Theo-Anthropocentric Religious Moderation Education in an Indonesian Islamic Boarding School
Keywords:
theo-anthropocentrism; religious moderation; Islamic boarding school; moral education; tazkiyatun nafs.
Abstract
This study examines the theo-anthropocentric approach as a model of religious moderation education at Askaril Ikhlas Blower Islamic Boarding School, Aceh, Indonesia. The study is grounded in the need to strengthen students’ moral character, religious commitment, tolerance, and social responsibility amid moral decline, social conflict, and the challenges of globalization and digital transformation. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observation, and documentation involving foundation administrators, boarding school leaders, religious teachers, dormitory supervisors, and students. The findings reveal that religious moderation is internalized through learning activities, worship habituation, student coaching, exemplary behavior, social interaction, and daily boarding school culture. The theo-anthropocentric approach is reflected in three main dimensions: divine awareness, humanitarian values, and environmental responsibility. Divine values are developed through Qur’anic learning, prayer discipline, dhikr, and religious guidance; humanitarian values are strengthened through tolerance, cooperation, compassion, and social care; while environmental responsibility is practiced through cleanliness, water conservation, and care for nature. The study also identifies tazkiyatun nafs through takhalli, tahalli, and tajalli as a spiritual strategy for transforming religious moderation from a cognitive concept into moral and social practice. This study contributes a holistic framework for religious moderation education that integrates faith, humanity, social ethics, and ecological awareness within Islamic boarding school life.
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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/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.185-212
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Qoumas, Y. C., Hussain, R., & Rahim, R. (2024). The dissemination of religious moderation through the policy of the Indonesian ministry of religious affairs. Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies, 12(1), 147–176. http://dx.doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v12i1.27552
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Subchi, I., Zulkifli, Z., Latifa, R., & Sa’diyah, S. (2022). Religious Moderation in Indonesian Muslims. In Religions (Vol. 13, Issue 5). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13050451
Sullivan-Bolyai, S. L., & Bova, C. A. (2021). Qualitative description: A “how-to” guide.
Thoriquttyas, T., & Hanun, F. (2020). Amplifying the Religious Moderation from Pesantren: A Sketch of Pesantren’s Experience in Kediri, East Java. Analisa: Journal of Social Science and Religion, 5(2), 221–234.
Thoyib, M. E., Degaf, A., Fatah, A. A., & Huda, M. (2024). Religious tolerance among Indonesian Islamic university students: The pesantren connection. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 19(2), 239–250.
Villamin, P., Lopez, V., Thapa, D. K., & Cleary, M. (2025). A Worked Example of Qualitative Descriptive Design: A Step-by-Step Guide for Novice and Early Career Researchers. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(8), 5181–5195. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16481
Walker, D. I. (2024). Sociological contributions to moral education. Journal of Moral Education, 53(4), 609–616. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2024.2386074
Wildan, M., & Muttaqin, A. (2022). Mainstreaming moderation in preventing/countering violent extremism (p/cve) in pesantrens in central java. QIJIS (Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies), 10(1), 37–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v10i1.8102
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Zaluchu, S. E., Widodo, P., & Kriswanto, A. (2025). Conceptual reconstruction of religious moderation in the Indonesian context based on previous research: Bibliometric analysis. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101552
Ayton, D. (2023). Qualitative descriptive research. Qualitative Research–a Practical Guide for Health and Social Care Researchers and Practitioners. https://oercollective.caul.edu.au/qualitative-research/chapter/5/
Basri, H., Suhartini, A., Nursobah, A., & Ruswandi, U. (2022). Applying higher order thinking skill (HOTS) to strengthen students’ religious moderation at Madrasah Aliyah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2), 207–220.
Burga, M. A., & Damopolii, M. (2022). Reinforcing Religious Moderation through Local Culture-Based Pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2 SE-Articles), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v8i2.19879
Busetto, L., Wick, W., & Gumbinger, C. (2020). How to use and assess qualitative research methods. Neurological Research and Practice, 2(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00059-z
Danumiharja, M. (2023). Integrating Religious Character and Science Education at SMK KHAS Kempek: A Qualitative Study on Holistic Educational Approaches in Indonesia. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 12(1 SE-Articles), 117–123. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2023.121.117-123
Hall, Steven, & Liebenberg, Linda. (2024). Qualitative Description as an Introductory Method to Qualitative Research for Master’s-Level Students and Research Trainees. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 23, 16094069241242264. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241242264
Hardy, Sam A, & Taylor, Emily M. (2024). The past, present, and future of research on religious and spiritual development in adolescence, young adulthood, and beyond. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 46(2), 109–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/00846724241235172
Jamieson, I., Cristofoletti, E. C., Oanda, I. O., & Saarinen, T. (2023). Contextualizing Student Affairs and Services in Global Higher Education. New Directions for Student Services, 2023(183), 11–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20474
Junaedi, M., Nasikhin, Hasanah, S., & Hassan, Z. (2023). Learning Patterns in Influencing Attitudes of Religious Tolerance in Indonesian Universities. In Education Sciences (Vol. 13, Issue 3, p. 285). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13030285
Krettenauer, T. (2022). Development of moral identity: From the age of responsibility to adult maturity. Developmental Review, 65, 101036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2022.101036
Kubro, A. D. J., & Ali, M. (2021). The understanding of Islamic Moderation (wasatiyyah al-Islam) and the hadiths on inter-religious relations in the Javanese pesantrens. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 11(2), 377–401. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.351-376
Latifa, R., Fahri, M., Subchi, I., & Mahida, N. F. (2022). The Intention of Becoming Religiously Moderate in Indonesian Muslims: Do Knowledge and Attitude Interfere? In Religions (Vol. 13, Issue 6, p. 540). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13060540
Lukman. (2024). Strengthening Islamic Character through Four Integrated Mechanisms in Primary Teacher Education: A Qualitative Case Study of PGSD Students at UNM Campus V. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 13(2 SE-Articles), 193–206. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2024.132.193-206
M. Jaedi, Imam Hambali, Muslih Hidayat, Sofwan, Zaki Faddad Syarif Zain, & Eko Purnomo. (2025). Implementation of Islamic Education Values Based on Prophetic Communication in Forming Akhlakul Karimah in Madrasah Tsanawiyah. TADRIS: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 19(2 SE-Articles), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.19105/tjpi.v19i2.13583
Mappiasse, S., & Hayadin, H. (2022). STUDENTS’RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE: Comparing Muslim Students at Public Schools and Pesantren. Journal of Indonesian Islam, 16(2), 326–351. https://jiis.uinsa.ac.id/index.php/JIIs/article/view/2400
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Motulsky, S. L. (2021). Is member checking the gold standard of quality in qualitative research? In Qualitative Psychology (Vol. 8, Issue 3, pp. 389–406). Educational Publishing Foundation. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000215
Muchtar, A., Ari, A. W., Firdaus, A., Faddad, Z., & Purnomo, E. P. (2024). The Intercultural Accomodation Between Ethnic Arabics, Chines, and Malays in Palembang. Jurnal Sosiologi Agama, 18(1), 115–132. https://doi.org/10.14421/jsa.2024.181-08
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/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.185-212
Nasir, M., & Rijal, M. K. (2021). Keeping the middle path: mainstreaming religious moderation through Islamic higher education institutions in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 11(2), 213–241. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.213-241
Prasetyo, G. (2025). From Policy to Pedagogy: Religious Moderation as a Counter-Radicalization Strategy in Islamic Education: A Systematic Literature Review. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 14(2 SE-Articles), 233–251. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2025.142.233-251
Pratama, I. P., Isro, A., Nurusshomad, N., Yana, V., & Purnomo, E. (2025). INTERNALISASI AKHLAKUL KARIMAH MELALUI KURIKULUM PENDIDIKAN ISLAM DI ERA DIGITAL. Raudhah Proud To Be Professionals : Jurnal Tarbiyah Islamiyah, 9(3 SE-Articles), 949–964. https://doi.org/10.48094/raudhah.v9i3.791
Purnomo, E., Annur, S., Suryana, E., & Marlina, L. (2026). Inquiry-Oriented Learning in Classical Islamic Educational Thought: A Conceptual Model of Three Learning Orientations. Fikroh: Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Pendidikan Islam, 19(1 SE-Articles), 278–293. https://doi.org/10.37812/fikroh.v19i1.2352
Qoumas, Y. C., Hussain, R., & Rahim, R. (2024). The dissemination of religious moderation through the policy of the Indonesian ministry of religious affairs. Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies, 12(1), 147–176. http://dx.doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v12i1.27552
Stahl, N. A., & King, J. R. (2020). Expanding Approaches for Research: Understanding and Using Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research. Journal of Developmental Education, 44(1), 26–28. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45381095
Subchi, I., Zulkifli, Z., Latifa, R., & Sa’diyah, S. (2022). Religious Moderation in Indonesian Muslims. In Religions (Vol. 13, Issue 5). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13050451
Sullivan-Bolyai, S. L., & Bova, C. A. (2021). Qualitative description: A “how-to” guide.
Thoriquttyas, T., & Hanun, F. (2020). Amplifying the Religious Moderation from Pesantren: A Sketch of Pesantren’s Experience in Kediri, East Java. Analisa: Journal of Social Science and Religion, 5(2), 221–234.
Thoyib, M. E., Degaf, A., Fatah, A. A., & Huda, M. (2024). Religious tolerance among Indonesian Islamic university students: The pesantren connection. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 19(2), 239–250.
Villamin, P., Lopez, V., Thapa, D. K., & Cleary, M. (2025). A Worked Example of Qualitative Descriptive Design: A Step-by-Step Guide for Novice and Early Career Researchers. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(8), 5181–5195. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16481
Walker, D. I. (2024). Sociological contributions to moral education. Journal of Moral Education, 53(4), 609–616. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2024.2386074
Wildan, M., & Muttaqin, A. (2022). Mainstreaming moderation in preventing/countering violent extremism (p/cve) in pesantrens in central java. QIJIS (Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies), 10(1), 37–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v10i1.8102
Xu, J. (2022). When Marriage Falls: How Does Parental Divorce Affect Teenagers Interpersonal Development? BT - Proceedings of the 2022 8th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (ICHSSR 2022). 2132–2137. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220504.386
Zaluchu, S. E., Widodo, P., & Kriswanto, A. (2025). Conceptual reconstruction of religious moderation in the Indonesian context based on previous research: Bibliometric analysis. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101552
Published
2026-02-10
How to Cite
Muslih Hidayat, Irja Putra Pratama, Eko Purnomo, Nurul Hidayah, & Hamidah Mohamad. (2026). Theo-Anthropocentric Religious Moderation Education in an Indonesian Islamic Boarding School. GHAITSA : Islamic Education Journal , 7(1), 79-90. https://doi.org/10.62159/ghaitsa.v7i1.2189
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2026 Muslih Hidayat, Irja Putra Pratama, Eko Purnomo, Nurul Hidayah, Hamidah Mohamad
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
