From classical qadzaf to digital defamation: an Islamic legal perspective on reputation protection

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze the concept of qadzaf in Islamic law and examine its relevance as a normative framework for protecting reputation in the context of digital defamation.

Method: this study employs a qualitative normative legal research method, drawing on secondary data from Islamic legal texts and academic literature. The data are analyzed descriptively and comparatively to examine the concept of qadzaf and its relevance to digital defamation and Indonesian positive law.

Findings: qadzaf is not only a legal category of false accusation of zina in Islamic law but also a broader principle for protecting human dignity and reputation. In the digital era, its values are relevant to addressing online defamation, emphasizing verification of information, and preventing harm to individuals’ reputations. The study also finds a substantive alignment between qadzaf and Indonesian positive law regarding the protection of honor, although they differ in their legal mechanisms and sanctions.

Implications: the principles of qadzaf can serve as an ethical and normative framework for strengthening reputation protection in digital communication.

Originality: lies in its reinterpretation of qadzaf beyond its classical scope as a hudud offense of false accusation of zina, positioning it instead as a broader normative framework for protecting reputation in the digital era. It further contributes by linking Islamic legal principles with contemporary issues of digital defamation and exploring their relevance within Indonesian positive law.