RHETORIC AND BELIEF: AN ANALYSIS OF MUHAMMAD YAHYA WALONI’S DA‘WAH (A YOUTUBE STUDY)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the thoughts and rhetoric of Muhammad Yahya Waloni. He was born in Manado in 1970 into a Christian family. He pursued his education up to the doctoral level in theology before converting to Islam. He has had an active career as a preacher and has also served as a lecturer, rector, and politician. This research employs a qualitative approach with content analysis. The primary data is sourced from YouTube, while secondary data includes articles, websites, and books. The data is then analyzed using a deductive approach. The findings reveal that his thoughts primarily revolve around criticizing Christianity, recognizing only Islam as the true religion, and being highly sensitive to social and political issues. Regarding his preaching rhetoric, his style is consistently passionate, incorporating personal narratives, confrontational language, and frequent calls for open debates. This study is expected to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of religious and social dynamics in Indonesia, as well as provide new insights into the role of religious figures in spreading Islam in the digital era.