The role of Islamic education as a foundation for character formation in addressing the moral crisis of the younger generation

Abstract

The moral crisis affecting Indonesia’s young generation has become a critical challenge in education. Issues such as student brawls, the erosion of manners, and permissive social behavior reflect a significant decline in character values. Islamic education, rooted in the Qur’an and Hadith, offers a comprehensive framework for moral and spiritual development. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach with library research to analyze the role of Islamic education in character formation and its relevance in addressing modern moral challenges. The findings highlight that values such as ṣidq (honesty), amānah (trustworthiness), ‘iffah (self-restraint), and ta‘āwun (mutual assistance) possess transformational potential in shaping youth character. However, challenges such as lack of role models, dominance of cognitive approaches, and weak integration of Islamic values into curricula hinder effective implementation. The study concludes that Islamic education must be internalized holistically within both curriculum and practice to serve as a moral and spiritual safeguard in the globalization era.