Transnational Islamic Governance and Diaspora Leadership: Empowering Muslim Migrant Communities

Abstract

This study aims to analyze transnational da’wah management strategies, diaspora leadership, and challenges in community empowerment among Indonesian diaspora communities abroad. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with data collected through semi-structured interviews, observation, and documentation. Data were analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing, with technical triangulation used to ensure data validity. The findings reveal that transnational da’wah is implemented through community empowerment by strengthening the roles of scholars, students, and university students, providing diaspora services, supporting children’s education, and developing collaborative networks with governmental institutions, religious organizations, Indonesian communities, and local communities. The leadership model is characterized by adaptive, service-oriented, and network-based leadership that responds to the diverse needs of diaspora communities. Major challenges include host-country regulations, children’s education, diaspora status, limited da’wah outreach, and organizational resource constraints. These findings imply that sustainable transnational da’wah requires an integrated management strategy combining religious identity, community empowerment, social services, institutional networking, and adaptive leadership to strengthen diaspora resilience, participation, and continuity of da’wah activities across national boundaries.