Qur'anic Interpretation in Indonesian Digital Preaching Culture: Religious Authority, Fragmented Meaning, and Popular Reception on Social Media

Abstract

This article examines the interpretation of the Qur'an in the digital da'wah culture on Indonesian social media by highlighting three main issues, namely the reconfiguration of religious authority, the fragmentation of meaning, and the popular reception of the audience. This research departs from the assumption that social media not only serves as a new channel for the dissemination of religious messages, but also as a cultural space that reshapes the way Qur'anic verses are understood, packaged, and accepted by the public. This study uses a qualitative approach with a digital discourse analysis design on Qur'anic da'wah content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Data was collected through digital observation, upload documentation, video narrative transcription, captions, and comment interactions. The results of the study show that the authority of interpretation in social media no longer depends solely on institutional legitimacy or scientific depth, but also on digital perpertivity, visuality, and affective proximity to the audience. In addition, the meaning of the Qur'ani tends to be fragmented into a short, emotional, and easily shareable format according to the logic of the platform. At the same time, audiences play an active role in affirming, negotiating, and redistributing those interpretations. This article contributes to the development of Qur'anic studies and interpretation by linking them more explicitly to the study of digital religion, media, and contemporary culture.