Digital Populism in Islamic Da’wah: A Rhetorical Analysis of @iqdammuhammad’s Instagram Communications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38073/wasilatuna.v9i1.3728Keywords:
Dakwah Digital, Ethos Pathos Logos, Instagram Account @iqdammuhammad, Public Communication, RetorikaAbstract
This study discusses the process of public communication in da'wah conducted through the Instagram
account @iqdammuhammad, focusing on the application of Aristotle's rhetorical strategies, which
include ethos, pathos, and logos. The background of this research stems from the phenomenon of
persuasive communication strategies in accordance with the characteristics of social media and
audience preferences, particularly among young people. This study aims to analyze how these three
rhetorical elements are implemented in Gus Iqdam's da'wah content and how their application affects
the effectiveness of public communication in disseminating religious messages. The research method
used a descriptive qualitative approach with content analysis techniques on several posts that
represent the preaching communication strategy on the account. The results of the study show that
ethos is reflected through scholarly credibility, a religious image, and consistency in delivering
messages. Pathos is seen through a communicative delivery style, use of humor, and engaging
visuals, creating an emotional connection with the audience. Logos appears through arguments based
on religious texts and rational explanations relevant to daily life. The integration of these three
rhetorical aspects contributes to increased audience engagement and the cognitive and affective
reception of preaching messages. In conclusion, the study affirms that utilizing Aristotle's rhetorical
strategies in digital preaching can enhance the effectiveness of public communication on Instagram.
Downloads
References
Aisyah, M. (2022). Ethos, pathos, logos dan komunikasi publik: A systematic literature review. Jurnal Darma Agung, 30(3), 442–469. http://jurnal.universitasdarmaagung.ac.id/jurnaluda/article/view/2066
Aziz, A., Rahmah, M., & Afifah, N. (2025). Da’wa Communication Model in Indonesia and Malaysia. Jurnal Dakwah Risalah, 36(1), 16–36. https://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/risalah/article/view/29936
Baker, S. A., & Rojek, C. (2020). The Belle Gibson scandal: The rise of lifestyle gurus as micro-celebrities in low-trust societies. Journal of Sociology, 56(3), 388–404. https://doi.org/10.1177/1440783319846188
Bambang Arianto, S. E., Ak, M., Anggraini, A. D. O., & SIP, S. P. (2025). Riset Content Analysis Pendekatan Teori dan Praktik. https://www.academia.edu/download/121694983/1._Arianto_dkk_Content_Analysis_ISBN.pdf
Cheong, P. H. (2014). Tweet the message? Religious authority and social media innovation. Journal of Religion, Media and Digital Culture, 3(3), 1–19. https://brill.com/view/journals/rmdc/3/3/article-p1_1.xml
Huda, M. K. (2025a). Living Hadith and Character Inculturation in Contemporary Preaching: A Case Study of Gus Iqdam’s Da’wah in Indonesia. Religia, 28(1), 154–171. https://e-journal.uingusdur.ac.id/Religia/article/view/7187
Huda, M. K. (2025b). Living Hadith and Character Inculturation in Contemporary Preaching: A Case Study of Gus Iqdam’s Da’wah in Indonesia. Religia, 28(1), 154–171. https://e-journal.uingusdur.ac.id/Religia/article/view/7187
Ingraham, C. (2013). Talking (about) the elite and mass: Vernacular rhetoric and discursive status. 46(1), 1–21. https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/p-n-r/article-abstract/46/1/1/291227
Ismail, A. I. (2018a). The True Da’wa: Menggagas Paradigma Baru Dakwah Era Milenial: Edisi Pertama. Prenada Media. https://www.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=E_u2DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Ismail,+A.+I.+(2018).+The+True+Da%E2%80%99wa:+Menggagas+Paradigma+Baru+Dakwah+Era+Milenial:+Edisi+Pertama.+Prenada+Media.&ots=nWwahDJCLJ&sig=14ATt2ZRW3xCjrerG5CdE2inevw
Ismail, A. I. (2018b). The True Da’wa: Menggagas Paradigma Baru Dakwah Era Milenial: Edisi Pertama. Prenada Media. https://books.google.com/books?hl=id&lr=&id=E_u2DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Dapatkan+versi+cetak+buku+ini%E2%96%BC++Sampul+Depan%09+The+True+Da%E2%80%99wa:+Menggagas+Paradigma+Baru+Dakwah+Era+Milenial:+Edisi+Pertama+Oleh+Dr.+A.+Ilyas+Ismail,+M.A.&ots=nWvbjDDAJH&sig=Rld_dEvirCN8JIozlnKnjRLIs44
Jong, A. (2025). The post-secular cosmopolitanization of religion. Religions, 16(3), 334. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/3/334
Kahfi, A., & Mahmudi, K. A. (2024). Transformation of da’wah in the digital era: Modern strategies in optimizing technology based da’wah management. Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi, 9(2), 63–79. https://journal.iaincurup.ac.id/index.php/JDK/article/view/11611
Klein, O. (2024). Anti-immigrant rhetoric of populist radical right leaders on social media platforms. Communications, 49(3), 400–420. https://doi.org/10.1515/commun-2023-0113
Krijnen, E., Van Steensel, R., Meeuwisse, M., & Severiens, S. (2021). Measuring Parental Literacy Beliefs in a Socio-Economically, Linguistically and Ethnically Diverse Sample. Early Education and Development, 32(4), 608–635. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2020.1785227
Krippendorff, K. (2018). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Sage publications. https://www.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=nE1aDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Referring+to+Krippendorff+(2018),+content+analysis+is+understood+as+a+systematic+method+designed+to+generate+replicable+and+context-sensitive+interpretations+of+textual+and+visual+data+&ots=y_eiVseOay&sig=j48W8d2o70pxTfg9SdJbZC4oXBA
Kvist Møller, A. H., & Airoldi, M. (2025). With eyes of a machine: A three-step guide for applying machine learning to visual content analysis in social research. Big Data & Society, 12(2), 20539517251343860. https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517251343860
Meuleman, J. (2011). Dakwah, competition for authority, and development. 167(2–3), 236–269. https://brill.com/view/journals/bki/167/2-3/article-p236_4.xml
Meyer, B. (2006). Religious revelation, secrecy and the limits of visual representation. Anthropological Theory, 6(4), 431–453. https://doi.org/10.1177/1463499606071596
Mohajan, H. K. (2018). Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 7(1), 23–48. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=640546
Monaro, S., Gullick, J., & West, S. (2022). Qualitative data analysis for health research: A step-by-step example of phenomenological interpretation. Qualitative Report, 27(4), 1040–1057. https://www.academia.edu/download/90474551/viewcontent.pdf
Oeppen Hill, J. H. (2020). Logos, ethos, pathos and the marketing of higher education. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 30(1), 87–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841241.2019.1683120
Rosowsky, A. (2012a). Performance and flow: The religious classical in translocal and transnational linguistic repertoires. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 16(5), 613–637. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2012.00542.x
Rosowsky, A. (2012b). Performance and flow: The religious classical in translocal and transnational linguistic repertoires. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 16(5), 613–637. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2012.00542.x
Santuso, S. (2025). Strategi Retorika pada Buletin Dakwah Kaffah: Analisis Ethos, Pathos, dan Logos Pada Wacana Masalah Sosial. EDUSOS: Jurnal Edukasi Dan Ilmu Sosial. https://www.academia.edu/download/125617875/2._Santuso_FIX_52_61.pdf
Seligman, R. (2023). Metaphor and the politics and poetics of youth distress in an evidence-based psychotherapy. Transcultural Psychiatry, 60(5), 819–834. https://doi.org/10.1177/13634615211066692
Sridharan, V. G. (2021). Methodological Insights Theory development in qualitative management control: Revisiting the roles of triangulation and generalization. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 34(2), 451–479. https://www.emerald.com/aaaj/article/34/2/451/2117
Sultana, S. (2022). Translingual practices and national identity mediated in the semiotized digital spaces. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 45(2), 175–197. https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.21051.sul
Syamsudin, Sarbini, A., & Solahudin, D. (2026). Islamic Locality and the Failure of the Caliphate Idea: The Role of the Da’wa Movement in Indonesian Islam History. Religions, 17(3), 297. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/17/3/297
Turner, B. S. (2008). Religious Speech: The Ineffable Nature of Religious Communication in the Information Age. Theory, Culture & Society, 25(7–8), 219–235. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276408097804
Wickramasinghe, D., Wijethilake, C., & Herath, N. (2025). Counter-accounts of the absent state: Accounting for violence, silence and resistance. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 38(8), 2057–2089. https://www.emerald.com/aaaj/article-abstract/doi/10.1108/AAAJ-11-2024-7547/1297265
Zafar, A. B., & Blackmer, G. C. (2025). Digital Religion in the Public Sphere. 2025(5, 627), 1–16. https://bonndoc.ulb.uni-bonn.de/xmlui/handle/20.500.11811/13632
Zaid, B., Fedtke, J., Shin, D. D., El Kadoussi, A., & Ibahrine, M. (2022). Digital Islam and Muslim millennials: How social media influencers reimagine religious authority and Islamic practices. Religions, 13(4), 335. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/4/335
Zuhri, A. M. (2021). Beragama di ruang digital; Konfigurasi ideologi dan ekspresi keberagamaan masyarakat virtual. Nawa Litera Publishing. https://www.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Jh_REAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA14&dq=Zuhri,+A.+M.+(2021).+Beragama+di+ruang+digital%3B+Konfigurasi+ideologi+dan+ekspresi+keberagamaan+masyarakat+virtual.+Nawa+Litera+Publishing.&ots=WlxOEpBbMV&sig=vOyD5so3ZsqDOFex0STxD-5LzRE
Гаращук, Д. В., & Соколовський, О. Л. (2025). Digital orthodoxy and political populism in Eastern Europe: How orthodox media facilitate political mobilization. Ocasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe, 45(7), 74–101. https://eprints.zu.edu.ua/44966
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Widadi, Siti Waqiatul Hasanah, Danil Kiromah, Syifa Aghniya Ridwan, Abdullah Sattar

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.





