Behind the Likes: When Digital Recognition Shifts the Meaning of Human Identity from the Perspective of Nafs, Qalb, and Fitrah

Abstract

The increasing need for social recognition through digital media has made the number of likes, comments, views, and followers a measure that is often associated with self-evaluation. This article aims to analyze the influence of digital validation orientation on the understanding of human identity based on the Islamic concepts of nafs, qalb, and fitrah. This study employs a qualitative library research method with a descriptive-analytical approach from the perspectives of Islamic psychology and Islamic anthropology. The primary sources consist of Islamic intellectual literature discussing nafs, qalb, and fitrah, while the secondary sources include scholarly journals addressing social validation and self-identity on social media. The findings indicate that nafs explains the human tendency to seek praise and recognition, qalb determines the orientation of intention and sincerity, while fitrah serves as the foundation of human essence and self-worth, which are not determined by popularity. These three concepts function as an interconnected framework for understanding validation-seeking behavior. The study concludes that the understanding of human identity should not depend solely on external recognition. More importantly, it requires awareness of internal desires, preservation of one's inner orientation, and an understanding of self-worth grounded in fitrah.