Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Modern Daʿwah Methods in Southeast Asia

Daʿwah in Southeast Asia is undergoing a profound transformation as traditional, institution-centred modes of Islamic propagation intersect with rapidly expanding digital forms of religious communication. While pesantren, pondok schools, and ulama-led networks have historically nurtured spiritually disciplined, community embedded, and epistemically coherent models of daʿwah, the rise of social media has introduced new modalities characterised by decentralised authority, algorithmic visibility, and emotionally charged micro-content. This study employs a conceptual analysis framework to compare these divergent paradigms, drawing on a comprehensive body of scholarship spanning Islamic pedagogy, digital religion, and Southeast Asian anthropology. The findings reveal a widening gap between the depth-oriented, relational pedagogy of traditional daʿwah and the breadth-oriented, attention-driven logic of digital daʿwah. While digital platforms democratise access and enhance outreach, they also risk theological superficiality, ideological fragmentation, and the erosion of classical scholarly authority. Conversely, traditional methods maintain doctrinal integrity and foster durable communal bonds but struggle to engage digital-native generations. To reconcile these tensions, the study proposes a Hybrid Daʿwah Integration Framework (HDIF) that combines digital outreach with structured mentorship, institutional verification, and community reintegration. The research underscores the need for adaptive yet grounded daʿwah models that preserve theological authenticity while responding to contemporary communicative realities. Future research is encouraged to empirically evaluate hybrid initiatives and examine their long-term effects on spiritual formation, religious literacy, and community cohesion among Southeast Asian Muslims.

Daʿwah, Southeast Asia, Islamic Propagation, Digital Islam

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