Digital Trust in the Light of the Prophetic Seerah ﷺ: A Research Study in the Context of the Social Media Era

سیرتِ نبوی ﷺ کی روشنی میں”ڈیجیٹل اعتماد“ کا تصور: سوشل میڈیا دور کے تناظر میں تحقیقی مطالعہ

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital communication technologies and social media platforms has fundamentally transformed the way information is created, shared, and consumed. While these platforms have significantly enhanced global connectivity and access to information, they have simultaneously given rise to serious challenges such as fake news, misinformation, cyber fraud, fake identities, privacy violations, cyberbullying, and the widespread erosion of Digital Trust. This study aims to explore the concept of Digital Trust in the light of the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and to examine how Prophetic principles can provide a comprehensive ethical framework for addressing contemporary challenges in the digital environment. The study adopts a qualitative and analytical research methodology by critically examining primary Islamic sources, including the Holy Qur'an, authentic Hadith, classical Seerah literature, and works on Fiqh al-Seerah. The findings reveal that the Prophetic model is founded upon enduring values such as truthfulness (Ṣidq), trustworthiness (Amānah), verification of information (Tabayyun), responsible communication, protection of privacy, confidentiality, prohibition of deception (Ghish), respect for human dignity, and accountability. These principles establish a robust ethical foundation for strengthening Digital Trust in the age of social media. The study further argues that integrating these Prophetic values into digital literacy programmes, educational curricula, social media governance, fact-checking mechanisms, and cybersecurity policies can significantly reduce misinformation, online fraud, character assassination, privacy breaches, and other forms of digital misconduct. It concludes that the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) offers a timeless and comprehensive model for promoting responsible digital citizenship and restoring trust within contemporary digital societies.