Zulkarnain EL Madury and the micro-celebrity ustaz phenomenon

The rise of the internet and social media has sharpened the fragmentation of religious authority. In the Indonesian context, the mainstream religious authority held by Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has been challenged and threatened by micro-celebrity ustaz. This article examines the emergence of the Syarah Himpunan Putusan Tarjih Muhammadiyah fanpage on Facebook, created and managed by Zulkarnain El Madury, who claims to be a preacher of the Muhammadiyah Central Board as it has threatened Muhammadiyah’s religious authority. It analyses Muhammadiyah’sefforts in maintaining its religious authority in cyberspace, by taking a closer look at what has been done by Muhammadiyah Tarjih Council, an assembly that has the exclusive authority to issue fatwas and official religious ijtihad within Muhammadiyah. This article also discusses lessons that can be learned from the case of Zulkarnain El Madury and the response of the Muhammadiyah Tarjih Council.