Islamic Research Articles

Religious Cooperation in Plural Ghana: Challenges and Ways for Improvement

There is a global call for religious cooperation and tolerance, and it is a non-negotiable necessity for Ghana, through a collective responsibility. This study thus investigated the perspectives of Ghanaians on the religious situation in Ghana. It looked at whether or not Ghana is a “one religion” State, by exploring the existence of several religions in Ghana. The global advocacy for religious cooperation motivated this study to explore some challenges hindering religious cooperation in Ghana, and ways for improvement. Using a mixed methodology of quantitative and qualitative designs, the study sampled 225 individuals ethically from the Faculty of Social Sciences in KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires and interviews. The findings revealed that Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion are the three main religions amongst others in Ghana. A majority of 179 respondents indicated that Ghana has plural religions and is not a “one religion” State, hence, a non-negotiable advocacy for religious cooperation. The majority of these advocates are youth within the age brackets of 15-25 years, followed by adults within 36-45 years. Despite challenges hindering religious cooperation in Ghana such as religious, social, cultural and political barriers, the practice of respect, tolerance and value toward one another and interfaith relations, could guarantee some improvement. Therefore, whether Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists or the Other, one has to be and behave religiously inclusive, tolerant, and humble toward the other. Whether in speech or actions, one should give a listening ear to the other. This paper is relevant for peace and interfaith studies. Keywords: Plural Ghana; Religious Cooperation; the Other; Religious Inclusivism; Tolerance

FINDING MEANING AND THE FUTURE: DIVING INTO THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION

Islamic education is not just about the transfer of knowledge, but much more than that. It is about integrating the fundamental concepts of Islam, such as tawhid, treatise, morals, and science in harmony with religious values. The goal is not just to produce knowledgeable Muslims, but to form individuals with noble character based on Islamic values. This research explores the nature of Islamic education and its goals. Using qualitative methods and literature study, this research collects data from various sources such as books, news, and journals. These data are then analyzed to produce in-depth conclusions. The results show that Islamic education not only aims to provide knowledge about Islamic teachings, but also to form Muslim individuals who are role models in daily life. By understanding the nature and purpose of Islamic education, it is hoped that Muslim communities can produce generations that contribute positively to the development of the world and the hereafter in accordance with Islamic teachings.

Self-reported sexual coercion among in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana

BackgroundSexual coercion is one of the major public health concerns globally. This is even more worrying among young people with disabilities (YPWDs). This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with sexual coercion among in-school young people with disabilities in Ghana.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study design, pre-tested questionnaires were used to collect data from 979 YPWDs in 15 special schools for the visually and hearing impaired in Ghana. Sexual coercion was the outcome variable. Both descriptive (frequencies and percentages) and inferential analysis (binary logistic regression) were conducted.ResultsAbout 68% reported that they had been sexually coerced at some point in their lifetime. This was higher among males (69.9%) compared to females (66.8%). Those aged 15–19 (72.19%) had the highest prevalence compared to those aged 20–24 (61.74%). YPWDs in Junior High School [JHS] [aOR = 1.722; CI = 1.227,2.417], and those in the coastal zone [aOR = 1.616; CI = 1.068,2.443] had higher odds of being coerced. However, those belonging to the Islamic religion [aOR = 0.266; CI = 0.0764,0.928] and the visually impaired [aOR = 0.477; CI = 0.318,0.716] had lower odds of being coerced compared to those with no religion, and the hearing impaired, respectively.ConclusionThere is a relatively high prevalence of sexual coercion among in- school YPWDs in Ghana. This is significantly associated with level of education, ecological zone, religion, and the type of disability. This calls for a concerted effort by policy makers such as the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Federation of the Disabled, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to intensify sex education and put in pragmatic steps to halt this serious public health issue.

Reading Arabic in Sumatra

ABSTRACT The article explores the involvement of bilingual texts comprising a source and its interlinear translation in Islamic educational practices in 19th- and 20th-century Sumatra. Such texts occur among the so-called kitab kuning, materials dealing primarily with the principles of Islamic faith, jurisprudence, and ethics that have been traditionally used for teaching in Indonesia’s Islamic schools. Written in classical Arabic, these texts are sometimes provided with translations to Malay or other languages between the lines. The article addresses two cases demonstrating occurrence of this practice in manuscripts containing Islamic doctrinal texts that were often used for teaching beginners: an anonymous versified ‘aqīdah originating from late 19th-century Aceh and a copy of Umm al-barāhīn by al-Sanūsī (d.1490), from Palembang of around the same period. The manuscripts under discussion appear to demonstrate different types of interlinear translation from Arabic to Malay, i.e. phrase-by-phrase and word-by-word. The article argues that both types combine literality with interpretation, which allows the assumption that interlinear translation was used as a tool for teaching both the Arabic language and the basics of Islamic doctrine.

Science learning STEM-R approach: A study of students' reflective and critical thinking

This study aimed to i) analyse learning problems in science at boarding schools for junior high school students and ii) determine the effectiveness of science learning in the context of Islamic teachings using the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, -religion (STEM-R) approach to improve reflective and critical thinking skills. The research method applied in this study was a sequential exploratory mixed method. The research design consisted of five stages: i) qualitative data gathering, ii) qualitative data analysis, iii) quantitative data gathering, iv) quantitative data analysis, and v) data interpretation. The subjects of this study were 192 students from boarding schools and were divided into 6 groups. The research results obtained were the school, parents, science teachers and religion teachers’ vision and mission causing students to like or dislike science. An excellent teacher is viewed by students as someone who can make learning enjoyable, exhibit creativity in presenting educational material, possess the ability to motivate, link science and religion, engage in investigative activities, infuse humour, establish connections between science and everyday life, and communicate concepts effectively. Moreover, distinctions in reflective thinking and critical thinking abilities were observed between the experimental group and the control group. Learning that connects science and Islamic religion and examines STEM-R aspects is able to develop students' thinking skills.

Diffusion, Polyphony, and Diversity

This forum explicates Hong Kong's complex religious and ritual landscape and the ways in which it influences social movements and identity making, in response to large forces of religion and protest around the world today, including in Ukraine and places in Asia such as Iran and Myanmar. Scholars have noted how various forms of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and popular Chinese religions have been diffused into the secular spaces of Hong Kong's governing state structures, formal and informal economies, and ad hoc protest organizations in civil society. Recent work has also emphasized the ways that race, ethnicity, and gender have been shaped not only by institutions with religious ties but also by theological and cosmological narratives that circulate through the public sphere. Religiosity in the Hong Kong protests might also be conceived as polyphonic, layering over familial practices with structures that have colonial baggage and postcolonial aspirations. Religion, in such senses, tends to be unbound by secular attempts to fence it into private spheres; it might be seen as forging a new civil society and civil identity through recent protests and shaping new theoretical frameworks.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE ALAWITES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN THE ISLAMIC EAST - NISHAPUR AS AN EXAMPLE

The Arab Islamic state expanded its geographical area, and the Muslim Arabs rushed to carry out many conquests, including their orientation towards the countries of the Islamic East. It becomes clear to us that the Alawite delegations to Nishapur go back to the beginning of the Islamic conquests of Persia in the Rashidun era, in order to establish the rule of the Arab Islamic state and spread the Islamic religion and the Arabic language. Because of the policy of the Umayyads and Abbasids towards the Alawites, which was known as persecution, injustice, abuse, and killing, the movement and settlement of the Alawites to the Islamic East increased, including the city of Nishapur, where they settled. Their delegations to this country had a great and important impact that led to the formation of a base that created an intellectual and cultural impact for them in Nishapur. This research dealt with the biographies of some of the Alawites who came to the Islamic East in order to reveal the important aspect of their intellectual, scientific and social life, through their role in spreading Islamic sciences and knowledge. In that country, which contributed to the development of Arab-Islamic civilization.

Strategi Lembaga Pengembangan Pengkajian Al Islam dan Kemuhammadiyahan (LPPAIK) dalam mengintegrasikan ilmu terhadap Nilai-nilai Islam

The integration of Islamic knowledge is a process and programmatic process that comes in the form of Islamic principles and comes out, namely humans with an Islamic personality, Islamic knowledge and Islamic morals. The separation of Islam influences people's behavior towards the development of science. The Al Islam Kemuhammadiyahan Institute (LPPAIK) plays a central role in bridging the gap between general knowledge and Islamic teachings. LPPAIK aligns general knowledge or science with Islamic values ​​and views its main mission as the development of individuals who are able to navigate the complexities of the modern world while adhering to Islamic principles. This research aims to identify institutional policies in implementing Islamic and Muhammadiyah values, analyze the process of implementing Islamic values ​​in learning, assess the effectiveness of policies for internalizing Islamic values, determine human resources and supporting facilities, analyze collaboration with external institutions at Muhammadiyah University Prof. Dr. Hamka. This research is a field study with a qualitative approach, by examining field data sources and documentary research from various scientific journals, and using direct observation, interviews and documentation methods. The informants for this research are leaders/staff/educators or people associated with the Muhammadiyah University Prof. Dr. Hamka. By finding out to what extent these values ​​are implemented, the final aim of this research is to serve as a starting point for universities, especially in reforming their education curriculum into a curriculum that internalizes these values ​​in all learning in courses or other activities.

Implementation of the Concept of Progressive Islamic Education in Muhammadiyah and Its Challenges in the Age of Social Media

This research aims to explore the implementation of the concept of Progressive Islam in Islamic education within the Muhammadiyah, with a focus on the utilization of social media and information technology. The research method involves literature review, a survey of 300 students at Muhammadiyah University Sukabumi in West Java, including interviews with lecturers and Muhammadiyah figures. The results indicate that the concept of Progressive Islam has widely permeated among students and the community, especially through social media and the internet, and has made a positive contribution to strengthening religious identity and understanding of Islamic teachings. This article argues that an open approach to technology is crucial in expanding access to Islamic education, as well as its implications in shaping a generation that is more adaptive and responsive to the developments of the times. This research contributes to providing a deeper understanding of the implementation of the concept of Progressive Islam in Islamic education in the digital era, and highlights the important role of social media and information technology in strengthening religious identity and progressive values in society.

Islamic Education Policy in the Digital Age: Prospects and Difficulties

The purpose of this study was to find out which public universities offer Islamic religious education. This essay takes a qualitative approach to its analysis. Data were gathered using research techniques from libraries. The study's findings suggest that the following subjects are covered in Islamic Religious Education in Public Universities: The topics covered include Humans and Religion, Islamic Religion, Islamic Religion's Sources, Islamic Teachings' Basic Framework, Aqidah, Sharia, Worship, and Mu'amalah, Morals, Piety, Knowledge in Islam, and Islamic Science Discipline. Islamic religious education is taught as a general foundations course in public universities, and it plays a vital role in the process of imparting knowledge as well as changing students' attitudes and behaviors

Kontribusi Apersepsi dalam Meningkatkan Pemahaman Pada Mata Pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam

Islamic religious education has an important role in growing and increasing faith, noble character and practicing the teachings of the Islamic religion. The role of teachers is also very large in achieving success in the teaching and learning process. Apperception needs to be done to find out students' knowledge, motivate students by presenting interesting material and encourage students to know various new things. Apperception carried out by the teacher can direct students' knowledge towards the learning objectives to be achieved. Reviewing the lessons that have been learned, conveying inspirational stories, providing motivation given to students will greatly influence the level of thinking and students' understanding of the lesson material provided by the teacher. The results of the research conducted by the author can be seen that: 1). Teachers foster students' enthusiasm for learning through several methods such as telling inspirational stories, advice, role models, fun stories, ice breaking and others. The forms of apperception that are applied are checking students' understanding of the subject matter in previous material, relating a phenomenon to the material to be studied, relating the subject matter presented to the context of everyday life so that students can understand the explanation or description of what they have learned. studied. From this understanding, students will realize and try to practice the values ​​of Islamic teachings so that their thinking, acting and behaving are always imbued with Islamic values ​​which will ultimately form a person who is devout and has good moral character.

Upaya Mengatasi Bullying melalui Edukasi Pendidikan Karakter

Bullying is a form of child abuse that is perpetrated by peers against someone (child) who is "lower" or weaker in order to gain certain benefits or satisfaction. The culture of bullying (violence) in the name of seniority still continues among students in elementary schools, bullying usually occurs repeatedly, some are even carried out in a planned manner. The method used in this research is qualitative. Results of the activity In the implementation of community service The location of community service was carried out at SDN 7 Tanjung Raya, on August 5 2023. The duration of this activity was carried out for 4 hours, namely at 08.00 - 11.00 WIB. what has been explained in this socialization, after carrying out this socialization the author hopes that students can have good insight to be able to respond to association in this millennial era which is in accordance with the view of the Islamic religion. This socialization also describes the negative impact of bullying and helps students to be able to fortify themselves from bullying behavior and from the ease of obtaining negative information. This is of course something that must be done by educational institutions and parents to contribute in looking after students so that they can become children with good character who can later be useful for the community/country.

Perspektif Islam Tentang Strategi Pembelajaran

National education faces challenges related to quality, efficiency and management. Several important problems in the education system include: (1) student moral behavior, (2) distribution of learning, (3) less efficient internal systems, (4) poor organization, (5) education management that is not in line with national development, and (6) lack of professionalism in resources. One effort to overcome this problem is to improve learning strategies, which are very important for the success of the learning process. One of the aspects studied in this journal is the teaching of the Islamic religion from Abuddin Nata's perspective. The results of the literature search show that an Islamic-based learning approach can shape student behavior. One effective strategy is to use an approach that is appropriate to the learning objectives and emphasizes skills and learning processes such as the Islamic education model which integrates skills, problem solving and memory formation.

Spiritual Peace of the Students with Delinquent Behavior at School Through the Approach of Islam Religion

This research aims to observe how the process of inner peace that owned by the students with behavior of misbehavior in school through religious approach. The method used is an intrinsic case study that aims to understand the intrinsic characteristics of a particular case as well. Participants in this research are five students in one of Junior High School in Jakarta. The researcher conduct interview in depth and provide mentoring through religious approach, namely mentoring and coaching to reading and studying the Qur'an (Juz 30) for these students who are guided by teachers who can the ability to teach reading the Qur'an, followed by related meanings contained in the letter of Qur'an that are read (worship, morals, and values of life) and sharing. The result is that students do not have a sense of comfort in learning and performing actions that interfere with the learning atmosphere. Through religious approach (mentoring and guidance), this meeting was held, where each individual sharing from heart to heart, students look more open in expressing personal issues and students with behavior Delinquent need attention and handling is different. Through this religious approach, the student feeling comfortable valued and heard what perceived. They are feeling closer to God and have the awareness to change for the better; the existence of the school's communication with parents intensively to figure out the conditions of the students at school; the availability of school facilities that can make students comfortable in learning and positive activity appropriate talent and their interest.

Analisis Dinamika Tren Otoritas Keagamaan: Studi Kasus di Twitter Indonesia Tahun 2009-2019

Religious authority refers to individuals vested with governance over religious matters, such as kiai, ulama, and ustaz within the context of Islamic faith. In the age of social media, where freedom of expression prevails, anyone can initiate discussions on various topics, including religion. However, this freedom often raises doubts about truthfulness or validity of opinions concerning religious topics because not all information originates from credible religious authorities. This study analyzes trend dynamics of religious authority in discussions about Islam on Twitter between 2009 and 2019, using Katz centrality and Laplacian centrality. According to both methods, the findings indicate that dominance in religious conversations tends not to be held by religious authorities, with the average percentage of religious authority appearances only 14.24% in Katz centrality and 12.42% in Laplacian centrality. Results of this study are intended to serve as reference for government policy-making related to religious moderation education to public.

Shariah Compliance in Malay Wedding Ceremony Expenditure

Traditional Malay weddings are fast becoming an expensive affair these days, mainly due to escalation in its overall expenditure, and compounded by some additional rituals, overpriced wedding trappings and services by event managers. While the trend to spend lavishly during weddings is on the rise, the Malay community seems to ignore concerns related with wastefulness which is against Islamic values. This article examines wedding expenditures in Islam and attempts to justify its excessiveness vis-à-vis shariah compliance through the qualitative research method. The data have been collected by interviewing the wedding planners and shariah experts. Data from interviews are analysed by using the thematic content analysis method. These interviews revealed that the Malay community tends to justify high expenditure in four different categories of expenditures. Four categories are examined from the shariah perspective with regard to shariah ideas and validation from shariah experts. Theoretically, Islam acknowledges the Muslims’ right to own and manage their property according to their abilities. The Islamic concept of spending focuses on halal resources, i.e., wholesome, good, and beneficial things, which bring about spiritual rewards. Wedding expenditure is considered shariah-compliant so long as it adheres to the basic concept of not glamourising events and resources not wasted on rituals considered unIslamic. Extra expenditure such as beauty treatment, beautification, dais and photography requirement must comply with relevant shariah edicts. As for the moral aspect of the wedding, the study concludes that the ceremony is only considered shariah-compliant if it conforms to the rules of modesty, gender segregation, awrah, wearing of jewellery, and entertainment. Further, traditional wedding dances should not contain inappropriate elements, and songs sung on the occasion should not contain inappropriate and crude language.

Corporate governance through the lens of Islam: A comparative review and analysis

Corporate governance is a set of relationship between a company’s boards, its shareholders, and other stakeholders as well as provides the structure and mechanism through which the objectives of the company are set and the means for attaining those objectives and monitoring performance are determined. The concept of corporate governance (CG) has gained critical interest and has become a debating point since the mid-1980s. It became an aspect of concern when the corporate world became aware of the importance of protecting the rights of all stakeholders. This paper critically reviews the existing literature on Islamic Corporate Governance (ICG), presents a basic understanding of Islamic Corporate Governance (ICG) and compares the Islamic concept of Corporate Governance to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development principles. The study reveals that the Islamic system of governance encourages and promotes the ethical norms of transparency and honesty in every business transaction.

Kalam science and its urgency in the context of religious moderation (Islam Wasathiyah)

The varying perspectives held by Indonesian society often lead to conflicts between religious groups, particularly when one group believes that safety and truth are exclusive to its membership. It is possible to address this issue by deeply studying Islam and adopting a moderation and tolerance mindset. The Islamic concept of moderation is known as rahmatan lil alamin. Islam's spiritual underpinnings ensure global peace, harmony, and fraternity among all peoples. A shallow understanding of religion causes people to act towards extremes, believing that they are right and others are wrong. The results of this research show that kalam science can be a means of contributing to a person's actions and behaviour in understanding and realising the sense of diversity that is khilafiah, and give birth to a moderate attitude so that Kalam Science can present a context and paradigm for religious moderation, and not be quick to place blame on others. This is because a person with a deeper understanding of religion (theology) is more knowledgeable of societal inequalities in both the religious and social domains.

Peran Pendidikan Agama Islam dalam Pembentukan Kesadaran Ekologis: Studi Integrasi Konsep Green Islam

In today's modern era, public awareness about the importance of ecology has decreased, this is proven by the decreasing level of public sensitivity in carrying out reforestation such as planting trees in the surrounding environment, therefore it is necessary to instill ecological awareness in students as the nation's youth so that they can care for the earth's ecosystem perfectly. This research aims to explore the role of Islamic religious education in forming ecological awareness through the integration of the green islam concept. Using a qualitative approach and a case study approach, this research was conducted in several madrasas and Islamic schools in Bondowoso which have implemented environmental-based education programs such as those implemented at SDN Jambesari 2 and MTs An-Nuqoyah Jambesari. Data was collected through observation, interviews and documentation. The research results show that the integration of ecological values ​​with Islamic teachings in the religious education curriculum can significantly increase ecological awareness among students. Students demonstrate a better understanding of their responsibilities towards the environment, which is reflected in behavioral changes such as saving energy and reducing plastic use. This research reveals that Islamic religious education that adopts the green islam concept can be an effective tool for forming a generation that cares more about the environment. Appropriate policy support and adequate resources are urgently needed to overcome these challenges and expand the adoption of Islamic-based environmental education programs. These findings provide important insights for the development of more inclusive and sustainable education policies.

GERAKAN PEDULI LINGKUNGAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF HUMAN SECURITY DAN KONSEPSI ISLAM DI KELURAHAN TIRTA SIAK KOTA PEKANBARU

One of the causes of environmental damage is the presence of piles of rubbish which can cause flooding and ultimately disrupt human survival. In Pekanbaru City, there are areas that have quite worrying waste problems, namely RT 03, RW 05, Tirta Siak Village, Payung Sekaki District, Pekanbaru City. Almost every day rubbish can be seen scattered in residential areas. This describes the lack of public awareness and concern regarding the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness. The aim of this community service activity is firstly to provide knowledge of non-traditional threats, especially human security issue to residents of RT 03 RW 05, Tirta Siak Village, Payung Sekaki District, Pekanbaru City. Second, increase citizens' insight into Islamic conceptions of environmental cleanliness, and third, grow and increase citizens' awareness and concern in solving waste problems. Service activities start from the observation stage, carrying out counseling, recruiting volunteers, and monitoring. The result of this service activity is that residents' knowledge about the threat of environmental damage and good waste management techniques has increased. The increase in knowledge can be seen in the questionnaire results which reached 83%. Apart from that, residents' awareness and concern for environmental cleanliness is also starting to be seen from implementing the 4R concept in daily life and the formation of environmental care movement by carrying out routine mutual cooperation actions and monitoring the environment.