Reconfiguring Islamic Authority in the Digital Age Contestation and Legitimacy across ASEAN Muslim Societies

Abstract

Digital transformation has significantly reshaped the structure of Islamic religious authority across ASEAN Muslim societies, raising critical questions about who holds legitimate knowledge and authority in guiding believers. Authority is no longer centered solely on traditional ulama institutions but is increasingly influenced by digital platforms, where visibility and engagement shape religious influence. This study examines how digital mediation reconfigures the production, contestation, and legitimacy of Islamic authority in six ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, and the Philippines. Using a qualitative multi-method approach that combines digital ethnography, discourse analysis, and comparative case studies, the research analyzes religious content across platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and messaging groups. The findings identify three key dynamics: the democratization of interpretive authority that weakens traditional hierarchies; the emergence of platform-based authority shaped by algorithmic systems; and the rise of commodified religiosity, where religious expression intersects with economic and digital value. The study concludes that Islamic authority in ASEAN is shifting from hierarchical and text-based legitimacy toward a more networked, performative, and audience-driven model. This transformation calls for collaborative frameworks involving religious institutions, digital actors, and regulators to maintain scholarly rigor and religious integrity in the digital era.