ESENSIA: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Ushuluddin
Vol. 27 No. 1 (2026)

Sacred Symbols, Synthetic Lies: The Hijacking of Religious Authority in AI-Generated Religious Disinformation in Indonesia

Nuril Hidayah (STAI Miftahul '
Ula Nganjuk, Indonesia)

Fitri Murfianti (Leiden University, The Netherlands)
Finsensius Yuli Purnama (Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Indonesia)
Nur Fadhilah (UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
24 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study examines how generative artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes religious disinformation by disrupting the epistemological foundations of religious authority. Focusing on Indonesia and employing qualitative content analysis, the research analyzes AI-generated artifacts that simulate clerical voices, fabricate sacred symbols, and construct emotionally resonant narratives about the umma. Drawing on the framework of the epistemology of religious authority, the study explores how these artifacts challenge traditional mechanisms of verification, particularly within Islamic epistemology. This study contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating that AI not only disseminates misleading content but also reconfigures the ways in which religious truth is recognized. It does so by separating technical precision from moral accountability, producing sanad-less knowledge, and transforming sacred symbols into self-contained representations. While religious traditions possess epistemological tools such as isnād and tabayyun, their application becomes increasingly complex in AI-mediated environments where authority is no longer easily traceable. The study suggests that these tools remain relevant but require reinterpretation and adaptation. However, epistemological responses alone may be insufficient to address the affective dimension of AI-generated content, particularly regarding synthetic comfort.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

esensia

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Social Sciences

Description

ESENSIA: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Ushuluddin is a multidisciplinary journal that publishes articles of the highest quality and significance in all areas of Islamic theology (uṣūl al-dīn). The journal covers research on the immense significance of Islam in the context of religious life to which it has ...