The Role of Islamic Faith as the Foundation of a Preacher’s Character in Conveying the Message of Da’wah on Social Media

Abstract

This study investigates the function of Islamic aqidah as the foundational pillar and defensive shield of a dai's character within the context of da'wah activities conducted through social media platforms. As digital transformation continues to accelerate at an unprecedented pace, social media has emerged as the foremost venue for the circulation of religious discourse, while simultaneously generating complex challenges such as misinformation, hate-driven narratives, and the erosion of authentic Islamic values. A qualitative methodology was employed, specifically through library research, systematically engaging with both primary and secondary scholarly sources. Data were analyzed through descriptive-analytical and hermeneutical frameworks, synthesizing theoretical insights drawn from da'wah scholarship, religious sociology, and Islamic communication studies. The results demonstrate that a firmly grounded Islamic aqidah operates as an internalized value architecture that shields the dai from the temptations of information distortion, digital popularity-seeking, and doctrinal deviation. Three functional dimensions of aqidah were identified is aqidah as the custodian of integrity and truthfulness within da'wah communication, aqidah as the ethical regulator of digital communicative conduct and aqidah as the wellspring of psycho-spiritual endurance for the dai. The study ultimately concludes that the deepening and strengthening of aqidah constitutes an indispensable foundational condition for cultivating a generation of dai who are professional, ethically grounded, and capable of delivering constructive impact in the age of social media.