Digital Transformation of Islamic Preaching in Kazakhstan: Identifying Famous Online Preachers and Their Influence
Kerim S. Kurmanaliyev M. Ongarov Y. Kaliyeva Y.
August 2025Program Studi Ilmu Agama Islam Program Magister, Universitas Islam Indonesia
Millah: Journal of Religious Studies
2025#24Issue 2611 - 644 pp.
The digital landscape in Kazakhstan has witnessed a notable rise in religious sermons, particularly Islamic ones, fueled by the efficiency of social media in rapidly disseminating content and shaping religious beliefs. Social media has become a pivotal medium for spreading religious teachings, enabling interactive engagement, and fostering online faith communities. This shift has expanded access to spiritual knowledge while prompting a reassessment of traditional religious authority as new voices emerge. This study seeks to identify key Islamic preachers in Kazakhstan, examine the factors behind their popularity, and conduct a content analysis to evaluate the opportunities and risks associated with online preaching on social media platforms. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. The empirical component involved a survey to identify prominent Islamic preachers in Kazakhstan, alongside content analysis to determine the elements contributing to their widespread appeal. This research identified five influential Internet preachers in Kazakhstan, each commanding an audience of over 500,000 subscribers. Their popularity is largely due to a systematic approach, diverse content ranging from foundational beliefs to contemporary societal issues, interactive communication with followers, and distinct personal styles of the preachers. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by offering a new data-driven analysis of the growing trend of online Islamic preaching in Kazakhstan. While the digital transformation of religious discourse is a recognized global phenomenon, this research distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on Kazakhstan’s unique socio-cultural and religious context, where Islamic tradition intersects with rapid digital adoption, a dynamic that remains largely understudied.
Central Asia , digital preaching , Islamic authority , Kazakhstan , online preachers , religious communication , social media
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Egyptian University of Islamic Culture Nur-Mubarak, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Egyptian University of Islamic Culture Nur-Mubarak
Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026