Transformasi Dakwah Kiai Ahmad Azaim Melalui Jam’iyah Sholawat Bhenning di Era Digital: Integrasi Tradisi dan Adaptasi Teknologi

The Transformation of Kiai Ahmad Azaim’s Da‘wah through the Jam’iyah Sholawat Bhenning in the Digital Era: Integrating Tradition and Technological Adaptation

Abstract

Transformation of da'wah in the digital era presents both challenges and opportunities for Islamic scholars. Kiai Ahmad Azaim, the head of the Salafiyah Syafi'iyah Islamic Boarding School in Sukorejo, Situbondo, presents innovation through the Jam’iyah Sholawat Bhenning. The tradition of sholawat, steeped in Sufi values, is maintained while simultaneously adapting to digital technology to reach a wider audience. This study aims to examine the transformation of Kiai Ahmad Azaim's da'wah through Jam’iyah Sholawat Bhenning, examining the combination of the spirit of tradition with technological adaptation, and its impact on congregational acceptance in the digital era. This study used a qualitative approach with netnography methods, focusing on observing interactions among religious communities in the digital space. Data were collected through monitoring Jam’iyah Sholawat Bhenning's official social media accounts, analyzing congregational comments on live streaming content, and digital documentation representing the dynamics of da'wah. Analysis techniques included data reduction, presentation, and drawing conclusions, emphasizing the meanings emerging from the congregation's online practices. The results indicate that da'wah transformation occurs in three dimensions. First, the spirit of tradition, namely maintaining the solemnity of sholawat (prayer chants) and the authenticity of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). Second, technological adaptation through the use of social media, digital channels, and live streaming to expand reach across countries. Third, the construction of congregational identity, where religious communities are formed not only spiritually but also through digital networks. This research confirms that tradition-based da'wah (preaching) can transform creatively in the digital era without losing its substance, while simultaneously becoming increasingly relevant to the younger generation.