Reconstruction of Virtual Tafsir on Social Media

An Analytical Study of TikTok Da'wah Perspectives of Abdullah Saeed and Fazlur Rahman

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to reconstruct the epistemological framework of contemporary digital interpretation (tafsir) by synthesizing Fazlur Rahman’s double-movement hermeneutics and Abdullah Saeed’s contextualist value hierarchy. It systematically analyzes how classical interpretive weight adapts and maintains its academic rigor within the highly visual and rapid ecosystem of short-video platforms. Design/methods/approach – Designed as a conceptual paper with an interpretive qualitative approach, this research utilizes a literature-based comparative method alongside a localized empirical case study. The paper examines the text-encounter structures and visual-reflective presentation styles of the prominent Islamic TikTok account @zatiyah_quranjournaling to test the synthesis of this dual-layered framework. Findings – The study reveals that the intersection of Rahman’s and Saeed’s frameworks creates an effective filtering mechanism against digital interpretive shallowing. However, a critical limitation emerges where Rahman’s slow hermeneutics clashes with TikTok's fast-content algorithms, and Saeed’s values hierarchy risks amplification within ideological filter bubbles. To counter this, the paper presents the Virtual Tafsir Reconstruction Framework (comprising Epistemological Supervision, Algorithmic Resistance, and 60-Second Micro-Interpretation) as a systematic model for preserving academic authority in visual subcultures. Research implications/limitations – The practical implications offer an actionable curricular blueprint for Islamic Higher Education (IAT programs) to initiate Digital Tafsir Content Production, equipping future scholars to safely navigate religious authority and structural transformation in the AI and social media era. Originality/value – This research fills a significant void in digital religion scholarship by shifting the discourse from descriptive analysis to active epistemological reconstruction.