Proceedings of the 3rd International Colloquium on Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies, ICIIS 2020, 20-21 October 2020, Jakarta, Indonesia

Research Article

The New Ustad in Religious Authority: Challenge and Dynamic of Fatwa in the New Media Era

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.20-10-2020.2305167,
        author={M. Akhfas Syifa Afandi and Arif  Rofiuddin and Arif  Zamhari and Yusuf  Rahman and Ade Rina Farida and Andi M Faisal Bakti},
        title={The New Ustad in Religious Authority: Challenge and Dynamic of Fatwa in the New Media Era},
        proceedings={Proceedings of the 3rd International Colloquium on Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies, ICIIS 2020, 20-21 October 2020, Jakarta, Indonesia},
        publisher={EAI},
        proceedings_a={ICIIS},
        year={2021},
        month={4},
        keywords={fatwa religious authorities new media},
        doi={10.4108/eai.20-10-2020.2305167}
    }
    
  • M. Akhfas Syifa Afandi
    Arif Rofiuddin
    Arif Zamhari
    Yusuf Rahman
    Ade Rina Farida
    Andi M Faisal Bakti
    Year: 2021
    The New Ustad in Religious Authority: Challenge and Dynamic of Fatwa in the New Media Era
    ICIIS
    EAI
    DOI: 10.4108/eai.20-10-2020.2305167
M. Akhfas Syifa Afandi1,*, Arif Rofiuddin2, Arif Zamhari1, Yusuf Rahman1, Ade Rina Farida1, Andi M Faisal Bakti1
  • 1: Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University of Jakarta, Indonesia
  • 2: University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
*Contact email: mas.achfas@gmail.com

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the effect of digital media on Indonesia’s evolving religious authority. A qualitative approach with a description-analysis framework was used by researchers based on a literature review as a data source. Therefore, this study explains how information development in the new media era can alter social, political, economic, and religious authority, including how fatwa is often transmitted by those who do not have integrity and profound scientific capacity. The results of this study assert that, in addition to providing easy access to information, the changes in the era of new media also raise concern that someone with the profound scientific ability no longer transmits fatwa. They are known as the ‘new Ustaz,’ a term that refers to a character who suddenly becomes a cleric without going through a series of old intellectual contemplation and education. It may potentially affect religious confusion, which creates uproar and friction in society.