Character Establishment through Islamic Religious Education: A Holistic Educational Approach

Abstract

Character establishment has become a central concern in contemporary education, particularly in response to moral degradation, social fragmentation, and the challenges posed by rapid technological change. Islamic Religious Education (IRE) holds a strategic position in addressing these issues by integrating spiritual, moral, intellectual, and social dimensions of human development. This study explores character establishment through Islamic Religious Education using a holistic educational approach that goes beyond cognitive achievement and emphasizes the internalization of values and ethical practice in everyday life. Employing a qualitative literature-based method, this research analyzes classical Islamic educational thought, contemporary pedagogical frameworks, and recent empirical studies on character education. The findings reveal that effective character establishment in IRE is achieved through the integration of faith (iman), knowledge (‘ilm), moral conduct (akhlaq), and action (‘amal), supported by exemplary educators, reflective learning, and value-based school culture. Furthermore, a holistic approach enables IRE to respond adaptively to modern educational challenges by fostering critical thinking, moral resilience, and social responsibility without detaching learners from Islamic values. This study concludes that Islamic Religious Education, when implemented holistically, serves not only as a medium for religious instruction but also as a transformative force in shaping ethical, responsible, and spiritually grounded individuals capable of contributing positively to society.