Islamic Religious Education: Between The Ideal Concept And The Practical Paradigm
Keywords:
Islamic Religious Education, ideal concept, practical paradigm, character formation, pedagogical innovation
Abstract
Islamic Religious Education (Pendidikan Agama Islam) occupies a central position in shaping the moral, spiritual, and intellectual character of Muslim learners; however, a persistent gap exists between its idealized theological and philosophical conception and the paradigms actually enacted within educational practice. This study examines the tension between the ideal concept of Islamic Religious Education—rooted in holistic character formation, the integration of knowledge and faith, and the cultivation of insan kamil (the perfect human being)—and the practical realities shaped by curricular constraints, examination-oriented pedagogy, and institutional limitations. Employing a qualitative library research approach, this study synthesizes relevant literature on Islamic educational philosophy, pedagogy, and institutional practice. The findings reveal that the gap between ideal and practice stems from curriculum rigidity, insufficient teacher competence, limited pedagogical innovation, and the dominance of cognitive-oriented assessment over affective and psychomotor dimensions of learning. The study recommends an integrative paradigm that reconciles theological idealism with contextual pedagogical responsiveness to strengthen the transformative potential of Islamic Religious Education.
References
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Purwanto, Y., Saepudin, A., & Sofaussamawati, S. (2023). The Development of Reflective Practices for Islamic Religious Education Teachers. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v0i0.24155
Ruiz-Eugenio, L., Valls-Carol, R., Flecha, A., & Aubert, A. (2024). A systematic literature review and case study on the social impact of the other women’s contributions to education and dialogic feminism. Frontiers in Sociology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1477983
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Saada, N., & Magadlah, H. (2020). The meanings and possible implications of critical Islamic religious education. British Journal of Religious Education, 43, 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2020.1785844
Sijamhodžić-Nadarević, D. (2023). Contribution of Islamic Religious Education to Intercultural Values in Pluralistic European Cultures: Insights from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Religions. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14040453
Suparjo, S., & Hidayah, L. N. (2023). Islamic Religious Education in Indonesia: Understanding the Urgency and Paradigm Shift from a Societal Perspective. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v6-i6-08
Syahrin, M., & Widodo, W. (2025). THE TRANSFORMATION OF ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE FACE OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN THE DIGITAL ERA. JURNAL PEDAGOGY. https://doi.org/10.63889/pedagogy.v18i1.246
Tadas, S., & Coyle, D. (2020). Barriers to and Facilitators of Technology in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Self-Management: Systematic Qualitative Grounded Theory Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22. https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.18025
Ulfat, F. (2020). Empirical research: Challenges and impulses for Islamic religious education. British Journal of Religious Education, 42, 415–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2020.1711513
Wahab, A. (2025). The Concept of Religious Moderation in Islamic Education: A Study of the Thought of Contemporary Ulama. ANWARUL. https://doi.org/10.58578/anwarul.v5i4.7284
Wulandari, D., & Mafariech, M. (2025). Implementation of Humanistic Theory Concepts in Islamic Religious Education. SCHOOLAR: Social and Literature Study in Education. https://doi.org/10.32764/schoolar.v4i3.5584
Zahroh, U., Hamami, T., & Bahri, S. (2023). Integrative-Interconnective Model: Implementation in Islamic Religious Education Curriculum Development in Muhammadiyah Schools. International Journal of Social Service and Research. https://doi.org/10.46799/ijssr.v3i2.278
Adnan, M. (2022). Islamic Education and Character Building in The 4.0 Industrial Revolution. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v5i1.1771
’Aini, R. A. N., & Zamroji, M. (2025). Integration of Religious Moderation Values in the Islamic Religious Education Learning. Tarsib: Jurnal Program Studi PGMI. https://doi.org/10.61181/tarsib.v2i2.504
Arifin, S. (2016). Islamic religious education and radicalism in Indonesia: Strategy of de-radicalization through strengthening the living values education. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 6, 93–126. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v6i1.93-126
Bellerose, M., Rodriguez, M., & Vivier, P. (2022). A systematic review of the qualitative literature on barriers to high-quality prenatal and postpartum care among low-income women. Health services research. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.14008
Chumayroh, Cahyadi, A., Pengajaran, P., Pada, Y. E., Pendidikan, P., & Islam, A. (2025). Effective Teaching Approaches in Islamic Religious Education Learning. JOURNAL OF DIGITAL LEARNING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION. https://doi.org/10.56778/jdlde.v3i8.394
Daheri, M. (2022). Religious Moderation, Inclusive, and Global Citizenship as New Directions for Islamic Religious Education in Madrasah. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v5i1.1853
Efendi, B., Susanto, H., Nuraini, Basri, M., & Samsuri, M. (2025). Integrating Islamic Religious Education for SDGs: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Study. Profetika: Jurnal Studi Islam. https://doi.org/10.23917/profetika.v26i02.11522
Hamid, N., & Wahyuni, S. (2024). A Multicultural Islamic Religious Education Curriculum Development. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.38073/jpi.v14i2.1731
Hasra, R., Sah, Moh. A., Mashuri, S., & Ubadah, U. (2025). Avoiding Social Discord via Islamic Religious Education Rooted in Multiculturalism Islamic Religious Education. Maharot : Journal of Islamic Education. https://doi.org/10.28944/maharot.v9i1.2078
Hernawati, S., Hafizh, M., & Arya, M. N. F. (2024). Adjusting the Ideal Islamic Religious Education Curriculum to the Development of AI-Based Technology. Progresiva : Jurnal Pemikiran dan Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.22219/progresiva.v13i01.32931
Komariah, N., & Nihayah, I. (2023). Improving The Personality Character of Students Through Learning Islamic Religious Education. At-tadzkir: Islamic Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.59373/attadzkir.v2i1.15
Lubis, W. A., & Pratami, F. (2026). Toward Holistic Assessment in Adult Islamic Religious Education: Integrating Irfani Epistemology and Andragogy. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v18i1.8950
Mahdiyyah, R., & Jasminto, J. (2025). Implementation Of The Concept Of Religious Moderation In Islamic Religious Education For Students. Urwatul Wutsqo: Jurnal Studi Kependidikan dan Keislaman. https://doi.org/10.54437/urwatulwutsqo.v14i1.2226
Mala, A., & Hunaida, W. L. (2023). Exploring the Role of Religious Moderation in Islamic Education: A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Unifying Potential and Practical Applications. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam (Journal of Islamic Education Studies). https://doi.org/10.15642/jpai.2023.11.2.173-196
Muis, Abd. (2025). Incorporating religious moderation values into the Islamic religious education curriculum in secondary education: A systematic review of goals, experiences, methods, and evaluation. British Journal of Religious Education, 48, 248–262. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2598619
Muthrofin, K., Ikmal, H., & Wahyudi, W. (2025). The Implementation of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) in Shaping the Profile of Rahmatan lil alamin Students in a Madrasah. EDUCATIO : Journal of Education. https://doi.org/10.29138/educatio.v8i2.1182
Parhan, M., Syahidin, S., Somad, M., Abdulah, M., & Nugraha, R. H. (2024). Developing a Contextual Learning Model in Islamic Education to Improve Applicable Knowledge and Foster Knowledge-Based Virtues. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v10i1.35205
Pr, S., Aryati, A., Yenni, T., Putri, S., Yanuarti, E., & Ahmal, A. (2023). Implementation of Humanistic Learning Theory in Islamic Religious Education Learning. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v15i2.2211
Purwanto, Y., Saepudin, A., & Sofaussamawati, S. (2023). The Development of Reflective Practices for Islamic Religious Education Teachers. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v0i0.24155
Ruiz-Eugenio, L., Valls-Carol, R., Flecha, A., & Aubert, A. (2024). A systematic literature review and case study on the social impact of the other women’s contributions to education and dialogic feminism. Frontiers in Sociology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1477983
Saada, N. (2023). Educating for global citizenship in religious education: Islamic perspective. International Journal of Educational Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102894
Saada, N., & Magadlah, H. (2020). The meanings and possible implications of critical Islamic religious education. British Journal of Religious Education, 43, 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2020.1785844
Sijamhodžić-Nadarević, D. (2023). Contribution of Islamic Religious Education to Intercultural Values in Pluralistic European Cultures: Insights from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Religions. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14040453
Suparjo, S., & Hidayah, L. N. (2023). Islamic Religious Education in Indonesia: Understanding the Urgency and Paradigm Shift from a Societal Perspective. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v6-i6-08
Syahrin, M., & Widodo, W. (2025). THE TRANSFORMATION OF ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE FACE OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN THE DIGITAL ERA. JURNAL PEDAGOGY. https://doi.org/10.63889/pedagogy.v18i1.246
Tadas, S., & Coyle, D. (2020). Barriers to and Facilitators of Technology in Cardiac Rehabilitation and Self-Management: Systematic Qualitative Grounded Theory Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22. https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.18025
Ulfat, F. (2020). Empirical research: Challenges and impulses for Islamic religious education. British Journal of Religious Education, 42, 415–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2020.1711513
Wahab, A. (2025). The Concept of Religious Moderation in Islamic Education: A Study of the Thought of Contemporary Ulama. ANWARUL. https://doi.org/10.58578/anwarul.v5i4.7284
Wulandari, D., & Mafariech, M. (2025). Implementation of Humanistic Theory Concepts in Islamic Religious Education. SCHOOLAR: Social and Literature Study in Education. https://doi.org/10.32764/schoolar.v4i3.5584
Zahroh, U., Hamami, T., & Bahri, S. (2023). Integrative-Interconnective Model: Implementation in Islamic Religious Education Curriculum Development in Muhammadiyah Schools. International Journal of Social Service and Research. https://doi.org/10.46799/ijssr.v3i2.278
Published
2026-07-17
How to Cite
Madlur Rhisky, Sisiwanto, & Mona Novita. (2026). Islamic Religious Education: Between The Ideal Concept And The Practical Paradigm. International Journal of Education, Vocational and Social Science , 5(03), 5088-5103. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i03.5299
Contact Person +6282139474255
Email : ijevss@citakonsultindo.or.id / editor.ijevss@gmail.com
