Integrating Islamic Religious Education to Foster Students’ Noble Character: A Holistic School-Based Approach in Junior High School
Abstract
This study aims to analyze and formulate a holistic approach to the integration of Islamic Religious Education (IRE) in fostering noble character among junior high school students. Employing a qualitative methodology with in-depth interviews to explore the role of IRE in character formation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations of IRE practices, and documentation analysis related to students’ moral development. The data analysis was conducted inductively using thematic coding and categorization to identify patterns of IRE integration and its contribution to the cultivation of students’ virtuous character. The findings indicate that a holistic integration of IRE can be achieved through strengthening the synergy between curriculum design, school culture, teacher role modeling, religious habituation, and collaboration with parents and the wider community. Such comprehensive integration contributes to the sustainable and contextually relevant development of students’ noble character in response to contemporary moral challenges. Conceptually, this study offers an integrative framework for character education based on a holistic approach within the context of junior secondary education.
Downloads
References
Akbar, M., & Erningsih, S. E. (2023). Implementasi Kurikulum Pendidikan Agama Islam Di Sekolah Menengah Pertama Negeri (Smp) Satap 3 Bayan. Fitrah: Jurnal Studi Pendidikan, 14(1), 120–128. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47625/fitrah.v14i1.521
Arsyad, A., Sulfemi, W. B., & Fajartriani, T. (2020). Penguatan Motivasi Shalat Dan Karakter Peserta Didik Melalui Pendekatan Pembelajaran Kontekstual Pada Mata Pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam. POTENSIA: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 6(2), 185–204. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/potensia.v6i2.9662
Arsyad, M., Marwazi, M., & Musli, M. (2023). Strategi guru pendidikan agama Islam dalam menyempurnakan akhlakul karimah siswa. Journal of Educational Research, 2(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56436/jer.v2i1.193
Chanifudin, C., & Nuriyati, T. (2020). Integrasi Sains dan Islam dalam Pembelajaran. Asatiza, 1(2), 212–229. https://scholar.archive.org/work/cfrexwug4raxtokjnbk6ov3koi/access/wayback/https://ejournal.stai-tbh.ac.id/index.php/asatiza/article/download/77/Chanifudintuti
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. https://books.google.com/books?hl=id&lr=&id=335ZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT16&dq=Creswell,+J.+W.,+%26+Creswell,+J.+D.+(2017).+Research+design:+Qualitative,+quantitative,+and+mixed+methods+approaches.+Sage+publications.&ots=YEyWNPwttM&sig=d8ur8SPyz9q0SdyT-dTW-Rq
Currier, J. M., Fox, J., Vieten, C., Pearce, M., & Oxhandler, H. K. (2023). Enhancing competencies for the ethical integration of religion and spirituality in psychological services. Psychological Services, 20(1), 40. https://doi.org/https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/ser0000678
Dean, K. L., Wright, S., & Forray, J. M. (2020). Experiential learning and the moral duty of business schools. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 19(4), 569–583. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2018.0335
Gericke, N., & Torbjörnsson, T. (2022). Identifying capital for school improvement: recommendations for a whole school approach to ESD implementation. Environmental Education Research, 28(6), 803–825. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2045256
Gini, G., Thornberg, R., & Pozzoli, T. (2020). Individual moral disengagement and bystander behavior in bullying: The role of moral distress and collective moral disengagement. Psychology of Violence, 10(1), 38. https://doi.org/https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/vio0000223
Gladstone, J. R., & Cimpian, A. (2021). Which role models are effective for which students? A systematic review and four recommendations for maximizing the effectiveness of role models in STEM. International Journal of STEM Education, 8(1), 59. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-021-00315-x
Haera, M., Janna, N. N., Qurrata’ayun, T., Fauzi, W., & Parhan, M. (2025). Implementasi Pendidikan Islam Dalam Kurikulum Merdeka. J-KIP (Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Pendidikan), 6(2), 323–338. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.25157/j-kip.v6i2.17293
Hidayati, A., Saefurrijal, A., Mirza, I., & Ardyanti, Y. (2024). Dimensi Etika dalam Pendidikan Berbasis Al-Qur’an: Pengembangan Karakter dan Pembentukan Moral dalam Mengatasi Perundungan di Kalangan Pelajar Muslim. An-Nida: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 13(1), 29–43. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30999/an-nida.v13i1.3436
Irfan, M. A., & Usman, F. (2023). Character education management with whole school development approach. Journal of Social Science and Economics, 2(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.37812/josse.v2i1.853
Islamic, G., Ishaq, M., & Dayati, U. (2024). Character education through philosophical values in traditional Islamic boarding schools. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 45(1), 31–42.
Latipah, E., Nurwita, I., & Fatimah, D. (2025). Shaping Noble Character: The Impact of Islamic Religious Education on Student Morals at Junior High School. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(1), 1065–1073.
Lo Cricchio, M. G., García-Poole, C., te Brinke, L. W., Bianchi, D., & Menesini, E. (2021). Moral disengagement and cyberbullying involvement: A systematic review. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 18(2), 271–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2020.1782186
Matthew B, M., & A Michael, H. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Sage Pub. https://idr.uin-antasari.ac.id/id/eprint/478
Mohamed, N. (2014). Islamic education, eco-ethics and community. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 33(3), 315–328. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11217-013-9387-y
Mujahid, I. (2021). Islamic orthodoxy-based character education: creating moderate Muslim in a modern pesantren in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 11(2), 185–212. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.185-212
Mukhlis, M. (2024). Signifikansi dan kontribusi guru pendidikan agama Islam dalam pembentukan karakter siswa di lingkungan sekolah. Integrated Education Journal, 1(1), 22–42.
Mukhlis, M., Rasyidi, A., Husna, H., Nabriz, A., & Akbar, A. F. (2024). Tujuan pendidikan Islam: Dunia, akhirat dan pembentukan karakter Muslim dalam membentuk individu yang berakhlak dan berkontribusi positif. AL GHAZALI: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pemikiran Islam, 1–20.
Naufal, M. N. S., Rahmat, M., Hermawan, W., & Surahman, C. (2024). Meningkatkan Akhlak Mulia Siswa melalui Ekstrakurikuler Remaja Masjid Berbasis Kecerdasan Beragama. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam Al-Thariqah, 9(2), 337–363.
Nisa’, Rofiatun. (2019). Internalisasi Pendidikan Karakter dalam Gerakan Literasi Berbasis Kearifan Lokal. Cendekia, 11(1), 11-18. https://doi.org/10.37850/cendekia.v11i1.89
Osman, Y. (2024). Understanding how to develop an effective role-modelling character education programme in Saudi Arabia. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 1–16. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2024.2330363
Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. Sage publications. https://books.google.com/books?hl=id&lr=&id=ovAkBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Patton,+M.+Q.+(2014).+Qualitative+research+%26+evaluation+methods:+Integrating+theory+and+practice.+Sage+publications.&ots=ZS0-7vyAC3&sig=2ZNyVfcfj7DCaCUS46JFc15t_h8
Peterson, A. (2020). Character education, the individual and the political. Journal of Moral Education, 49(2), 143–157. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2019.1653270
Rifky, S., Putra, J. M., Ahmad, A. T., Widayanthi, D. G. C., Abdullah, G., Sunardi, S., & Syathroh, I. L. (2024). Pendidikan yang Menginspirasi: Mengasah Potensi Individu. Yayasan Literasi Sains Indonesia
Riwanda, A., Abdurrohim, Widiyati, E., & Pranajaya, S. A. (2025). Science and religion integration in Indonesian Islamic senior high schools: analyzing teachers’ pedagogical practices. Science & Education, 1–21. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-025-00648-x
Sahnan, A. (2018). Konsep akhlak dalam Islam dan kontribusinya terhadap konseptualisasi pendidikan dasar Islam. AR-RIAYAH: Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar, 2(2), 99–112.
Sugiyono, D. (2013). Metode penelitian pendidikan pendekatan kuantitatif, kualitatif dan R&D. https://digilib.unigres.ac.id/index.php?p=show_detail&id=43
Tal, M., Lavi, R., Reiss, S., & Dori, Y. J. (2024). Gender perspectives on role models: Insights from STEM students and professionals. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 33(5), 699–717. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-024-10114-y
Thornberg, R., Wänström, L., Gini, G., Varjas, K., Meyers, J., Elmelid, R., Johansson, A., & Mellander, E. (2021). Collective moral disengagement and its associations with bullying perpetration and victimization in students. Educational Psychology, 41(8), 952–966. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2020.1843005
Wada, F. H., Puspitasari, I., & Harini, R. (2025). Buku Referensi Keperawatan Anak: Pendekatan Holistik dan Berbasis Keluarga. PT. Sonpedia Publishing Indonesia.
Wahyuni, W., Jannah, S. R., & Fadillah, K. (2022). The Role of Teacher Islamic Education in Forming Students’ Moral at State Junior High School 3 Baradatu. Bulletin of Pedagogical Research, 2(2), 158–169.
Wang, C. (2023). Resurgence of Confucian education in contemporary China: Parental involvement, moral anxiety, and the pedagogy of memorisation. Journal of Moral Education, 52(3), 325–342. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2022.2066639
Wang, X., Wong, Y. D., & Yuen, K. F. (2021). Rise of ‘Lonely’ Consumers in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Synthesised Review on Psychological, Commercial and Social Implications. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2), 404. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020404
Wood, D. (2007). Teachers’ learning communities: Catalyst for change or a new infrastructure for the status quo? Teachers College Record, 109(3), 699–739. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810710900308
Zhao, Y., Zhao, M., & Shi, F. (2024). RETRACTED ARTICLE: Integrating Moral Education and Educational Information Technology: A Strategic Approach to Enhance Rural Teacher Training in Universities. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15(3), 15053–15093. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01693-z
.png){kind=logo}
