Islamic rulings and guidelines for social media influencers: maqasid shariah point of view

This research examines the ethical and jurisprudential implications of social media influencing from an Islamic perspective, within Maqasid Shariah point of view. As social media influencers increasingly affect public opinion and consumer behaviour, there is an urgent need to evaluate this phenomenon within the framework of Maqasid Shariah. The study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of social media influencing, explore Islamic perspectives on the practice, analyse relevant fiqh rulings, and develop guidelines for Muslim influencers based on Maqasid Shariah. Applying a qualitative methodology, the research performs a systematic literature review of recent studies and fatwas. The analytical framework is grounded in Maqasid Shariah, focusing on the categories of maslahah, the five essential values of Shariah, and the balance between benefits and harms. Findings discover that while social media influencing is generally permissible in Islam, its ethical soundness depends on compliance to Islamic principles and objectives. The study proposes a comprehensive framework based on three critical areas: intentions (al-Qasd), approaches (al-Ada'), and consequences (al-Ma'al), highlighting the importance of generating maslahah rajihah (preponderant interest) over maslahah marjuhah (outweighed interest). This research contributes to the ongoing discussion on digital ethics in Islam and provides practical guidelines for Muslim influencers to direct their roles in alignment with Islamic teachings.