The Qur’an on Social Media: Questioning Authenticity and Negotiating the Authority of Interpretation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31943/afkarjournal.v8i3.2273Keywords:
Al-Qur’an, Social Media, AuthorityAbstract
This paper examines the intersection between digital media and religion, particularly in the context of interpreting the Qur'an on the social media platform Instagram. The phenomenon of disseminating interpretations through the @quranreview account is the main focus, where verses of the Qur'an are contextually linked to current issues that are currently viral in society. Amid the complexity of the Qur'anic hermeneutics that demands certain authority and methodological tools, the presence of this digital interpretation raises questions about the validity and authority of interpretation in the virtual public space. Using qualitative methods and a virtual ethnographic approach, and supported by literature studies, this study found that @quranreview applies the mawdhu'i interpretation approach in presenting the meaning of the Qur'an. In addition, this account adopts a popular culture strategy—through simple, motivational, and easily accessible language—to reach young audiences in the digital era. This finding confirms that social media is not only a means of distributing religious messages, but also a new arena for forming religious authority and more inclusive and adaptive religious practices.
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