THE CREDIBILITY OF ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONAL WEBSITES IN MALAYSIA (original) (raw)

Internet's Islamic Information Credibility Scale (IICS)

The present research develops and validates a new scale that measures Internet information credibility from Islamic perspective. The content domain for this measure was developed based on interviews with Islamic scholars, and previous literature on credibility, and empirically tested using a large samples of 1180 Internet users qualified in Islamic studies. Eight dimensions extracted from 85 developed items using exploratory factor analyses and namely: visual appeal, source-writer relationships, authentic source, writer's moral, web reputation, writer's integrity, writer's identity, and writer's reliance. The measurement model of multidimensional scale was validated using Structural Equation Modeling on AMOS Version 18. Thus, the re-specified model produced the Internet's Islamic Information Credibility Scale with not only the content validity, but also displays the construct reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity.

AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS INFLUENCING ISLAMIC WEBSITES USE AND THEIR POSITIVE IMPACT FROM MUSLIM USER PERCEPTION

The global explosion of the Internet and its continued use by individuals, Islamic organisations and scholars to spread their teachings and activities has witnessed massive growth over the years. However, it appears that online Islamic content and activities may lack credibility and authority, since the websites are anonymous and uncontrolled in comparison to the traditional face-to-face method of seeking Islamic knowledge. This paper empirically investigates the content and Islamic factors that influence use of Islamic websites by Muslim users and consequently the positive impact of those websites on their behaviour. The study examines the perception of online Muslim users on the impact of various content and Islamic factors on the use of Islamic websites and its subsequent effect on user behaviour. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted using SmartPLS 2.0; this produced seven factors, namely: content credibility, content objectivity, content reliability, Islamic identity, Islamic services, Islamic symbols, and Islamic ethical values. The findings of the study suggest that both Islamic and content factors are significant indicators for influencing Islamic website use. On the other hand, the findings show that out of the seven factors extracted, only the content reliability factor and Islamic ethical values factor have a weak influence on the use of Islamic websites. In summary, the study indicates that the use of Islamic websites has a positive impact on users towards being better practising Muslims. Finally, the research model and empirical results provide valuable indicators for the direction of future research and also suggest guidelines for developing Islamic websites that will successfully meet users' needs and expectations.

Information Credibility Assessment of Islamic and Quranic Information on the Web

ACM Digital Library, 2015

This research studies the user's assessment on the information credibility of Islamic and Quranic information retrieved from the Web. Thirty one interviews were given to various groups of online users regarding their assessment process when retrieving Islamic, particularly those of Quranic-related, information on the Web. Interview data were transcribed and then analysed inductively to identify emergent themes using inductive content analysis. The data analysis focused on extracting common themes, patterns and concepts from the transcripts which were coded by categories that emerged as the process continued. The participants interviewed discussed the assessment process which includes verification and cross-checking with other resources, online and offline. The findings provide important insights on user's assessment process when retrieving for Islamic and Quranic information on the Web. It can serve to give Web designers and content providers on what the users are actually concerned with to better adjust their services according to the needs of end users.

Evaluation of Islamic websites’ content reliability

2015

Internet is an open platform for anyone to publish and share information without being subjected to the authenticity of information. For Muslims, religious information crucially should be reliable due to the very reason that many Muslims consider the Internet as a source in getting Islamic knowledge. Unfortunately, the assessment on reliability of the information provided by the Internet is complex. The huge amounts of data available and lack of knowledge among Muslims contribute to the users’ incapability to recognize existences of unreliable information. Focusing on the reliability of information, this paper presents a software prototype, which uniquely automates and processes the reliability evaluation through inspections of references and scholars that are cited in the Islamic websites. Those references indicate that the Islamic websites derived their information from reliable religious sources.

ASSESSING ISLAMIC INFORMATION QUALITY ON THE INTERNET: A CASE OF INFORMATION ABOUT HADITH

The convenience of the Internet in providing access to a vast amount of information about Islam is no longer deniable even among students and faculties in Islamic Studies. The Internet has been regularly used by this category of people to find information about Islam. On the other hand, the issue pertaining to the quality of the information made available on the Internet is very transparent. In Islam, it is indeed very important that any fatwa and any scholarly works on Islam should be based on original and reliable sources of information. The question is if the Internet is continued to be one of the major source of information and reference for Islamic Scholars, how do they assess its quality? How do they justify its use? In what manner do they utilize the information? Using a case study approach with qualitative data gathering technique, this study was conducted to understand the use, perceptions, and opinions of several postgraduate students and faculty members in a faculty of Islamic Studies at one of the public university in Malaysia, pertaining to information about Hadith on the Internet. The findings indicated that almost all participants have referred to the Internet to get information about Hadith. The analysis of the interviews has revealed the purpose of use, method of assessment used and the underlying issues involved as perceived by the participants.

Assessing Perceived Credibility of Web Sites in a Terrorism Context: The PFLP, Tamil Tigers, Hamas, and Hezbollah

Proquest Llc, 2009

The purpose of the study was to contribute to the overall understanding of terrorist organizations' use of the Internet and to increase researchers' knowledge of Web site effectiveness. The methodological approach was evaluation of the perceived credibility of Web sites based on existing criteria derived from information users. The Web sites of four terrorist organizations were assessed: two secular nationalist groups, the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers); and two religious nationalist groups, Hamas and Hezbollah. The findings of this analysis showed differences in perceived credibility factors among terrorist organizations' Web sites and positive levels of perceived credibility for the Web sites. These findings indicate the potential for positive impressions of the organizations' Web sites by information users, which would help empower the organizations with the capacity to reach their objectives. By using Web sites, these groups can effectively increase their support base through disseminating information, improving recruiting, and attracting monetary contributions, and can establish themselves as legitimate components of society.

An Empirical Investigation on The Use of Islamic Websites and User Positive Change: A Muslim User Persception

Asia-Pacific Journal of Information Technology and Multimedia, 2013

The global explosion of the Internet and its continued use by individuals, Islamic organisations and scholars to spread their teachings and activities has witnessed massive growth over the years. However, it appears that online Islamic content and activities may lack credibility and authority, since the websites are anonymous and uncontrolled in comparison to the traditional face-to-face method of seeking Islamic knowledge. This paper empirically investigates the content and Islamic factors that influence use of Islamic websites by Muslim users and consequently the positive impact of those websites on their behaviour. The study examines the perception of online Muslim users on the impact of various content and Islamic factors on the use of Islamic websites and its subsequent effect on user behaviour. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted using SmartPLS 2.0; this produced seven factors, namely: content credibility, content objectivity, content reliability, Islamic identity, Islamic services, Islamic symbols, and Islamic ethical values. The findings of the study suggest that both Islamic and content factors are significant indicators for influencing Islamic website use. On the other hand, the findings show that out of the seven factors extracted, only the content reliability factor and Islamic ethical values factor have a weak influence on the use of Islamic websites. In summary, the study indicates that the use of Islamic websites has a positive impact on users towards being better practising Muslims. Finally, the research model and empirical results provide valuable indicators for the direction of future research and also suggest guidelines for developing Islamic websites that will successfully meet users' needs and expectations.

Conceptual Framework on the Adoption of Online Media for Fatwa Information among Malaysian Muslims

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Online media is one of the best platforms for disseminating information to the public quickly and effectively. Despite many initiatives taken by the Fatwa Institution to enhance the dissemination and explanation of Fatwa, including using online media, it is undeniable that the level of fatwa acceptance among Malaysian Muslims is still low. Thus, this study aims to discuss the plausible factors that influence the adoption of online media as a platform for fatwa information among Malaysian Muslims. A conceptual framework of UTAUT2 behavioural factors with three additional factors: the Fatwa awareness, Maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah and religiosity is proposed. This article contributes to the body of knowledge and practice by offering insights into the factors that may influence the adoption of online media as a platform for fatwa information. That can assist the Fatwa Institutions in enhancing the efficiency of Fatwa's dissemination and explanation in a more quality and successful way for Fatwa to be accepted by the community.

Islam-related News Credibility in Selected Nigerian and Malaysian Newspapers

2018

Accuracy is a value fundamental to journalism, but journalists are often blamed for inaccurate reporting. News is the primary content of newspapers, and it is the responsibility of reporters, editors, and publishers to be well-informed of its formation, since it is they who might eventually be accountable for it. The inaccuracy of the media messages that results in the negative image of Islam and Muslims is related to ‘news value’ – the extent to which the messages are made more attractive and different from what is presently prevalent in the society. This study aims to investigate the credibility of Islam related news in selected Nigerian and Malaysian newspapers. Two daily newspapers were chosen from each of the selected countries using purposive sampling. Punch and Vanguard were selected from Nigeria while The Star and New Straits Times were selected from Malaysia. News articles that are directly related to Islam or Muslims were gathered from the selected newspapers using internet-based search from November 2015 until September 2016. The newspapers produced 599 different Islam-related articles within this period. The study showed that out of 599 news articles published in the selected newspapers, 306 news articles reported Islam on correspondence, and 224 were reported from news agencies, 30 from other media organizations while the sources of 39 news articles were unidentified. Nigerian newspapers reported more Islam-related news on correspondence than Malaysian newspapers. Meanwhile, Malaysian newspapers reported more stories from news agencies and other media organizations. Journalists should ensure accuracy in their writing through verification of facts and credible sources. Credible reporting sources would help reduce biases in news reporting.

Islam on the Internet: Strategic Ways for Spreading Actual Islamic Thoughts to reach Muslims and Non-Muslims via Internet Technology

ABSTRACT Since, Islam is the Fastest Growing Religion, but, why do People judge Islam so negatively in the Internet. Major Objective was to understand the use of the Internet to propagate Islam and Supportive Objectives were to find the new trends of propagating Islam and to find challenges facing by Islam. This study is based on qualitative and quantitative methodology which was carried out by employing primary and secondary data. The Primary data has been collected through questionnaire, interviews. Ten people have been interviewed as key informants. The Secondary data was collected from relevant books, websites, reports, journals and news paper articles and other relevant documents. Internet is an emerging trend to propagate Islam over the world. Ninety percent of all users go to the Internet for news or information; of that 90 percent, 80 percent use the Internet for research. One in four of these users surfs the Internet for religious and spiritual material, with 23 percent specifically searching for information about Islam.