Sultan Nazrin Shah Calls for Religious Leaders to Modernize Digital Engagement to Protect Youth
KUALA LUMPUR – In a powerful address at the 3rd International Summit of Religious Leaders, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, issued a stark warning regarding the influence of digital disinformation on global youth. Addressing an audience of 1,500 scholars, policymakers, and religious leaders from 31 countries, the Sultan highlighted that the battle for the hearts and minds of the younger generation is no longer being fought from the pulpit, but through algorithms. He cautioned that artificial intelligence is now capable of “preaching” more persuasively than traditional authorities of faith, reaching young people at a scale and speed that exceeds the reach of conventional religious institutions.
The Sultan emphasized that religious institutions have been too slow to adapt to the digital age, often failing to communicate in the languages and platforms where today’s youth reside. With the world currently hosting 1.8 billion young people—the largest generation in history—the urgency of this disconnect is profound. He noted that young people are burdened by mounting existential stresses, including climate anxiety, global conflict, and economic instability. In their search for meaning, belonging, and trust, they are increasingly drawn to online spaces that religious leaders have largely neglected, leaving a vacuum often filled by radicalizing forces.
Central to the Sultan’s argument is the observation that violent extremists are far more adept at leveraging these digital mediums than mainstream religious figures. Rather than using dry manifestos, extremists weaponize scripture, quoting the very verses found in holy texts to appeal to a youth hunger for purpose and dignity. Sultan Nazrin pointed out that these figures “come clothed in scripture,” using great skill to warp traditional messages of compassion into narratives of grievance and exclusionary identity. By offering an “imagined enemy,” extremists provide a sense of belonging that traditional religious structures, which are often perceived as remote or antiquated, struggle to compete against.
To counter this, Sultan Nazrin insisted that religious institutions must pivot from viewing youth merely as the “future” to recognizing them as active, innovative participants in modern discourse. He argued that the current approach of treating young people as mere consultants or subjects of sermons is failing. Instead, he called for a paradigm shift where youth are empowered as “co-creators” of religious discourse. He urged leaders to move beyond the traditional settings of physical buildings and archaic delivery methods, warning that bringing a “manuscript to a contest being fought on iPhones” is a losing strategy that leaves the youth vulnerable to misinformation.
Highlighting the unique moral authority of faith leaders, the Sultan underscored that their task is not to abandon inherited wisdom, but to bridge the gap between ancient teachings and the harsh realities of the present day. Citing a recent encyclical by Pope Leo on the challenges of AI, the Sultan noted that the digital age requires a unified voice from faith communities, regardless of denomination. He stated, “The screen can deliver information, but only a human being can deliver meaning.” By fostering this human-centric approach, faith leaders have the potential to reclaim their role as navigators of morality in a landscape dominated by data-driven manipulation.
The summit, organized by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Muslim World League, serves as a pivotal platform for addressing these digital-age challenges. In his closing remarks, Sultan Nazrin signaled that true protection against extremism requires the active engagement and empowerment of the younger generation. By sharing power and engaging in honest, relevant conversations, religious authorities can provide the guidance and community that young people are desperately seeking. Ultimately, the Sultan’s message was a call to action: to transform religious leadership into a dynamic, authentic force that can effectively contend with the shadows of the digital world.