Journal of Indonesian Digital Islamic Studies
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): June

Reframing Fatherhood: Hadith Interpretations and the Digital Discourse on Fatherlessness in Indonesia

Wardah Zairina (UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jun 2026

Abstract

Fathers’ role in the family profoundly impacts children’s character formation, emotional well-being, and moral values through active and consistent involvement. In Indonesia, there is still a view that limits the role of fathers as financial providers, which contributes to the phenomenon of fatherlessness, namely the physical and emotional absence of fathers in the lives of their children. This article analyzes this phenomenon through Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis approach, which explores how the discourse of fatherlessness is formed in the digital space and its influence on public perceptions of fatherhood. The analysis results show that this discourse can potentially shift understanding toward a more egalitarian role for fathers in the family. In addition, hadiths emphasizing the role of fathers as leaders, moral educators, and guides in religious discipline reinforce the position of fathers in parenting that encompasses the moral, spiritual, social, emotional, and academic aspects of children. The comprehensive involvement of fathers can overcome the phenomenon of fatherlessness and support children’s comprehensive development, while changing the paradigm of fathers’ roles in modern families. 

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JIDIS

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Social Sciences

Description

Aims The Journal of Indonesian Digital Islamic Studies (JIDIS) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that advances theoretically informed and empirically grounded scholarship on the intersections of Islam, media, and digital culture. The journal conceptualizes digital Islam as a ...