The Role of Islamic Education (IE) and Electronic Social Media (ESM) in Promoting Peaceful Coexistence in a Multireligio-Cultural Society

Abstract

This paper critically examines the role of Islamic education and electronic social media as effective instruments for fostering peaceful coexistence and strengthening national integration within Nigeria‟s multi-religious and multicultural society. Islam, as a religion, strongly upholds the principles of tolerance, mutual respect, and harmonious living among diverse groups. Against this background, the study explores the concept of Islamic education and its relevance to national integration, alongside an assessment of the influence of electronic social media in promoting peaceful relations among adherents of different faiths. It further investigates how the teachings of Islamic education can be effectively utilized to cultivate a peaceful and cohesive society through the strategic deployment of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook for the dissemination of religious knowledge to a larger society. The paper argues that Islamic education, when properly articulated and communicated through electronic social media, possesses significant potential to advance peace, enhance interreligious tolerance, and reinforce national integration in Nigeria‟s pluralistic socio-cultural context. Consequently, the study recommends the integration of digital peace education into Islamic learning frameworks, the promotion of structured interfaith dialogue among various religious bodies through electronic social media, and the establishment of adequate regulatory and ethical mechanisms to guide the responsible use of these platforms, among other measures.