Truth in the Age of Disinformation: The Relevance of Islamic Epistemology in Filtering Digital Religious Narratives



Authors (s)


(1) * Dinda Febrianti Putri   (Postgraduate Program of Nurul Jadid University)  
        Indonesia
(2)  M. Zainal Abidin   (Postgraduate Program of Nurul Jadid University)  
        Indonesia
(3)  Ahmad Syauqi ‘Alaika Rohman   (Postgraduate Program of Nurul Jadid University)  
        Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


The digital era poses significant challenges to the accuracy of religious narratives as disinformation spreads rapidly across social media, blurring the line between fact and opinion. This study aims to explore the relevance of Islamic epistemology in filtering and evaluating digital religious content. A qualitative case study was conducted with 42 informants, including scholars, digital preachers, lecturers, and students, using in-depth interviews, non-participant observations, and digital documentation. Findings reveal that Islamic epistemological principles such as ḥaqq, tabayyun, sanad, and ethical knowledge transmission are actively applied, fostering reflective and responsible user behavior. Disinformation reshapes perceptions of religious authority, while tabayyun practices significantly mitigate epistemic vulnerability. The study contributes by integrating classical Islamic epistemology with contemporary digital literacy, offering both conceptual and operational frameworks. Practically, it highlights the need for epistemology-based digital education to strengthen Muslim communities’ resilience against misleading religious content.



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