ASATIZAH & SOCIAL MEDIA: A STUDY ON SINGAPORE’S PROMINENT ASATIZAH INFLUENCERS

Abstract

As a result of technological advancements, the rise of new and social media has impacted and shaped the understanding and practice of Islam all around the world. On top of altering the religious experience of social media users, this phenomenon has also contributed to the prominence of religious teachers (asatizah) who actively utilise social media to propagate their teachings. Through in-depth interviews, this thesis aims to find out the profiles of some of these ‘asatizah influencers’ who have established themselves in Singapore, consider the factors which enabled them to gain a following and sustain their influence, elucidate the social media platforms they utilise and the major themes, explore characteristics and religious orientation of their religious content and whether this has any bearing in promoting development within the community. This study will also attempt to explicate the relationship between these ‘asatizah influencers’ and traditional religious authority.