Moral Education Based on Rationality and Spirituality: An Examination of Muhammad Abduh’s Thought in the Context of Islamic Education in the Digital Era

Abstract

This study aims to examine Muhammad Abduh’s thought on moral education based on the integration of rationality and spirituality and to contextualize its relevance to Islamic education in the digital era. The research employs a qualitative library research method with a character-study approach, using primary and secondary sources related to Muhammad Abduh’s educational reform, Islamic moral education, and digital ethics. Data were collected through documentation and analyzed using descriptive-analytical and interpretive methods. The findings show that Abduh’s thought offers a balanced educational paradigm in which reason functions as an instrument of critical reflection, while spirituality becomes the ethical foundation of moral action. In the digital context, this synthesis is relevant for developing students who are intellectually critical, spiritually grounded, ethically responsible, and capable of navigating digital disruption. The study concludes that Abduh’s educational vision remains significant for reconstructing Islamic moral education in contemporary digital society.