DIY Preaching and Muslim Religious Authority

Abstract

Abstract This article investigates how a particular type of Muslim preacher, here conceptualised as a ‘do-it-yourself (DIY) preacher’, can propagate for and elaborate on Islamic teachings outside of and supplementary to mosques. A variety of physical and media spaces are used to reach audiences, especially youth, with religious messages. The article uses an analytical lens of DIY media, generational differences, religious authority and organic intellectuals to argue that such initiatives are important not only as counter-cultural expressions in relation to the majority society, but also in negotiations and authority struggles within diverse Muslim populations. The specific case used in the analysis is that of a Swedish Muslim preacher’s publicly distributed oratory.