Date Log
Copyright (c) 2025 M. Ilham Kamil, Abbas Langaji, M. Ilham, Amrullah Harun, Muhammad Rake Linggar Anggoro
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Epistemic Distortion in Qur’anic Interpretation: Hustle Culture and Digital Religious Narratives on Instagram
Corresponding Author(s) : M. Ilham Kamil
KURIOSITAS: Media Komunikasi Sosial dan Keagamaan, Vol. 18 No. 1 (2025): Komunikasi Sosial dan Keagamaan
Abstract
This study uses qualitative methods, combining textual and visual analyses, to investigate how Qur'anic verses are interpreted, manipulated, and circulated in frenzied cultural narratives on Instagram. This research focuses on the content of three Instagram accounts: @alqurancustomku, @lanternoflightofficial, and @ssheikh00, supported by secondary literature on Islamic epistemology and digital religion. The study finds that Qur’anic interpretations on these platforms often reflect selective reading and cherry-picking of verses that support entrepreneurial and motivational narratives, frequently detaching scriptural meaning from scholarly traditions. Authority over interpretation shifts from ulama to digital influencers, creating a fragmented epistemic environment that privileges virality over exegetical rigor. This research contributes to the growing field of digital religion by articulating how algorithm-driven content production facilitates new forms of textual reception, theological authority, and spiritual branding. It integrates insights from the theory of text reception and epistemic distortion to frame this trend as a reconfiguration of Qur’anic meaning under the pressures of digital capitalism. The findings call for greater literacy in Qur’anic hermeneutics within digital media spaces and encourage religious authorities, educators, and policymakers to develop guidelines for ethical and theologically sound online da'wah practice. This study focuses on a small number of Instagram accounts and does not fully explore platform-based variation (e.g., TikTok, YouTube) or broader demographic responses, such as youth and inter-sectarian interpretations. Future research should expand the comparative scope and include quantitative engagement metrics
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Al-Qur’an Custom (@alqurancustomku). 2024. “Hustle Culture: Jalan Pintas Menuju Neraka.” Instagram.
Athifah Chairunnisah, and Lilawati Kurnia. 2023. “Hustle Culture in Social Media: Exploring the Imagined Success in the Modern Era.” Athena: Journal of Social, Culture and Society 1(4): 180–91.
Brown, Katy, and Aurelien Mondon. 2020. “Populism, the Media, and the Mainstreaming of the Far Right: The Guardian’s Coverage of Populism as a Case Study.” Politics 41(3): 279–95.
Diksi Metris, Maman Sulaeman, Esti Nur Wakhidah. 2023. “Hustle Culture: Mencermati Tren Perilaku Yang Mendorong Kesuksesan Tanpa Henti.” Jurnal Komunikasi Bisnis da Manajemen 11: 124.
Elma, Khalda Rafifah, and Taufiq Wahab. 2024. “Perancangan Buku Panduan Hidup Seimbang ( Tawazun ) Untuk Self-Development Bagi Muslim Usia Produktif Di Bandung.” 11(3): 4573.
Enmant, Robert M. 1993. “Framing: Toward Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm.” Journal of Communication 4: 51–58.
Fauziah Nurdin. 2022. “Islam Dan Konsep Keseimbangan Dalam Lini Kehidupan.” Proceedings of International Conference on Islamic Studies: 509.
Harun, Amrullah, and Ratnah Umar. 2024. “Tafsir Al-Qur’an Media Daring Laman Web Tafsiralquran.Id Dan Pengaruhnya Terhadap Perkembangan Tafsir Di Indonesia.” AL-AQWAM: Jurnal Studi Al-Quran dan Tafsir 3(1): 1–19. https://ejournal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/aq/article/view/1468 (April 15, 2025).
Hejlesen, Jonas Tellefsen. 2024. “Hermeneutic Suspicion in Action: Agency Beyond Causality.” Human Arenas.
Hjelmslev. 1947. “Structural Analysis of Language.” Studia Linguistica 1: 69–78.
Hobfoll, S. E. 1989. “Conservation of Resources: A New Attempt at Conceptualizing Stress.” American Psychologist 44(3): 513–24.
Jeffrey H, Allen Tammy. 2011. “Work-Family Balance: A Review and Extension Pf the Literature.” Journal of Vocational Behaviour 80: 164–81.
Jefri Andi Saputra. 2024. “Teologi Istirahat Dan Hustle Culture: Teologi Istirahat Dalam Keluaran 23:12 Dan Implikasinya Terhadap Fenomena Hustle Culture.” Jurnal Kepemimpinan Kristen, Teologi, dan Enterpreneurship 3: 59–60.
Lantern of Light (lanternoflightofficial). 2025. “Open Invetation From Our Beloved.” Instagram.
Lulu Jamilah. 2016. “Pandangan Al-Qur’an Mengenai Workaholisme (Analisis Teori Keseimbangan Fritz Heider).” 4(1): 1–23.
Paul Ricoeur. 1981. Hermeneutics and the Human Sciences: Essays on Language, Action and Interpretation. Cambridge University Press.
Primayana, Galih Geraldi. 2022. “Agenda Setting Dengan Perpektif Kacamata Publik-Khayalak Media.” Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Citra 8(2).
Rini Maharani, Siti Salma Safitri, Sila Khayrani, dan Siti Mutiara Fatimah. 2025. “Harmonisasi Antara Dunia Dan Akhirat: Kajian Kritis Terhadap Fenomena Hustle Culture Pada Generasi Z Dalam Perspektif Al-Qur’an.” 15(1): 138–55.
Sahan (@ssheikh00). 2025. “The Flaw in Hustle Culture.” Instagram.
“Statistical Trap : Cherry Picking - Exsight.”
Syatar, Abdul et al. 2024. “Religious Authority in the Age of Instagram: Unveiling the Contestation of Islamic Discourses.” Jurnal Adabiyah 24(2): 182–201. https://journal3.uin-alauddin.ac.id/index.php/adabiyah/article/view/45882 (April 15, 2025).
Weber, Max. 2001. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. London: Routledge.
Yusuf Al-Qardhawi. 2000. Fiqh Al-Zakah. Jeddah: King Abdulaziz University.
References
Athifah Chairunnisah, and Lilawati Kurnia. 2023. “Hustle Culture in Social Media: Exploring the Imagined Success in the Modern Era.” Athena: Journal of Social, Culture and Society 1(4): 180–91.
Brown, Katy, and Aurelien Mondon. 2020. “Populism, the Media, and the Mainstreaming of the Far Right: The Guardian’s Coverage of Populism as a Case Study.” Politics 41(3): 279–95.
Diksi Metris, Maman Sulaeman, Esti Nur Wakhidah. 2023. “Hustle Culture: Mencermati Tren Perilaku Yang Mendorong Kesuksesan Tanpa Henti.” Jurnal Komunikasi Bisnis da Manajemen 11: 124.
Elma, Khalda Rafifah, and Taufiq Wahab. 2024. “Perancangan Buku Panduan Hidup Seimbang ( Tawazun ) Untuk Self-Development Bagi Muslim Usia Produktif Di Bandung.” 11(3): 4573.
Enmant, Robert M. 1993. “Framing: Toward Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm.” Journal of Communication 4: 51–58.
Fauziah Nurdin. 2022. “Islam Dan Konsep Keseimbangan Dalam Lini Kehidupan.” Proceedings of International Conference on Islamic Studies: 509.
Harun, Amrullah, and Ratnah Umar. 2024. “Tafsir Al-Qur’an Media Daring Laman Web Tafsiralquran.Id Dan Pengaruhnya Terhadap Perkembangan Tafsir Di Indonesia.” AL-AQWAM: Jurnal Studi Al-Quran dan Tafsir 3(1): 1–19. https://ejournal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/aq/article/view/1468 (April 15, 2025).
Hejlesen, Jonas Tellefsen. 2024. “Hermeneutic Suspicion in Action: Agency Beyond Causality.” Human Arenas.
Hjelmslev. 1947. “Structural Analysis of Language.” Studia Linguistica 1: 69–78.
Hobfoll, S. E. 1989. “Conservation of Resources: A New Attempt at Conceptualizing Stress.” American Psychologist 44(3): 513–24.
Jeffrey H, Allen Tammy. 2011. “Work-Family Balance: A Review and Extension Pf the Literature.” Journal of Vocational Behaviour 80: 164–81.
Jefri Andi Saputra. 2024. “Teologi Istirahat Dan Hustle Culture: Teologi Istirahat Dalam Keluaran 23:12 Dan Implikasinya Terhadap Fenomena Hustle Culture.” Jurnal Kepemimpinan Kristen, Teologi, dan Enterpreneurship 3: 59–60.
Lantern of Light (lanternoflightofficial). 2025. “Open Invetation From Our Beloved.” Instagram.
Lulu Jamilah. 2016. “Pandangan Al-Qur’an Mengenai Workaholisme (Analisis Teori Keseimbangan Fritz Heider).” 4(1): 1–23.
Paul Ricoeur. 1981. Hermeneutics and the Human Sciences: Essays on Language, Action and Interpretation. Cambridge University Press.
Primayana, Galih Geraldi. 2022. “Agenda Setting Dengan Perpektif Kacamata Publik-Khayalak Media.” Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Citra 8(2).
Rini Maharani, Siti Salma Safitri, Sila Khayrani, dan Siti Mutiara Fatimah. 2025. “Harmonisasi Antara Dunia Dan Akhirat: Kajian Kritis Terhadap Fenomena Hustle Culture Pada Generasi Z Dalam Perspektif Al-Qur’an.” 15(1): 138–55.
Sahan (@ssheikh00). 2025. “The Flaw in Hustle Culture.” Instagram.
“Statistical Trap : Cherry Picking - Exsight.”
Syatar, Abdul et al. 2024. “Religious Authority in the Age of Instagram: Unveiling the Contestation of Islamic Discourses.” Jurnal Adabiyah 24(2): 182–201. https://journal3.uin-alauddin.ac.id/index.php/adabiyah/article/view/45882 (April 15, 2025).
Weber, Max. 2001. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. London: Routledge.
Yusuf Al-Qardhawi. 2000. Fiqh Al-Zakah. Jeddah: King Abdulaziz University.