Reconstructing Adab al-Ikhtilaf for the Social Media Era

Abstract

Social media platforms have reshaped how Islamic religious knowledge is produced, shared, and consumed, giving rise to new patterns of sectarian hostility, misinformation, and hostile online discourse. This article investigates these challenges through the lens of Adab al-Ikhtilaf, the classical framework of scholarly and ethical conduct during legitimate disagreement. Drawing on Qur'anic injunctions, Prophetic precedents, and the madhhab tradition, the study analyses how digital algorithms, online influencers, and short-form content contribute to the distortion of scholarly differences. A reconstructed ethical framework for digital religious communication is proposed, grounded in verification (tabayyun), contextualization, source transparency, respectful language, and scholarly moderation. The study concludes that revitalizing Adab al-Ikhtilaf offers a viable pathway for countering online religious polarization while preserving legitimate intellectual diversity within Islam.