In the digital age, the boundaries of religious engagement have shifted dramatically. From online fatwas and virtual khutbahs to AI-powered Islamic apps and digital Sufi circles, the intersection of Islam and technology demands urgent ethical reflection. While digital platforms democratize access to knowledge and spiritual guidance, they also pose unique challenges: authenticity, privacy, commodification of sacred knowledge, and the rise of algorithm-driven religiosity. This paper explores the concept of “Digital Piety”—a term denoting the synthesis of Islamic practice with digital tools—within the framework of Islamic ethics, classical jurisprudence (fiqh), and contemporary social dynamics. Drawing on Qur’anic injunctions, Prophetic guidance, and scholarly insights from both the classical ulama and modern thinkers like Hamza Yusuf, Yasir Qadhi, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr, this article argues that technology should serve as a tool for taqwa (God-consciousness), not as a substitute for sincere ibadah (worship). We must navigate this terrain by balancing innovation with tradition, freedom with responsibility, and accessibility with authenticity. This article employs qualitative content analysis, focusing on online religious behaviors, digital sermons, and scholarly interpretations, combining Islamic ethical sources and digital media case studies.
- Digital Piety: This refers to expressions of religiosity through digital means, including posting Qur'anic verses, attending virtual religious lectures, or engaging in online da‘wah. It highlights a shift in religious practice shaped by the affordances of the internet.
- Islamic Ethics: The moral principles derived from the Qur’an, Hadith, and scholarly consensus that govern the conduct of Muslims. These ethics provide a framework to assess whether online behavior aligns with Islamic values.
- Virtual Religious Authority: The emergence of online preachers, influencers, and scholars who guide religious discussions on digital platforms. Their authority may be questioned if not rooted in traditional scholarship.
- Mediatization of Religion: A sociological term referring to how religion is shaped and sometimes transformed by media logic—how formats, content, and attention economy of digital media influence religious messages and practices.
1. Introduction: The Rise of the Digital Ummah
With over two billion Muslims worldwide, Islam represents a diverse and globally connected faith. As the world shifts into the digital realm, Muslims are increasingly engaging with religion online: apps that calculate prayer times, websites offering fatwas, AI bots answering theological questions, and YouTube scholars becoming household names.
But what does it mean to practice Islam in the age of algorithms? Can technology replicate or replace sacred presence? What does “piety” look like in an era of tweets and livestreams?
The Qur’an describes guidance as a “light” (nūr) sent down by Allah (Qur'an 5:15). But how does this Divine light interact with artificial light—the glow of our screens?
2. Islamic Ethics and the Digital Sphere
Islamic ethics (Akhlaq) emphasizes intention (niyyah), truthfulness (ṣidq), and justice (‘adl). The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Actions are judged by intentions…” (Bukhari, Hadith 1 of the Prophet of Islam)
In digital spaces, intentions are often obscured. Are we posting for the sake of Allah or likes? Is online da’wah genuinely about guiding others or building a personal brand?
Moreover, Islamic ethics warns against riya’ (showing off in worship). The Qur’an condemns those who
“…only show off, and refuse small kindnesses.” (Qur'an 107:6-7)
When ibadah is livestreamed or selfies are taken during umrah, scholars raise concerns about sincerity. While such acts may inspire others, they also risk turning sacred moments into performance.
3. Access vs. Authority: Who Speaks for Islam Online?
The rise of digital platforms has blurred the line between scholars (‘ulama) and influencers. Many YouTubers without traditional Islamic training attract millions of followers, sometimes offering controversial or misleading interpretations.
Classical Islam maintained rigorous standards of scholarship. Imam Shafi’i insisted that issuing a fatwa requires mastery of Arabic, Qur’an, Hadith, usul al-fiqh, and more. The danger now lies in the rise of “instant scholarship,” where viral videos substitute for ijazah (certified knowledge).
Yet, we must also acknowledge that the digital age has empowered marginalized voices: female scholars, minority schools of thought, and non-Arab Muslims. The key challenge is how to balance democratic access with scholarly accountability.
4. The Commodification of Sacred Knowledge
Islam has traditionally treated knowledge (‘ilm) as sacred. The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make a path to Paradise easy for him.”
(Sahih Muslim, Book of traditions of the Prophet of Islam)
But in the digital economy, Islamic content becomes monetized through ads, paid subscriptions, or donation links. While scholars must earn a living, this raises complex ethical questions: Is knowledge being sold? Are spiritual needs being commercialized?
This commodification risks turning Islam into content, scholars into influencers, and worship into a product.
As Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad notes,
“The market is not spiritually neutral.”
5. The Promise and Perils of AI in Islamic Practice
AI technologies are now being integrated into Islamic life—from Qur’an-recitation apps to AI-generated khutbahs. Some apps use voice recognition to guide users in salah; others simulate Islamic Q&A bots trained on fatawa databases.
While these tools increase accessibility, they also raise concerns:
- Can AI truly understand the maqasid al-shariah (objectives of Islamic law)?
- Will it consider context, intention, and nuance—the hallmarks of Islamic jurisprudence?
- Who trains these AI models, and what biases are embedded in them?
The danger lies in over-reliance on automation, where human consultation is replaced by robotic answers. The Qur’an encourages reflection (tafakkur) and consultation (shura)—virtues that cannot be delegated to algorithms.
6. Digital Etiquette: Etiquette in Online Engagement
Islamic teachings emphasize adab (manners) in all interactions. Online discourse, however, often becomes hostile, judgmental, and divisive. Anonymous users issue takfir (excommunication) or spread misinformation without verification.
The Prophet ﷺ taught:
“He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must speak good or remain silent.”
(Bukhari, Book of traditions of the Prophet of Islam)
Unfortunately, many forget this ethic in digital debates. As part of digital piety, Muslims must embody akhlaq al-nabawiyyah (the Prophetic character) in every post, comment, and message.
Scholars have even proposed “fiqh al-tawasul al-raqmi” (jurisprudence of digital communication)—new ijtihad is required to frame etiquettes of engagement in online contexts.
7. Women, Visibility, and the Digital Ummah
The digital sphere has also reshaped women’s participation in religious discourse. From female preachers on Instagram to Muslimahs producing hijab tutorials, there is a visible transformation.
This is both empowering and ethically complex. Some scholars appreciate increased female visibility in Islamic learning, while others warn against hyper-visibility that contradicts ḥayāʾ (modesty).
Again, Islamic ethics must guide us: neither silencing nor exposing excessively, but enabling voices with honor, dignity, and spiritual wisdom.
8. Mediatization of Islam and the Attention Economy
The mediatization of Islam involves reconfiguring religious discourse to fit media formats—short, visual, emotional, and clickable. This can trivialize profound Islamic teachings. A two-minute TikTok about Tawheed cannot capture the depth of classical kalām. The pressure to entertain or gain followers can distort the content and intent of religious messages.
Moreover, digital platforms are governed by algorithms that prioritize engagement, not truth. Thus, religious messages that are controversial or sensational often receive more visibility than balanced, scholarly insights. This environment fosters echo chambers and reduces nuanced discourse.
9. Gender, Piety, and Online Visibility
The role of Muslim women in digital religious spaces is also complex. Many women use platforms to spread knowledge and challenge patriarchal interpretations. Yet, they often face harassment, hypervisibility, or questioning of their intentions. Islamic ethics command modesty, but interpretations vary—should a woman teaching Islam on YouTube be criticized if she maintains hijab and adab?
This debate requires a balanced approach rooted in respect, ethics, and context, rather than digital mobs or rigid literalism.
10. Theological Tensions: Ikhlas vs. Riyaa’
A central theme in Islamic ethics is ikhlas—sincerity of intention. The digital world often encourages riyaa’—acts done to gain praise or attention. Sharing Qur’anic recitation online may spread benefit, but what if the intent is likes or fame?
Islamic scholars have long warned about riyaa’. Imam al-Ghazali, in Ihya Ulum al-Din, writes:
“The hidden shirk is that which is done to show off one’s religiosity while concealing the desire for worldly praise.”
Balancing sincere intentions in public acts, especially in online contexts, is one of the most pressing spiritual challenges for modern Muslims.
11. Recommendations for a Digitally Mindful Ummah
To navigate the digital age responsibly, Muslim communities should:
- Promote traditional learning alongside tech tools: Encourage AI and apps as supplements, not replacements for real scholarship.
- Develop Islamic digital ethics curriculum: Mosques and institutions should teach youth how to use digital tools with taqwa and adab.
- Support scholars in digital spaces: Empower trained ‘ulama to engage online and mentor influencers.
- Ensure tech platforms are built with Islamic values: Muslim developers should consult with scholars when designing apps or tools.
- Encourage spiritual retreats from digital overload: Like i’tikaf, moments of digital disconnection can nourish sincerity.
12. Rationale of the Topic:
In a rapidly digitizing world, religion is not untouched by the surge of technology. Particularly in Islam, where notions of modesty, sincerity, and reverence are pivotal, the expansion of online religious expression introduces complex ethical and theological questions. This topic is essential in contemporary scholarship because it explores how digital platforms influence religious behavior, community formation, and ethical conduct in a modern context. The concept of digital piety—the use of digital media for religious expression—demands scrutiny, especially in light of Islamic ethics and jurisprudence. The article attempts to fill a significant gap by analyzing how Muslims navigate this digital religiosity, the risks of superficial engagement, and the opportunities for da'wah (religious outreach), especially among youth.
Conclusion: Toward a Spiritually Intelligent Future
The digital age is not inherently harmful, but it is morally neutral. Its direction depends on our intentions and guidance. For Muslims, technology must be used as a means to draw closer to Allah, not as a distraction or distortion of sacred values.
The Qur’an reminds us:
“Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—about all those [one] will be questioned.” (Al, Qur’an 17:36)
May our digital sight, speech, and hearts remain aligned with the light of Divine guidance, and may we become not just “users” of technology but bearers of light in the digital world.
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References:
- Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid. Ihya Ulum al-Din. Cairo: Dar al-Minhaj, 2004.
- Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Islam and the Modern World. HarperOne, 2010.
- Campbell, Heidi A. Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in New Media Worlds. Routledge, 2012.
- Murad, Abdal Hakim. Travelling Home: Essays on Islam in
Europe. Quilliam Press, 2020. - Bunt, Gary. iMuslims: Rewiring the House of Islam. University of North Carolina Press, 2009.