OFFSTONE | JUNE 2026 EDITION

38 CONVEYING DIVINE MESSAGES: DIGITAL DA‘WAH AND ISLAMIC COMMUNICATION IN THE NETWORKED ERA By: Dr. Norsimaa Mustaffa, Dr. Kartini Kamaruzzaman, Dr. Safiyyah Ahmad Sabri & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khairunneezam Mohd Noor norsimaamustaffa@usim.edu.my The first author is a lecturer in the New Media Communications Programme at the Faculty of Leadership and Management at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). She completed her PhD at Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI). Her research interests primarily focus on multimedia design, digital cultural heritage, visual communication, and new media, as well as areas that intersect with and influence the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage. She also investigates the role of visual communication across digital and multimedia platforms. ABSTRACT In the contemporary digital era, communicating faith presents unprecedented opportunities and challenges. This article examines how Islamic communication principles can be applied effectively to digital da‘wah (preaching). By analyzing virtual media dynamics, it highlights the importance of ethical, strategic engagement in sharing religious knowledge and in fostering a balanced narrative of Islam in an increasingly interconnected global society. Introduction The rapid evolution of digital technologies has profoundly transformed how religious faith is practiced, shared, and understood. In our current networked society, cyberspace has become a primary arena for religious discourse, shifting traditional spiritual authority from physical spaces to virtual platforms. This digital migration presents a double-edged sword for the Islamic community. While it democratizes access to religious knowledge, it also exposes audiences to fragmentation, echo chambers, and polarizing rhetoric.