استخدام هذه الحسابات لأشكال مختلفة من المحتوى الرقمي، بما في ذلك الرسوم البيانية ومقاطع الفيديو والاقتباسات، للتعبير عن تفسيرات مختلفة للتعاليم الإسلامية. وتكشف النتائج عن اختلافات كبيرة في التأثير، حيث يستحوذ حساب @indonesiabertauhidohidofficial على أكبر عدد من المتابعين، مما يشير إلى تأثيره الكبير على الخطاب الرقمي. ويعكس محتوى كل حساب وجهات نظر دينية مختلفة: إذ يؤكد حساب @indonesiabertauhidohidofficial على المبادئ السلفية، مع التركيز على التطهير والالتزام بالقرآن والسنة، في حين يؤكد حسابا نهضة العلماء والمحمدية على الممارسات التقليدية والتوجيه الأخلاقي. يتجلى التنازع على السلطة الدينية بشكل خاص في المناقشات المتعلقة بدور الدولة، والعلاقات بين الأديان، وإحياء ذكرى المولد النبوي الشريف.
Abstrak
Penelitian ini mengeksplorasi kontestasi otoritas agama Islam di ruang digital Instagram, di mana batas-batas tradisional penafsiran agama semakin ditantang oleh bentuk-bentuk ekspresi baru. Dengan munculnya media sosial, platform seperti Instagram telah melahirkan komunitas Muslim virtual, atau e-Ummah, yang mengubah lanskap otoritas keagamaan di Indonesia. Penelitian ini mengkaji tiga akun Instagram terkemuka-@nuonline_id (Nahdlatul Ulama), @lensamu (Muhammadiyah), dan @indonesiabertauhidofficial (sebuah akun Salafi independen)-untuk menganalisis bagaimana akun-akun tersebut merepresentasikan, menantang, dan mendefinisikan ulang otoritas keagamaan. Melalui analisis konten kualitatif, penelitian ini menyelidiki bagaimana akun-akun tersebut menggunakan berbagai bentuk konten digital, termasuk infografis, video, dan kutipan, untuk mengekspresikan interpretasi yang berbeda dari ajaran Islam. Temuan-temuan tersebut mengungkapkan variasi pengaruh yang signifikan, dengan @indonesiabertauhidofficial memiliki pengikut terbesar, yang menunjukkan dampaknya yang cukup besar pada wacana digital. Konten setiap akun mencerminkan pandangan keagamaan yang berbeda: @indonesiabertauhidofficial menekankan prinsip-prinsip Salafi, dengan fokus pada pemurnian dan kepatuhan terhadap Al-Qur’an dan Sunnah, sementara NU dan Muhammadiyah menekankan praktik-praktik tradisional dan panduan moral. Kontestasi otoritas keagamaan sangat jelas terlihat dalam diskusi terkait peran negara, hubungan antar agama, dan peringatan Maulid Nabi Muhammad.
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