The Algorithmic Turn in Quranic Reception: Reconfiguring Aesthetic Distance and Horizon Fusion on Indonesian Instagram

Nabila Alifa Alfawaid

doi:10.66277/jqms.1.1.239

Authors

Nabila Alifa Alfawaid UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66277/jqms.1.1.239

Keywords:

Digital Qur’an Reception, Fusion of Horizons, Aesthetic Distance, Instagram, @quranreview

Abstract

This study analyzes the shift in the authority of Qur'anic interpretation within digital spaces through the Instagram account @quranreview. Unlike previous research that focused on content aesthetics or creator legitimacy, this study examines the role of the audience as active participants in the reconstruction of meaning. Employing a qualitative case study design and reception theory, the research finds that the Qur’an has undergone an ontological transformation—from a subject that determines meaning to an object of existential negotiation. The issue-anchoring strategy connects the text with viral contemporary issues, while the aesthetic distance mechanism manages the tension between normative authenticity and the pragmatic expectations of the audience. The findings reveal that, in the comment section, a fusion of horizons occurs, transforming the text into a situational aid. These results confirm that the authority of revelation is no longer absolute ex ante but is performatively constructed ex post. Ultimately, this study asserts that the digitalization of religion demands a paradigm shift in interpretation—from a static discourse to a participatory practice that continuously responds to the urgencies of the times.

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