CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF ETHICAL POLITICAL COMMUNICATION BASED ON ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES IN COMMUNICATION

Kerangka Konsep Etika Pengucapan Politik Berasaskan Prinsip Islam dalam Komunikasi

Abstract

In the landscape of modern democracy, political communication has become a primary tool for gaining voter support. However, it is often tainted by slander, factual manipulation, and emotional provocation that conflict with moral values and social harmony. In the context of Muslim-majority countries such as Malaysia, there is an urgent need to develop an ethical framework for political communication that aligns with Islamic principles. This study employs a normative qualitative approach in the form of a conceptual model grounded in Islamic epistemology. The analysis is based on Quranic verses, hadiths, as well as classical and contemporary texts in the fields of communication ethics and Islamic political thought. The framework is developed through three phases: textual analysis, value synthesis, and conceptual model construction. The findings conclude four main principles of Islamic political communication ethics: (i) adherence to Islamic law, (ii) truthfulness, (iii) moral conduct, and (iv) alignment with the maqāṣid al-sharīʿah. These principles reject all forms of hate speech, slander, or emotional manipulation, while emphasising the importance of social unity, justice, and societal well-being. This study makes a significant contribution to the development of an indigenous theory of Islamic political communication rooted in divine values. It also challenges the dominance of secular and pragmatic Western communication theories by positioning political communication as a form of dakwah that upholds integrity, truthfulness, and wisdom.