Da'wah Communication in the Digital Era: Opportunities and Challenges for Muslim Preachers

Abstract

This article discusses da'wah communication in the digital era by examining its opportunities and challenges for Muslim preachers. Digital media have changed the way religious messages are produced, circulated, received, and debated in Muslim society. Through websites, social media, podcasts, short videos, live streaming, and messaging applications, da'wah can reach wider audiences beyond the limits of mosque pulpits, classrooms, and local communities. At the same time, digital platforms also create new problems, including fragmentation of religious authority, misinformation, algorithmic popularity, shallow religious learning, hate speech, commercialization of piety, and the pressure to simplify complex Islamic teachings. Using a narrative literature review, this article maps the transformation of da'wah communication from conventional modes to digital and networked forms. It argues that the digital era does not eliminate the need for scholarly authority, ethical communication, and institutional responsibility. Instead, it requires Muslim preachers to combine religious competence, communication skills, media literacy, and awareness of audience diversity. The article concludes that digital da'wah should not be understood merely as the transfer of sermons to online platforms. It is a broader transformation of religious communication that demands adaptation, credibility, moderation, and responsibility.