Religious Moderation as the Spirit of Islamic Education Building Tolerance in Virtual Conflict

This research examines the strategic role of Islamic educational institutions in campaigning for religious moderation on social media to reduce religious fanaticism and intolerance in the digital age. This research uses a qualitative approach to analyse data from literature and content on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. The main focus of the study is the dynamics of discussions related to religious issues, including differences in determining the beginning of Ramadan, which often trigger conflicts between groups. Data were analysed thematically to describe narrative patterns, interactions, and potential conflicts and evaluate the role of Islamic education institutions in promoting social harmony through religious moderation. The results showed that social media became a conflict arena dominated by verbal attacks and intolerant behaviour, exacerbated by the lack of social media ethics. In this context, pesantren and madrasah have a key role as agents of social change through formal education and digital campaigns. This research confirms that integrating technology-based education, such as digital literacy training and the production of educational content based on religious moderation, can help create more inclusive and tolerant discussion spaces. Cooperation between academic institutions, government and society is also needed to expand the reach of religious moderation campaigns and minimise social polarisation. This research makes a theoretical contribution by strengthening the literature on the role of education in shaping a tolerant digital ecosystem while offering a practical approach for educational institutions in facing digital challenges. As a recommendation, the values of religious moderation need to be used as a foundation in Islamic education to create sustainable social harmony, both in the real world and in the digital world. The findings open up opportunities for further research to develop innovative strategies to strengthen religious moderation in the digital era.