Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS – The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held the 1701st Doctoral Promotion Exam in the Auditorium Room of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA on Monday, July 27, 2026 with promovenda Ivon Rahmani.

Ivon is a student of the Doctoral program in Islamic Studies with a concentration in Qur'an and Tafsir. His dissertation is entitled "The Construction of Religious Authority on Social Media: A Study of the Communication Concepts of Husein Ja'far Al Hadar and Adi Hidayat".

This dissertation was born from an in-depth observation of the shifting modern religious landscape. The era of digital transformation has shifted the pattern of religious legitimacy that originally relied on an institutional model based on sanad and formal institutions, towards a more communicative, participatory, and digital network-based model.

Focusing on the YouTube platform, this study aims to analyze how communication strategies, discursive structures, and the logic of digital platforms affect the formation of the legitimacy of dai in public spaces. In particular, Ivon conducted a comparative study of two popular preachers in Indonesia, namely Habib Husein Ja'far Al Hadar and Ustadz Adi Hidayat.

To dissect this phenomenon, this study applies a qualitative approach with the Norman Fairclough model Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) method. This method comprehensively explores the three main dimensions of discourse, namely the dimension of text, discursive practices, and the social practices that underlie it.

The research data was collected from YouTube video content, conversation transcripts, audience comments, and engagement  indicators from the two figures in the period from 2020 to 2026. Through the process of transcription, coding, categorization, comparison, and critical interpretation, Ivon succeeded in unraveling the mechanisms behind the production of digital religious authority.

The findings of the study show that there are two main models that are different but equally effective in constructing legitimacy. Habib Husein Ja'far is proven to build his authority through a narrative-dialogical model. This approach prioritizes the humanistic side, emotional engagement, and inclusive and participatory communication for digital audiences.

On the other hand, Ustadz Adi Hidayat forms his legitimacy through an argumentative-systematic model. This model relies on strong epistemic authority, deep textual argumentation, and neatly structured scientific performance. This approach emphasizes the depth of Islamic literature in a format adapted to modern media.

Not only the personal factor of figures, this study reveals that technological infrastructure plays a key role in multiplying religious legitimacy. YouTube's algorithm, platform visibility level, and response patterns and audience interaction have proven to be crucial elements that strengthen the position of the two dai in the public domain.

The novelty of this research lies in the CDA-based comparative approach that is more integrative than previous studies that tend to be descriptive or focus only on one figure. Ivon combines communication theory, mediatization of religion, and the study of digital platforms to provide a complete picture of the landscape of modern religious authority in Indonesia.

This doctoral promotion session affirmed the important contribution of UIN Jakarta academics in responding to contemporary socio-religious phenomena. The results of Ivon's research are expected to be a valuable reference for researchers, communication practitioners, and the wider community in understanding the dynamics of religion in the midst of the rapid flow of digitalization.

Ivon successfully defended his dissertation under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, Prof. Dr. Achmad Syahid, M.Ag, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, Prof. Dr. Achmad Syahid, M.Ag, Prof. Dr. Media Zainul Bahri, MA, Prof. Dr. Idris Thaha, M.Si, Prof. Dr. A. Bakir Ihsan, M.Si.

After paying attention to the dissertation writing, the comments of the examiner team and the answers of the promovendus, the examiner team determined that Ivon Rahmani graduated with the title of Very Satisfactory. Ivon Rahmani is the 1701st Doctor in the field of Islamic Studies, doctoral program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (Jay A)