IMPLIMENTASI ‘RIADHAH RUHIYYAH’ (LATIHAN KEROHANIAN) DALAM KALANGAN MAHASISWA MUSLIM KE ARAH MEMENUHI SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)

Abstract

The National Education Philosophy forms the basis for the Higher Education Philosophy in Malaysia in adapting the concept of morality with continuous education goals towards the development of the potential of the individual in an integrated manner. The purpose of this is to create individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically balanced based on a belief in God. This aspiration is maintained in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) which among others aims to produce holistic graduates who are ethical, of high morals, and imbued with strong spirituality. This aspect requires university students to strengthen their spirituality and develop good morals and the ability apply their acquired knowledge and theory. Therefore, the implementation of ‘Riadhah Ruhiyyah’ (spirituality training) is viewed as very practical in fulfilling the said requirement. This quantitative study was conducted to examine the implementation of ‘Riadhah Ruhiyyah’ among university students and involved the participation of 111 Muslim university students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The selection of respondents was conducted by purposive sampling with the focus on the criteria that they should be Muslim university students. The probability sampling technique was adapted and all Muslim university students had an equal chance of being chosen as respondents. Findings showed the implementation of ‘Riadhah Ruhiyyah’ among the respondents recording a 2.0811 mean value. This pointed to the likelihood that the items highlighted to measure ‘Riadhah Ruhiyyah’ were seldom practised by the respondents. However, this was not a totally negative indicator since the ‘Riadhah Ruhiyyah’ implementation did exist among university students. There is therefore significance in conducting this study on a more comprehensive scale on all Muslim university students in other Higher Education institutions with the focus on the relation or link between ‘Riadhah Ruhiyyah’ implementation and moral strengthening and practice of university students. This would result in producing holistic university students and fulfil the aspiration of quality education as defined in the aims of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).