Rebuilding ḥabāʾib authority in the digital age in Indonesia: Jamāʿah relations, social action, and transparency

The debate over the legitimacy of the Habaib lineage as a source of religious authority, particularly among the Ba'Alawi descendants of Prophet Muhammad, is especially prominent in Indonesia. This debate arises from the lack of contemporaneous evidence and DNA results showing the incompatibility of their haplogroups with the Prophet's descendants. This study analyzed YouTube users' responses by comparing traditional lineage-based claims with modern demands for DNA verification in Indonesia. Through Critical Discourse, Sentiment, and Content Analysis of 4,000 comments, it was found that most users challenged lineage-based authority and demanded scientific proof, while a minority suggested that DNA tests could support lineage claims. Distrust has grown because of historical inconsistencies and suspicions of political manipulation, with some netizens classifying Habaib based on their morals and questioning their immigrant status. This debate underscores the tension between traditional approaches and modern demands for transparency and empirical evidence in Indonesia.