Volume III: Education and Ecological Literacy

Integration Of Khalifah Fi Al-Ardh Values in Islamic Education For Strengthening Ecological Awareness Among Students at MAN 4 Tasikmalaya

  • Ade Abdullah Sidiq UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia

Keywords

Khalifah fi al-Ardh; Islamic education; ecological awareness; environmental ethics; sustainable education; MAN 4 Tasikmalaya.

Abstract

This study examines the integration of the concept of Khalifah fi al-Ardh (vicegerency on earth) within Islamic Education (PAI) as a framework for cultivating ecological awareness among students at MAN 4 Tasikmalaya, West Java. Rooted in the Qurʼanic mandate of stewardship over the natural world, this research investigates how Islamic theological values can be systematically embedded into educational praxis to foster environmentally responsible behaviour among adolescent learners. Employing a qualitative case study methodology, data were gathered through in-depth interviews, classroom observation, and documentary analysis involving teachers, students, and school administrators. The findings reveal that schools which consciously integrate Khalifah fi al-Ardh principles into curriculum design, co-curricular activities, and institutional culture demonstrate measurably stronger ecological awareness among their students. Three interconnected pedagogical mechanisms were identified: (1) the theological grounding of environmental ethics in Islamic doctrine, (2) the contextualisation of stewardship values through project-based and experiential learning, and (3) the reinforcement of green behaviour through school-wide environmental programmes. The study concludes that an Islamic education paradigm anchored in Khalifah fi al-Ardh theology represents a transformative and culturally resonant approach to ecological education in Muslim-majority societies. These findings carry significant implications for Islamic educational policy, curriculum development, and the broader agenda of sustainable development in Indonesia.

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