Volume I: Eco-Theology, Spirituality, and Environmental Ethics

Malay-Islamic Eco-Theology as a Paradigm of Resilience: Agroecological Praxis at Pesantren Biharul Ulum as a Counter to Environmental Exploitation in Bogor, Indonesia

  • Maslani UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Karman UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Muhammad Muttaqien UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Ratu Suntiah UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Indonesia
  • Nursaid UIN A.M. Sangadji, Ambon Indonesia

Keywords

Agroecology, Cultural Mediation, Decolonial Sustainability, Ecological Resilience, Forest Wisdom, Malay-Islamic Eco-Theology, Pesantren.

Abstract

This study examines Malay-Islamic eco-theology as a paradigm of ecological resilience in response to the challenges of the multipolar era, focusing on Pesantren Biharul Ulum in Bogor, Indonesia. It departs from the crucial problem of escalating ecological crises—deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land degradation—driven by extractive development paradigms that marginalize local knowledge and weaken ethical-environmental frameworks, particularly in regions such as Bogor. Using an interpretivist-constructivist and decolonial approach, this qualitative case study explores how theological values are translated into ecological practices through cultural mediation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, and analyzed using thematic analysis with grounded theory elements. The findings reveal the emergence of eco - theological consciousness grounded in key Islamic concepts such as khalifah (stewardship), amanah (trust), and mizan (balance), operationalized through a pesantren-based agroecological model emphasizing forest wisdom. This model integrates local cultural values with ecological knowledge into sustainable practices, including organic farming, biodiversity-based land management, and community environmental education. The interaction between eco-theological consciousness, cultural mediation, and ecological praxis generates locally grounded ecological resilience. The study contributes a decolonial Islamic eco-theological perspective while highlighting pesantren as strategic sites for ecological transformation and sustainability.

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