Issues and challenges of holistic well-being in 21st century Tahfiz education in Malaysia: A maqāṣid al-sharīʿah framework

Abstract

Tahfiz education in Malaysia serves as a cornerstone in preserving the Qur’anic tradition, yet its modern implementation faces critical challenges in fulfilling the broader aims of Islamic education. This study examines the issues surrounding the holistic well-being of Tahfiz students through the lens of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, encompassing the preservation of religion (ḥifẓ al-dīn), life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), intellect (ḥifẓ al-ʿaql), lineage (ḥifẓ al-nasl), and wealth (ḥifẓ al-māl). Using qualitative content analysis, key findings point to an excessive emphasis on memorization with little attention paid to comprehension and application, which raises questions about students' spiritual and cognitive growth. Their physical and mental health are at risk due to safety, emotional welfare, and governance issues, and their intellectual development and social mobility are impeded by the disregard for academic instruction. These problems are made worse by moral decay and poor financial management, which compromises the main goals of Tahfiz education. In order to guarantee that Tahfiz graduates are socially resilient, intellectually prepared, and spiritually anchored members of contemporary Malaysian society, the study promotes a well-rounded, integrated model based on Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah that harmonizes traditional religious objectives with modern educational standards