Expressing Four Humour Techniques in Gus Miftah's Dakwahtainment Activities on YouTube
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21154/altahrir.v26i1.13963Keywords:
Dakwahtainment, Humor, Arthur Asa Berger, Communication Strategy, Gus MiftahAbstract
Studies on humor in dakwahtainment have largely focused on its rhetorical function in attracting audiences or explaining laughter through the perspectives of Superiority Theory, Incongruity Theory, and Benign Violation Theory. These perspectives, however, have paid limited attention to how humor is constructed as a communication strategy within contemporary digital preaching. This study aims to examine the forms of humor employed by Gus Miftah and to explain the mechanisms through which such humor is constructed using Arthur Asa Berger's humor techniques framework. The study adopted a qualitative approach using a qualitative content analysis design. The data consisted of seven YouTube sermons delivered by Gus Miftah, which were purposively selected based on the intensity of humorous content, the diversity of preaching themes, and the representation of his communication style. Data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, while interpretation was guided by Arthur Asa Berger's humor framework, which classifies humor into the dimensions of logic, identity, language, and action. The findings reveal four dominant forms of humor: fictional storytelling in preaching, laughable misfortune, surprising twists, and joking through swearing. These forms demonstrate that humor is constructed through the combination of multiple communication techniques that manage audience expectations, foster social closeness, and sustain audience engagement in the delivery of religious messages. This study contributes to the literature on dakwahtainment by repositioning humor not merely as a rhetorical style or a trigger of laughter, but as a systematically constructed communication strategy within contemporary digital preaching.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, Asep Abbas, Abdul Muhid, and Winarto Eka Wahyudi. “‘Humor in Da’wah’: Socio-Linguistic Analytic of Kyai Ishaq Latif Da’wah from Pesantren Tebuireng Jombang.” Ilmu Dakwah: Academic Journal for Homiletic Studies 14, no. 2 (2020): 211–30. https://doi.org/10.15575/idajhs.v14i2.9053.
Adin, Cak. Alasan Gus Miftah Tidak Merokok. n.d. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVyQtX_gEOc.
AlMazaedh, Ismaael, Khalaf M. Tahat, Mohannad Alkhalaileh, and Dina N. Tahat. “Digital Religion in Platform Societies: Authority, Mediation, and Social Cohesion in Algorithmic Publics (2010–2025).” Frontiers in Sociology 11 (April 2026): 1802281. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2026.1802281.
Andayani, Andayani, and Bobby Rachman Santoso. “Unification of Humor in Da’wah : Da’wah Bil-Lisan KH. Anwar Zahid.” Dakwah: Jurnal Kajian Dakwah Dan Kemasyarakatan 27, no. 2 (2023): 244–60. https://doi.org/10.15408/dakwah.v27i2.36747.
Anggit, Pamungkas, and Halwati Umi. “Manajemen Media TV9: Telaah Perkembangan Bisnis Dakwah Di Era Media Baru.” El Madani: Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi Islam 4, no. 2 (2025): 127–44. https://doi.org/10.53678/0f6vr264.
Anshar, Muhammad, Asni Djamereng, Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar, Indonesia, Muh. Ilham, and Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar, Indonesia. “Content Analysis and Audience Receptions of Online Da’wah on YouTube Social Media.” Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication 40, no. 1 (2024): 173–87. https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2024-4001-10.
Anwar, Rully Khairul, Evi Nursanti Rukmana, and Encang Saepudin. “Mendongeng Sebagai Metode Dakwah Edukatif Pembentuk Karakter Islami Anak.” Anida (Aktualisasi Nuansa Ilmu Dakwah) 23, no. 2 (2023): 129–50. https://doi.org/10.15575/anida.v23i2.29361.
Asmar, Afidatul. “Ekspresi Keberagaman Online: Media Baru Dan Dakwah.” Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah 40, no. 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.21580/jid.v40.1.5298.
Bari, Abd, Kun Wazis, and Siti Raudhatul Jannah. “Pemanfaatan YouTube Sebagai Media Dakwah Islam.” Al Qalam: Jurnal Ilmiah Keagamaan Dan Kemasyarakatan 19, no. 2 (2025): 828. https://doi.org/10.35931/aq.v19i2.4180.
Berger, Arthur Asa. An Anatomy of Humor. Transaction Publishers, 1993.
Berger, Arthur Asa. “Glossary: The 45 Techniques of Humor.” In Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors A Psycho-Semiotic Analysis. Anthem Press. Cambridge University Press:, 2023.
Berger, Arthur Asa. “The Semiotics of Humour: Universal Humour Techniques in Comedy Writing.” In The Palgrave Handbook of Music in Comedy Cinema, edited by Emilio Audissino and Emile Wennekes. Springer International Publishing, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33422-1_2.
Briandana, Rizki, Caturida, Shahir, and Wan. “Da’wah Communication and Social Media: The Interpretation of Millennials in Southeast Asia.” International Journal of Economics and Business Administration VIII, no. Special Issue 1 (2020): 216–26. https://doi.org/10.35808/ijeba/543.
chanel, santri nu. Janda Bikin Geger Di Pengajian Gus Miftah - Pengajian Paling Seru Gus Miftah 2023. n.d. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/live/PYAvGFLI3lM.
Edhen, Rafelina Rosa Al, Carlos Alberto Dwi Sanjaya, and Isa Radja Irunta. Impresi Penggunaan Kata “Jancuk” Dalam Komunikasi Antarmahasiswa. 2023.
Fadillah, M. Ibnu Refqi, Ridwan Aang, and Yuyun Yuningsih. “Retorika Gus Miftah Dalam Dakwah Pada Media Sosial Youtube.” Tabligh: Jurnal Komunikasi Dan Penyiaran Islam 8, no. 1 (2023). https://ejournal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/tabligh/article/view/644.
Faisal, and Yogi Abdullah. “Komunikasi Ulama Di Era Viral (Studi Representasi Gus Miftah Dan Narasi Religius Di Media Digital).” PRESIDENSI: Jurnal Politik Dan Pemerintahan 2, no. 2 (2025): 74–98. https://doi.org/10.64019/presidensi.v2i2.69.
Fakhruroji, Moch. “Mediatization of Religion in ‘Texting Culture’: Self-Help Religion and the Shifting of Religious Authority.” Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies 5, no. 2 (2015): 231. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v5i2.231-254.
FM, Kurnia. Presiden Jokowi Ngakak Denger Do,a Macan Makan Kiai Dari Gus Miftah. n.d. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjzeN3NOFrg.
Gallo, Carmine. “Storytelling to Inspire, Educate, and Engage.” American Journal of Health Promotion 33, no. 3 (2019): 469–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117119825525b.
gaming, Cakra. Ceramah Gus Miftah Tentang Kisah Bilal Bin Rabah. n.d. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZpjBiIlnfU.
Habibah, Laila Margaretha Nur, and Imam Baehaqie. “Pelanggaran Prinsip Kesopanan Dalam Ceramah Gus Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman.” Artikulasi: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra Indonesia 5, no. 1 (2025): 75–85. https://doi.org/10.17509/artikulasi.v5i1.77996.
Hasanah, Uswatun. “Kontroversi Orasi Kebangsaan Gus Miftah Di Gereja Gethel Indonesia (GBI) Penjaringan Jakarta Utara (Analisis Dakwah Dan New Media).” An-Nida : Jurnal Komunikasi Islam 13, no. 2 (2021): 123–32. https://doi.org/10.34001/an-nida.v13i2.2092.
Heriyanto, Eko. “Javanese Swearing Words: An Analysis of Shifting and Changing Referring Connotative Meaning.” Journal of Language and Health 1, no. 1 (2020): 29–38. https://doi.org/10.37287/jlh.v1i1.102.
Hilmi, Mustofa. “Humor Dalam Pesan Dakwah.” Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah 38, no. 1 (2019): 87. https://doi.org/10.21580/jid.v38.1.3972.
Hjarvard, Stig. “The Mediatisation of Religion: Theorising Religion, Media and Social Change.” Culture and Religion 12, no. 2 (2011): 119–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/14755610.2011.579719.
Hoesterey, James Bourk. Pemasaran Moralitas: Naik, Jatuh, Dan Pembentukan Ulang Cap-Merk Aa Gym Dalam Ustadz Seleb Bisnis Moral Dan Fatwa Online Ragam Ekspresi Islam Indonesia Kontemporer. Greag Fealy dan Sally White. Komunitas Bambu, 2012.
Hoesterey, James Bourk. Rebranding Islam, Piety, Prosperity, and A Self-Help Guru. Stanford University Press, 2015.
Howell, Julia Day. “Christendom, the Ummah and Community in the Age of Televangelism.” Social Compass 61, no. 2 (2014): 234–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0037768614524322.
Husna, Zida Zakiyatul. “Dakwah Multikultural (Dakwah Gus Miftah Di Diskotik Hingga Gereja).” Hikmah 15, no. 2 (2021): 246. https://doi.org/10.24952/hik.v15i2.4056.
Ismail, Mardiana, Indrayuda Indrayuda, and Mohd Effindi Bin Shamsuddin. “The Application of Asa Berger Humour Technique by Sabri Yunus from The Dramaturgy Perception in ‘Karoot Komedi.’” Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education 18, no. 2 (2019): 162–70. https://doi.org/10.15294/harmonia.v18i2.12725.
Istiqomalia, Yuntarti. “Metode Dakwah Dalam Menghadapi Perkembangan Budaya Populer.” INTELEKSIA - Jurnal Pengembangan Ilmu Dakwah 4, no. 2 (2022): 361–78. https://doi.org/10.55372/inteleksiajpid.v4i2.252.
Jaini, Jaini, and Mad Sa’i. “Public Speaking: Teknik Berbicara Di Depan Umum Dalam Mengelola Vokal Dan Gesture Yang Tepat.” SANISKALA : Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat 3, no. 1 (2025): 25–34. https://doi.org/10.31949/jsk.v3i1.13506.
Jawa, New Budaya. Cak Percil Cs Ngaji Bareng Gus MIftah !! Kisah Tukang Becak Dadi Kiai. n.d. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-vkcj0QSrQ.
Johari Muis. “Peran Media YouTube Masjid Al-Irsyad Surabaya Sebagai Strategi Komunikasi Dakwah Di Era Digital.” PROGRESIF: Jurnal Dakwah, Sosial, Dan Komunikasi 2, no. 2 (2025): 61–76. https://doi.org/10.63199/progresif.v2i2.36.
Kailani, Najib, and Sunarwoto. Elevangelisme Islam Dan Lanskap Otoritas Keagamaan Baru” Dalam Ulama Dan Negara-Bangsa: Membaca Masa Depan Islam Politik Di Indonesia. Pusat Pengkajian Islam, Demokrasi, dan Perdamaian (PusPIDeP), 2019.
Khusairi, Abdullah. “Creative Content Production Strategies for Religious Outreach Materials on Social Media.” Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah 45, no. 2 (2025): 341–56. https://doi.org/10.21580/jid.v45.2.28022.
Mariyam, Siti. “Gaya Bahasa Dakwah Gus Miftah Di Pasar Kembang Yogyakarta: Analisis Isi Akun YouTube @GusMiftahOfficial.” Meyarsa: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Dan Dakwah 5, no. 2 (2024): 127–38. https://doi.org/10.19105/meyarsa.v5i2.15194.
Martin, Rod A. The Psychology of Humor : An Integrative Approach. Elsevier Academic Press, 2007.
Miles, Mattehw B., A. Michael Huberman, and Johnny Saldana. Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcee Book. Third. Arizona State University, 2014.
Mokodenseho, Sabil, Novita Tabo, Nini Mokodonseho, Naneng Durand, Kurnia Mamonto, and Yohana Akontalo. “Revitalizing Da’wah through YouTube: Toward a Digitally Literate Society.” West Science Islamic Studies 2, no. 02 (2024): 129–35. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsiss.v2i02.842.
Muhammad Irfan Affandi and Arya Alfarrel. “Pemanfaatan Storytelling Sebagai Alat Persuasif Dalam Dakwah.” Jurnalika : Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi 10, no. 1 (2026): 46–55. https://doi.org/10.37949/jurnalika101287.
Müller, Julia, and Thomas N. Friemel. “Dynamics of Digital Media Use in Religious Communities—A Theoretical Model.” Religions 15, no. 7 (2024): 762. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15070762.
Mutia, Tika. “Da’wahtainment: The Creativity of Muslim Creators in Da’wah Communication on Social Media.” Jurnal Dakwah Risalah 32, no. 2 (2022): 147. https://doi.org/10.24014/jdr.v32i2.15536.
Nasif, Hifni, and May Putri Wilujeng. “Wayang as Da’wah Medium of Islam According to Sunan Kalijaga.” KALIMAH 16, no. 2 (2018). https://doi.org/10.21111/klm.v16i2.2871.
Nur Abida, Fithriyah Inda, I. Nengah Sudipa, Ni Luh Nyoman Seri Malini, and Luh Putu Puspawati. “Humor in Dakwah: A Socio-Pragmatic Study.” Randwick International of Education and Linguistics Science Journal 5, no. 2 (2024): 453–63. https://doi.org/10.47175/rielsj.v5i2.983.
Pujiantara, Putra. “Dakwah Gus Miftah Dalam Bingkai Media Daring.” Kalijaga Journal of Communication 2, no. 2 (2021): 135–52. https://doi.org/10.14421/kjc.22.04.2020.
Qudratullah, Hartina Fattah, and Rahmawati Haruna. “Stand-Up Da’wah: Presenting Islamic Values through Contemporary Humorous Communication.” In Humor - Advances in Research and New Insights, edited by Annalisa Grandi. IntechOpen, 2025. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1011734.
Rahmadi, Kelik Tri. “Analisis Wacana Berita Kontroversi Gus Miftah Dan Penjual Es Teh Di Kompas.Com Dan Detik.Com Edisi 1-4 Desember 2024.” Meyarsa: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Dan Dakwah 6, no. 2 (2025): 181–97. https://doi.org/10.19105/meyarsa.v6i2.22886.
Rahmah, Mariyatul Norhidayati, Nahed Nuwairah, Najla Amaly, and Samsul Rani. “Local Wisdom-Based Da’wah Rhetoric: Analysis of Guru’s Communication Styles in South Kalimantan.” MUHARRIK: Jurnal Dakwah Dan Sosial 8, no. 1 (2025): 240–52. https://doi.org/10.37680/muharrik.v8i1.7762.
Rakhmani, Inaya. Mainstreaming Islam in Indonesia. Palgrave Macmillan US, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54880-1.
Rek, JTV. Live | Sahur Bareng Gus Miftah | JTV. n.d. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGVhY_T-M9o.
Ritonga, Muslimin, and Dewi Sartina. “Komunikasi Dakwah Gus Miftah Di Lokalisasi Pasar Kembang Yogyakarta.” Al-MUNZIR 13, no. 2 (2020): 273. https://doi.org/10.31332/am.v13i2.2051.
Rumilah, Siti, Ramadhina Ulfa Nuristama, Wahju Kusumajanti, and Raudlotul Jannah. “Digital Orality and Islamic Preaching: Ethnosociopragmatics as a Lens for Humor in Religious Discourse.” REiLA : Journal of Research and Innovation in Language 8, no. 1 (2026): 21–35. https://doi.org/10.31849/vyzhn310.
Rustandi, Ridwan. “Analisis Wacana Kritis Komodifikasi Dai Dalam Program Televisi.” Communicatus: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi 2, no. 2 (2018): 197–222. https://doi.org/10.15575/cjik.v2i2.4949.
Setiawan, Rifki, Khairiza Umami, Ibnu Fadhilla, Mardhatillah Maulidah, Doddy Suryadi, and Ferra Martian. “Netizen Dan Cancel Culture: Studi Komunikasi Dakwah Gus Miftah.” Jurnal Komunikan 4, no. 1 (2025): 45–60. https://doi.org/10.30993/jurnalkomunikan.v4i1.509.
Sofjan, Dicky. “Gender Construction in Dakwahtainment: A Case Study of Hati Ke Hati Bersama Mamah Dedeh.” Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies 50, no. 1 (2012): 57–74. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2012.501.57-74.
Sugiyono. Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, Dan R&D. 19th ed. Alfabeta, 2013.
Taufikin, Taufikin, Sri Nurhayati, and Kurnia Muhajarah. “Da’wah in the TikTok Era: Analyzing Gus Miftah’s Rhetoric, Controversy, and Community Character Education Impact.” Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah 45, no. 1 (2025): 87–106. https://doi.org/10.21580/jid.v45.1.25646.
Thahir, Muhammad. “Da’wah and the Dynamics of Modern Communication.” Al-Ulum 23, no. 1 (2023): 74–90. https://doi.org/10.30603/au.v23i1.3484.
Thang, Le Huu, Vu Minh Hue, and School of Foreign Languages, Thai Nguyen University. “The Use of Story-Telling Techniques in Classroom: An Empirical Study at Thai Nguyen University.” International Journal of Social Science and Human Research 7, no. 04 (2024). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i04-51.
Thang, Le Huu, Vu Minh Hue, and School of Foreign Languages, Thai Nguyen University. “The Use of Story-Telling Techniques in Classroom: An Empirical Study at Thai Nguyen University.” International Journal of Social Science and Human Research 7, no. 04 (2024). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i04-51.
’Ulyan, Mohammad. “Digital Da’wah and Religious Authority: A Narrative Review of Islamic Preaching in the Social Media Era.” Sinergi International Journal of Islamic Studies 1, no. 3 (2023): 100–113. https://doi.org/10.61194/ijis.v1i3.591.
Venkatesan, S. “A Short Compilation on Theories of Humor and Laughter.” PARIPEX INDIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH, June 15, 2022, 123–25. https://doi.org/10.36106/paripex/3008409.
VideoS, AVIN. Ibu-Ibu Ini Bikin Geger Pengajian Gus Miftah ..Bikin Ngakak.!! (Pengajian Lucu Gus Miftah Maulana). n.d. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVZvK67ste8.
Xu, Zhen. “Laughing Matters: Humor Strategies in Public Speaking.” Asian Social Science 12, no. 1 (2015): 117. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v12n1p117.
Accessed July 20, 2026. https://socialblade.com/youtube/handle/gusmiftahofficial.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Akhmad Nasir, Iswandi, Hamdan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Please find the rights and licenses in Al-Tahrir. By submitting the article/manuscript of the article, the author(s) agree with this policy. No specific document sign-off is required.
1. License
The non-commercial use of the article will be governed by the Creative Commons Attribution license as currently displayed on Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
2. Author(s)' Warranties
The author warrants that the article is original, written by stated author(s), has not been published before, contains no unlawful statements, does not infringe the rights of others, is subject to copyright that is vested exclusively in the author and free of any third party rights, and that any necessary written permissions to quote from other sources have been obtained by the author(s).
3. User/Public Rights
Al-Tahrir's spirit is to disseminate articles published are as free as possible. Under the Creative Commons license, Al-Tahrir permits users to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work for non-commercial purposes only. Users will also need to attribute authors and Al-Tahrir on distributing works in the journal and other media of publications. Unless otherwise stated, the authors are public entities as soon as their articles got published.
4. Rights of Authors
Authors retain all their rights to the published works, such as (but not limited to) the following rights;
- Copyright and other proprietary rights relating to the article, such as patent rights,
- The right to use the substance of the article in own future works, including lectures and books,
- The right to reproduce the article for own purposes,
- The right to self-archive the article,
- The right to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the article's published version (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal (Al-Tahrir).
5. Co-Authorship
If the article was jointly prepared by more than one author, any authors submitting the manuscript warrants that he/she has been authorized by all co-authors to be agreed on this copyright and license notice (agreement) on their behalf, and agrees to inform his/her co-authors of the terms of this policy. Al-Tahrir will not be held liable for anything that may arise due to the author(s) internal dispute. Al-Tahrir will only communicate with the corresponding author.
6. Royalties
Being an open accessed journal and disseminating articles for free under the Creative Commons license term mentioned, author(s) aware that Al-Tahrir entitles the author(s) to no royalties or other fees.
7. Miscellaneous
Al-Tahrir will publish the article (or have it published) in the journal if the article’s editorial process is successfully completed. Al-Tahrir's editors may modify the article to a style of punctuation, spelling, capitalization, referencing and usage that deems appropriate. The author acknowledges that the article may be published so that it will be publicly accessible and such access will be free of charge for the readers as mentioned in point 3.
