Social Media as a Tool for Islamic Dawah in the Digital Era: Analyzing the Benefits and Obstacles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21274/dinamika.2026.26.1.1-14Keywords:
Islamic Dawah; Social Media; Digital Communication; Systematic Literature Review; Religious Misinformation; Maqasid al-Shariah; Uses and Gratifications Theory; Digital LiteracyAbstract
The digital transformation has fundamentally altered the landscape of Islamic dawah (preaching). However, existing studies remain fragmented across isolated platforms, specific demographics, or singular aspects of digital religious communication, lacking an integrated analytical framework that systematically maps the interrelationship between benefits, obstacles, and mitigation strategies. This qualitative study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review (SLR) following the PRISMA protocol, synthesizing findings from 35 peer-reviewed articles published between 2022 and 2025, sourced from Scopus-indexed journals and Indonesian SINTA-accredited publications (SINTA 2–4). Employing thematic analysis based on the Braun and Clarke framework, this research identifies four categories of benefits (expanded reach transcending geographical boundaries, enhanced youth engagement, interactive religious discourse, and democratization of religious knowledge), four categories of obstacles (misinformation proliferation, content verification challenges, commercialization of religious messages, and algorithmic barriers), and three strategic responses (strategic content planning, ethical guidelines adherence through Maqasid al-Shariah, and multi-stakeholder collaboration). The study proposes an original Digital Dawah Ecosystem Framework that conceptualizes the dialectical relationship between enabling and constraining factors in digital religious communication, revealing a "digital dawah paradox" in which the same platform affordances that facilitate expanded outreach simultaneously create conditions for misinformation and content distortion. Theoretically, this study extends the Uses and Gratifications Theory into the domain of religious digital communication. It contributes to the Mediatization of Religion theory by demonstrating how platform logics reshape dawah practices. Practically, the findings offer an operationalized strategic model for dawah practitioners, religious institutions, policymakers, and platform operators seeking to optimize digital religious communication while maintaining Islamic ethical integrity.
References
Al-Zaman, M. S. (2024). Social Media Users’ Engagement with Religious Misinformation: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Methods Analysis. Journal of Media and Religion, 23(3), 178–195. https://doi.org/10.1177/27523543241257715
Ali, F., & Noor, F. (2023). Youth Engagement with Islamic Content on Social Media in Malaysia. Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture, 11(2), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.15640/jisc.v11n2a5
Alimardani, M., & Elswah, M. (2020). Online Temptations: COVID-19 and Religious Misinformation in the MENA Region. Social Media + Society, 6(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120948251
Amirudin, N., & Hibri, H. (2022). Digital Dawah Strategy in the Contemporary Era. Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi, 13(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.15575/jdak.v13i2.18754
Arxiv. (2025). A Comparative Analysis of Instagram and TikTok as Islamic Da’wah Media in the Digital Era. ArXiv Preprint. https://arxiv.org/html/2512.17646
Balakrishnan, V., & Gan, C. L. (2023). Students’ Learning Styles and Their Effects on the Use of Social Media Technology for Learning. Telematics and Informatics, 33(3), 808–821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2015.12.004
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Chowdhury, M. A. (2024). Usage of Social Media: Islamic Perspective. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 6(3), 1–15. https://www.ijfmr.com/papers/2024/3/19908.pdf
Creswell, J. W. (2020). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Darwis, M. (2020). Eksistensi Para “Gus” di Instagram: Visual Semiotik Sebagai Dakwah Baru di Era Digital. Dakwatuna: Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi Islam, 6(2), 138–156. https://doi.org/10.36835/dakwatuna.v6i2.721
Dindin, S., & Fakhruroji, M. (2020). Internet and Islamic Learning Practices in Indonesia: Social Media, Religious Populism, and Religious Authority. Religions, 11(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11010019
Fakhruroji, M. (2021). Muslims Learning Islam on the Internet. In A. Salvatore (Ed.), Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives (pp. 845–862). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32626-5_41
Fatihah, S. R. (2022). Konsep Etika Dalam Dakwah. Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah, 38(2), 169–185. https://doi.org/10.21580/jid.v38i2.3403
Fida, A. (2024). Digital Dawah: The Impact of Social Media on Young Muslims. Al-Quran Classes. https://alquranclasses.com/digital-dawah-social-media-young-muslims/
Handayani, S., & Daulay, H. (2020). YouTube as a Platform for Islamic Religious Content. Jurnal Komunikasi Islam, 10(2), 245–268. https://doi.org/10.15642/jki.2020.10.2.245-268
Hasan, T., Ahmed, S. I., & Rifat, M. R. (2022). Facebook Algorithms and Religious Content Moderation in Bangladesh. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 6(CSCW2), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1145/3555623
Hasbi, M., Sucitra, S., & Fadillah, A. (2024). Peran Media Sosial Dalam Dakwah: Tantangan dan Peluang di Era Digital. Journal of Innovative and Creativity, 4(2), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.31004/joecy.v4i2.135
Izham, K., Faizal, T. J., & Yanti, F. (2025). Technology and Da’wah: Opportunities and Challenges in Islamic Messaging Management. KnE Social Sciences, 566–577. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v9i7.19118
Larson, C. (2024). Global Social Media Statistics 2024. DataReportal. https://datareportal.com/social-media-users
Meerangani, K. A., Ibrahim, A. F., Badhrulhisham, A., Abu Hasan, S., Mujahid, N. R., & Jandra, M. W. (2025). The Role of Digital Da’wah in Facilitating the Adoption of the Islamic Lifestyle Among Muallaf. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(7), 5437–5446. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.907000439
Minarti, M., Rahmah, M. N., Khalilurrahman, Samsir, & Mardiana. (2023). Utilization of Social Media in Learning Islamic Religion: Its Impact on Strengthening Student Outcomes and Achievements. Nidhomul Haq: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 8(2), 279–291. https://doi.org/10.31538/ndh.v8i2.3930
Newman, N., Fletcher, R., Robertson, C. T., Arguedas, A. R., & Nielsen, R. K. (2023). Reuters Institute digital news report 2023. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-06/RISJ_DNR_2024_Digital_v10%20lr.pdf
Roslan, M. H., Mohd Zahari, S. Z., & Abdul Ghani, M. Z. (2025). Da’wah on the Social Media: The Youth Engagement in Digital Islamic Content. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, IX(I), 1161–1174. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.9010098
Saefuddin, A., Rosidin, D. N., & Djumhur, A. (2024). Implementation of the Concept of Tafaqquh Fī Al Dīn in the Context of Education at the Persatuan Islam Islamic Boarding School 27 Situaksan City of Bandung. Journal of Pedagogi, 1(5), 23–30. https://doi.org/10.62872/r926ns35
Sari, D. A. K., & Nopita, S. (2023). Analisis Pengaruh Literasi Digital Terhadap Nilai-Nilai Etika Berdigital pada Mahasiswa Pendidikan Agama Islam. Journal of Research and Thought on Islamic Education, 6(2), 155–168. https://doi.org/10.30984/jrtie.v6i2.2318
Setiawan, N., & Khiyaroh, A. (2022). Urgensi dan Strategi Dakwah Santri di Era Digitalisasi. Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi, 7(2), 223–240. https://doi.org/10.29240/jdk.v7i2.5774
Siga, W. D., Seva, K., & Riadi, T. J. H. (2023). Efektivitas Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Dalam Menangkal Hoaks. JAQFI: Jurnal Aqidah Dan Filsafat Islam, 8(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.15575/jaqfi.v8i1.19724
Sutrisno, S. (2023). Changes in Media Consumption Patterns and Their Implications for People’s Cultural Identity. Technology and Society Perspectives, 1(1), 18–25. https://doi.org/10.61100/tacit.v1i1.31
Suyudi, M., Awaliatul Laili, N. F., Rahmatullah, A. S., & Nur Aziz, A. (2023). The Role of Nisaiyah Education in Pesantren in Forming Resilient and Characterful Muslim Women. International Journal of Social Science Humanity & Management Research, 2(06). https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2023.v2i6n18
Syaikhu, A., Mumazziq, R. Z., & Shalihah, I. (2024). The Use of Social Media as a Learning Tool for Islamic Religious Education. FALASIFA: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 15(1), 30–34. https://doi.org/10.62097/falasifa.v15i1.1660
Syarif, A., & Nurjannah, S. (2024). The Role of Social Media in the Transformation of Contemporary Da’wah: A Literature Review of Its Effectiveness and Challenges. Samarinda International Journal of Islamic Studies, 1(2), 101–108. https://doi.org/10.64093/sijis.v1i2.597
Wafa, A., Thoyyib Madani, M., & Subairi, S. (2024). Pendidikan Islam Berwawasan Nilai-nilai Toleransi di Pesantren Nazhatut Thullab. Academicus: Journal of Teaching and Learning, 3(1), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.59373/academicus.v3i1.36
Zafri, N. D. B., Opir, H. B., & Binti Yahaya, A. M. (2023). Interactive Preaching Towards Youth Through Social Media. Journal of Fatwa Management and Research, 28(2), 54–69. https://doi.org/10.33102/jfatwa.vol28no2.528
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sofwan Manaf, Rokimin Rokimin, Miftah Hur Rahman Zh, Zahid Zufar At Thaariq, Muhamad Towil Akhirudin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
