User:Ellakarim

User:Ellakarim

The Making of Tele-du’at: An Analysis of Islamic Religious Programs on Malaysian Television Channels  By Nur Kareelawati Abd.Karim Lecturer Communication Program, Faculty of Leadership and Management Science Islamic University of Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800, N.Sembilan MALAYSIA

kareelawati@usim.edu.my

'''Abstract  If the term ''televangelists is renowned among Christian-based television program, Muslim should have their own term for religious celebrities on Islamic television program. The word tele-da’ie in singular form or in plural, tele-du’at is the author’s very own term referring to the celebrity ulama’ appear on religious talk shows and youth programs. In traditional Islam, ulama’ are considered as the trustworthy custodians of the faith and has always been referred as warathah al-Anbiya’. The study is based on the analysis of a one week Islamic religious programs broadcasted on both terrestrial and satellite television channels. The free-to-air or terrestrial channels may be divided into two categories; government-owned and privately owned. This study will be focusing on two government-owned television channels namely TV1 and TV2 under Radio Television Malaysia (RTM). Meanwhile, TV3 and TV9 are another two terrestrial channels owned by Media Prima Berhad, the biggest and highly established private television station in Malaysia. As for satellite station, ASTRO All Asia Broadcast Centre has one dedicated Islamic channel called OASIS. This paper seeks to identify how media molded the personality of these religious figures and transformed them into a popular “tele-du’at” among Muslim audiences in Malaysia. Five distinguished contemporary tele-du’at on Malaysian television channels are Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (PhD), Hassan Din al-Hafiz (PhD), Mohd. Farid Ravi Abdullah, Fatma Zahrah (PhD), and Ustaz Akhil Hayy. Originated from various backgrounds, from religious activist and Muslim convert to a pool of academia and ulama’, these tele-du’at have proved their talent in reaching the audiences’ mind and souls. What are the elements that the content providers and all five television stations and channels searching for within the diversity of these tele-du;at? Are there any particular traits of personality that must be conformed in the making of tele-du’at? I contest the notion that the media plays a vital role in shaping the personality and credibility of these tele-du’at before the public.