MUI North Sumatra Implements Digital Literacy and Religious Moderation Training in Serdang Bedagai

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FORMOSA NEWS - Sumatera Utara - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of North Sumatra Province has carried out a structured religious training program aimed at instilling values of religious moderation and social media ethics across Serdang Bedagai Regency. This strategic initiative was highlighted in a scientific study conducted by Sahrul and Dr. Abd Rahman from the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), published in the International Journal of Advance Social Sciences and Education (IJASSE) in 2026. The research underscores the critical importance of non-formal religious intervention in tackling the moderation crisis and low digital literacy among today's youth.

Addressing the Moderation Crisis and Digital Literacy Gap

Serdang Bedagai Regency features a rich multi-ethnic and multi-religious demographic, comprising Malay, Javanese, Batak, Minangkabau, and Nias communities. In the age of rapid digitalization and globalization, this region faces two major social challenges that threaten community harmony.

First, there is a growing crisis regarding the understanding of religious moderation among youth and students. Many young people are susceptible to exclusive and intolerant views due to a lack of platforms teaching wasathiyah Islam (moderate Islam that acts as a blessing for all creation).

Second, while the public—especially the younger generation—is highly active on social media, they often lack adequate Islamic digital literacy. Consequently, users are vulnerable to unverified religious content, radical narratives, religious hoaxes, and hate speech circulating online.

In response, MUI North Sumatra—through its Fatwa Commission and Education, Youth, and Cadre Development Division—designed two strategic training programs. These programs aim to shield the community from extreme ideologies while building ethical communication habits in the digital space.

Comprehensive and Participatory Training Methodology

The UMSU research team evaluated the effectiveness of these programs using a descriptive qualitative approach with the Miles and Huberman interactive analysis model. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with key MUI North Sumatra leaders, on-site observations, and analysis of official organizational documents.

The study revealed that the training goes far beyond standard one-way lectures. MUI North Sumatra adopted interactive, participatory methods, including group discussions, Q&A sessions, and hands-on exercises in verifying online information.

The program targets participants through a tiered strategy:

• Religious Moderation (Wasathiyah Islam): Tailored primarily for preachers (da'i), Islamic scholars, mosque administrators, and local religious figures, who act as key influencers within the community.
• Social Media Ethics: Directed primarily toward youth, student organizations, and young Muslims who spend significant time on digital platforms.

Researchers Sahrul and Abd Rahman noted that MUI North Sumatra's strategy combines three core learning pillars: habituation (practicing values), exemplary modeling (learning from religious scholars), and continuous mentoring.

Two Core Pillars of the Training Curriculum

The curriculum is tailored to address immediate community needs and focuses on two key topics:

1. Wasathiyah Islam (Religious Moderation): Teaches a balanced, tolerant approach to Islam as rahmatan lil 'alamin (a mercy to all creation). It introduces the characteristics of extreme ideologies so participants can recognize and avoid provocative rhetoric.
2. Tabayyun-Based Social Media Ethics: Combines awareness of the harms of spreading hoaxes, slander, and hate speech with practical skills in tabayyun—the Islamic practice of verifying the truth of information before sharing it online.

Real Impact and Behavioral Transformation

The UMSU study demonstrates that these training programs produce tangible, lasting behavioral changes.

Participants reported a genuine transformation in perspective (perspective transformation). Those who previously found online religious debates confusing became better equipped to filter content, appreciate diversity, and exercise tolerance. In the digital sphere, participants demonstrated greater caution, routinely fact-checking news before sharing it online.

The success of MUI North Sumatra's approach aligns with established educational theories:

• Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory: Through observational modeling of respected scholars.
• Vygotsky’s Constructivism: Through structured, step-by-step guidance (scaffolding).
• Jack Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory: By reshaping participants' underlying frames of thought, beliefs, and everyday actions.

Supporting Factors and Overcoming Field Challenges

The study identified the high competence of trainers—combining academics and experienced ulema—alongside strong participant enthusiasm as the main drivers of success.

However, operational challenges persist, including limited funding, vast geographic coverage across Serdang Bedagai, and varying levels of public awareness regarding training attendance. To overcome these hurdles, the research team recommends adopting an asset-based community development model by collaborating with local mosques, Islamic study groups, and training alumni to expand the program's reach across all districts.

Author & Research Team Profiles

• Sahrul, S.Pd.I. — Lead researcher and scholar at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU). Specializes in non-formal Islamic education, community guidance, and youth character development.
• Dr. Abd Rahman, M.MA. — Senior lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU). Focuses on Islamic education policy, religious studies, and social dynamics in multicultural communities.

Academic Research Source (Reference)

• Article Title: The Role of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of North Sumatra in Instilling Religious Values through Religious Training Programs in Serdang Bedagai Regency
• Authors: Sahrul & Abd Rahman
• Journal: International Journal of Advance Social Sciences and Education (IJASSE), Vol. 4, No. 4, 2026, pp. 353–364
• DOI / Official URL: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijasse.v4i4.17
• https://journalijasse.my.id/index.php/ijasse