ISLAMIC COMMUNICATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE: BRIDGING TRADITIONAL ORATORY WITH MODERN COMMUNICATION TOOLS
Abstract
Rapid digital transformation has fundamentally reshaped the way Islamic knowledge is produced, disseminated, and consumed, creating new opportunities for expanding religious education while introducing challenges related to message authenticity, communication ethics, audience engagement, and institutional credibility. Traditional Islamic oratory remains an essential foundation for effective da’wah, yet its integration with modern communication technologies requires balanced adaptation to preserve theological integrity and respond to contemporary communication practices. This study aimed to examine how traditional Islamic oratory can be integrated with modern digital communication tools to strengthen educational effectiveness, audience engagement, and institutional trust. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was employed involving 360 Islamic institutions and 1,440 participants representing Islamic scholars, du’?t, educators, communication practitioners, students, and digital content creators. Quantitative analyses incorporated descriptive statistics, structural equation modeling, hierarchical regression, mediation and moderation analyses, while qualitative evidence from expert interviews, institutional observations, communication analytics, and policy document reviews was analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings demonstrated that rhetorical competence significantly enhanced audience engagement, communication credibility, educational effectiveness, and institutional trust. Audience engagement partially mediated the relationship between rhetorical competence and educational performance, whereas digital literacy strengthened the effectiveness of communication technology. Results indicate that sustainable Islamic communication depends upon the coordinated integration of traditional rhetorical principles, communication ethics, digital literacy, technological innovation, and institutional governance, providing an evidence-based framework for preserving authentic Islamic teachings while expanding their accessibility and relevance within contemporary digital societies.
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