DIGITAL DAWAH AND PROPHETIC PRINCIPLES IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: MEDIA LITERACY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETIES

Abstract

Social media made it easy to spread Islamic knowledge across the world. In earlier periods, seekers of knowledge used to travel miles to learn from recognized scholars. Today, digital platforms have made Islamic knowledge accessible within seconds. Digital dawah has reached audiences across geographical, cultural and linguistic boundaries. This accessibility has created new challenges concerning the authenticity and ethical communication of religious knowledge. In earlier times, misinformation required considerable effort to produce and circulate. Meanwhile, digital platforms allow false information, AI-generated videos and inaccurate religious interpretations to reach large audiences with a single click. This study examines two questions, what challenges does contemporary Digital Dawah create for the authenticity and ethical communication of Islamic knowledge? How can Prophetic principles of Dawah and media literacy contribute to responsible Digital Dawah and conflict resolution? Using a qualitative, literature based approach, the study analyzes Islamic sources and existing literature on Digital Dawah, media literacy, misinformation and conflict resolution. The analysis indicates that access to Islamic information without the ability to critically evaluate its source, validity, context and implications can contribute to misinformation, misunderstanding and conflict. It further highlights that the competitive nature of social media may encourage harsh language, disrespect toward scholars and claims of interpretive exclusivity. The study concludes that Digital Dawah should integrate authentic Islamic knowledge, media literacy, respectful communication and conflict sensitive approaches to promote mutual understanding and social harmony.