Deifying Desire (Hawā) in Qur'an 45:23: Comparative Exegesis for Islamic Character Education in Digital Society
Abstract
This study analyzes how Ibn Kathīr, al-Qurṭubī, Hamka, and M. Quraish Shihab interpret the deification of desire and explores its implications for Islamic character education. Employing qualitative library research and comparative exegesis (tafsīr muqāran), the study examines four commentaries selected for their exegetical authority, historical diversity, interpretive approaches, and relevance to Indonesia. The findings reveal distinct emphases: Ibn Kathīr discusses desire in relation to divine knowledge and guidance; al-Qurṭubī incorporates transmitted reports, linguistic interpretations, and variant readings; Hamka highlights the relationship between desire and reason; and Shihab emphasizes rational control and receptivity to guidance. These insights inform the proposed Qur'anic Moral Self-Regulation framework, integrating theological orientation, moral discipline, social responsibility, and psychological self-regulation. The framework offers a conceptual basis for reflective moral learning and responsible digital conduct in Islamic Religious Education, while its pedagogical effectiveness requires empirical validation. This study contributes to Qur’anic studies and Islamic Religious Education by developing an integrative conceptual framework that bridges classical and contemporary Qur’anic interpretations of desire with moral self-regulation, thereby offering a novel perspective for strengthening character education in the contemporary digital era.
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References
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