The Concept of Moral Education from Al-Ghazali's Perspective and Its Relevance to Modern Education

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the concept of moral education from the perspective of Imam Al-Ghazali and examine its relevance to modern education. The study is motivated by various moral challenges confronting contemporary education, including the decline of social ethics, the rise of violent behavior, the misuse of digital technology, low academic integrity, and the weakening of students' character. These conditions indicate that modern education, which tends to emphasize cognitive competence, has not been fully successful in shaping individuals with noble character. Within the tradition of Islamic education, Imam Al-Ghazali offers a concept of moral education that places character formation as the primary objective of education through the processes of spiritual purification, habituation, exemplary conduct, and self-discipline. This research employs a qualitative approach using a library research design. Primary data were obtained from Imam Al-Ghazali's major works, particularly Ihya' Ulum alDin, Ayyuha al-Walad, and Mizan al-'Amal, while secondary data were collected from relevant books, scholarly journal articles, and previous studies. Data were collected through documentation techniques and analyzed using content analysis and the historical-philosophical approach to the study of a scholar's thought.The findings reveal that moral education according to Imam Al-Ghazali is a process of character formation oriented toward the attainment of noble character (akhlaq al-karimah), spiritual purification (tazkiyat al-nafs), and the balanced development of intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and social dimensions. This concept is implemented through four principal educational methods: exemplary conduct (uswah hasanah), habituation (ta'wid), moral exhortation (mau'izhah), and mujahadah and riyadhah as forms of self-discipline and spiritual training. The findings further demonstrate that AlGhazali's educational thought remains highly relevant to modern education, particularly in strengthening character education, cultivating positive school culture, promoting digital ethics, advancing holistic education, and enhancing students' self-control in the era of globalization and digitalization. Therefore, Al-Ghazali's concept of moral education continues to serve as a significant philosophical foundation for developing modern education that aspires to nurture individuals who are intellectually competent, morally upright, and endowed with noble character.