Examining Spiritual Cult on New Media in the Construction of Medans Hadith Enthusiasts

Between 2022 and 2024, Indonesia was stirred by a spiritual-cult phenomenon involving Gus Samsudin, Panji Gumilang, and Mama Gufran, who were able to generate public opinion reaching approximately five million viewers per video. The subjects extensively construct and reinforce a leader-centered cult image through new media in order to sustain a post-truth agenda, despite the limited role of the Kominfo (also referred to as Komdigi) in categorizing religion- and myth-based hoaxes. As noted by Komdigi, certain categories of hoaxes must first be determined through recommendations from designated experts, particularly the Majelis Ulama Indonesia, before any blocking measures can be implemented. This study verifies religion- and myth-based categories using Fairclough’s Model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). It also incorporates the perspectives of Hadith enthusiasts as part of the “Checking the Meaning by Outliers” process, one of the “Drawing and Verifying Conclusions” techniques proposed by Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The study concludes that: (1) the subjects function as post-truth originators; (2) the repackaging practices of media companies are driven by profit motives; and (3) the experimental adaptation of Jarh wa Ta'dil indicates that the subjects, as originators, demonstrate weak credibility.