Digital Islam brings changes in religious life

Jakarta, UIN News Online – The four-day Muslim scholars conference in Jakarta revealed interesting findings related to religious life in Muslim-populated countries, including Indonesia. During the closing the AICIS 2019 closing ceremony, the forum warns that the era of technological disruption marked by the presence of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 has brought significant changes in religious life.

“Many countries have experienced a phenomenon called digital Islam. This phenomenon occurs in Muslim-populated countries as a result of the intersection of Islam with pluralism and democratization,” said the AICIS 2019 steering committee chairman Nur Chaedi, Thursday (10/03/2019).

According to Nur Chaedi, Digital Islam does not only cover online Islam, but it is about new models, new voices, new formats and styles that are identical to the millennial era, which often contradicts with the more dominant traditional Islamic authority.

“Currently, Islamic practitioners from various backgrounds have presented new discourses and discussions that contextualize Islam and its application in all fields. This has positive and negative implications. Unfortunately, these neo-Islamic actors do not have good religious roots,” he said.

In opposition to this, the traditional ulemas eventually used a digital platform to confront these neo-Islamic actors. At the same time, Sufism and Salafism also emerged by labeling themselves as a more authentic Islam.

Furthermore, The AICIS 2019 forum recommends three things that must be considered by stakeholders. The recommended points are; First, It is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the complexity of Digital Islam as a result of the intersection between Islamic society and digital technology. Second, Muslim scholars need to enrich their Islamic digital studies and methodology reorientation related to the intersection of Islam with the millennial youth’s religious style.

And the third, regarding interpretative understanding and religious discourse of young people, Islamic education stakeholders need to take strategic, integrated and comprehensive steps to promote moderate Islam among the millennials. (usa)