Designing Inclusive Islamic Education: A Democracy and Multiculturalism-Based Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61455/sujiem.v3i2.515Keywords:
inclusive education, islamic education, democracy, multiculturalism, educational designAbstract
Objective: This study aims to analyze the design and implementation of inclusive Islamic education in democratic and multicultural contexts, especially in integrating Islamic values with learning practices that respect diversity. Theoretical framework: The theoretical framework of this research combines the values of Islamic education, democratic principles, and multicultural education approaches as the basis for building inclusive learning. Literature review: The literature review highlights the importance of Islamic education that is inclusive and responsive to diversity, but it is still dominated by conceptual studies, so an empirical approach is needed. Methods: The research uses qualitative methods with interviews, observation, and document analysis techniques in several Islamic educational institutions. Results: Results show that inclusive Islamic education is implemented through flexible curriculum, participatory learning, appreciation of diversity, and leadership based on Islamic values, although there are still constraints on teacher readiness and resources. Implications: There is a need for a more systematic integration between Islamic values, democracy, and multiculturalism, as well as teacher capacity building and policy support. Novelty: This research offers an empirical model of inclusive Islamic education that integrates Islamic values with democratic and multicultural approaches in a practical way.
References
Sismanto, “Multicultural-based education in the Islamic boarding school,” Adv. Nat. Appl. Sci., vol. 6, no. 7, pp. 1109–1115, 2012.
A. Belhaj, “Contesting Power as Political Theology: Traditionalist Islamic Preaching and Post-Secularism in the West,” Religions, vol. 15, no. 10, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101197.
M. Basri, A. Abduh, and A. A. Patak, “Multicultural education-based instruction in teaching English for Indonesian Islamic higher education,” Asian EFL J., vol. 27, no. 32, pp. 202–218, 2020.
S. S. Choo and D. Chua, “From moral adaptation to ethical criticism: Analyzing developments in Singapore’s character education programme,” J. Moral Educ., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2023.2255754.
C. Chiu-Shee and L. Shi, “Navigating Cultural Difference in Planning: How Cross-Border Adaptation Nurtured Cosmopolitan Competence Among U.S.-Taught Chinese Practitioners,” J. Am. Plan. Assoc., vol. 90, no. 4, pp. 642–655, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2023.2290499.
S. Yussupova, B. Tarman, E. Kilinc, Z. Tolen, and E. Assyltayeva, “Adaptation of the Global Citizenship Scale in a Multicultural Country: Kazakhstan,” J. Soc. Stud. Educ. Res., vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 305–327, 2023.
R. Kumar and F. Lauermann, “Cultural Beliefs and Instructional Intentions: Do Experiences in Teacher Education Institutions Matter?” Am. Educ. Res. J., vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 419–452, 2018, https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831217738508.
S. Kuraedah, F. Gunawan, S. Alam, and M. F. Ubaidillah, “Cultural Representation in English and Arabic Textbooks Endorsed by Indonesian Government: What Do Textbooks Tell Us About?,” J. Soc. Stud. Educ. Res., vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 229–255, 2022.
R. M. Contini and A. Maturo, “Cross-cultural education,” in Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Social Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66013, Chieti, via dei Vestini, 31, Italy, 2010, pp. 1794–1805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.987.
T. Vesala-Varttala, Á. Pál, and R. Kóris, “Fostering sustainability competences through co-creation of digital storytelling - Effects of COVID-19 on higher education students’ reflective learning,” J. Univ. Teach. Learn. Pract., vol. 21, no. 3, 2024, https://doi.org/10.53761/3va1xt56.
C. M. Nistor, “New technologies, multicultural groups, and Romanian as a foreign language-devising a strategy for a successful language class in the digital era,” in eLearning and Software for Education Conference, R. I., Ed., POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, Bucharest, Romania: National Defence University - Carol I Printing House, 2020, pp. 369–375. https://doi.org/10.12753/2066-026X-20-048.
M. J. A. Gonçalves et al., “Digital Tools and Methods to Enhance Learning: The Digitools Project,” in Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, M. A., A. A., C. J.V., and de M. C.H., Eds., Polytechnic of Porto, ISCAP, CEOSP.PP, Porto, Portugal: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023, pp. 399–413. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6585-2_36.
A. V Morozov and O. V Mikhaleva, “Developing multicultural competence in future translators using digital education content,” in The Impact of Digitalization in a Changing Educational Environment, Moscow Social Pedagogical Institute, Russian Federation: IGI Global, 2023, pp. 166–177. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-0433-4.ch013.
D. MacLellan, “Faith-based schooling and the politics of education: A case study of Ontario, Canada,” Polit. Relig. J., vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 37–60, 2012.
F. Memet and A. Bostina, “A Descriptive Qualitative Research On Faith-Learning Integration In Constanta Maritime University,” Eur. J. Sci. Theol., vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 13–23, 2023.
N. A. Memon, A history of islamic schooling in North America: Mapping growth and evolution. Centre for Islamic Thought and Education, University of South Australia, Australia: Taylor and Francis, 2019. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429442797.
S. Ward, “Education and race,” in A Student’s Guide to Education Studies, Third edition, Taylor and Francis, 2013, pp. 54–62. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203134894-14.
A. Siahaan, C. Wijaya, R. Ananda, F. Rohman, and O. Manurung, “Islamic Education Management: A Study of Multicultural Paradigm,” Educ. Adm. Theory Pract., vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 12–28, 2023, https://doi.org/10.17762/kuey.v29i1.585.
S. Shah, Education, leadership and Islam: Theories, discourses and practices from an Islamic perspective. University of Leicester, United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis Inc., 2015. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203502297.
A. H. Ok, M. Al-Farabi, and F. Firmansyah, “Internalization of Multicultural Islamic Education Values In High School Students,” Munaddhomah, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 221–228, 2022, https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v3i3.265.
S. A. Clemons, “Developing multicultural awareness through designs based on family cultural heritage: Application, impact and implications,” Int. J. Art Des. Educ., vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 288–298, 2005, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-8070.2005.00452.x.
A. S. Chen, “Study on teaching practices of multicultural competences: Fostering a cultural connection between new immigrant females and undergraduate students,” Int. J. Intercult. Relations, vol. 100, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.101968.
N. Shapira, M. Shonfeld, D. Friedman, and J. F. Falah, “Educators in Israel define cultural competence,” Front. Educ., vol. 8, 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1131352.
J. Spring, Pedagogies of globalization: The rise of the educational security state. Queens College, City University of New York, United States: Taylor and Francis, 2012. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203053980.
R. Suharso, D. L. Setyowati, and C. B. Utomo, “Teaching multiculturalism based on Islamic historical relics in Northern Java,” Int. J. Innov. Creat. Chang., vol. 11, no. 10, pp. 445–463, 2020.
J. F. Toosi and A. I. Jamil, “Multi-religious education from the perspective of Islamic teachings compared to the pluralist model,” Afkar, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 279–308, 2021, https://doi.org/10.22452/afkar.vol23no1.8.
M. J. G. Martín, “Design, development, and evaluation of the global socio-educational-community program ‘Their education, our priority’ in one elementary school in California,” Rev. Int. Educ. para la Justicia Soc., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 191–216, 2014.
X. Wang, “Building the babel of transnational literacies: Preparing education for world citizens,” in Citizenship and Advocacy in Technical Communication: Scholarly and Pedagogical Perspectives, Oxford College, Emory University, United States: Taylor and Francis, 2018, pp. 63–87. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203711422.
J. Higgs, “Practice-Based Education: Realizing Excellent Education for Future-Oriented Practice,” in Educating Physical Therapists, Charles Sturt University, Sydney, Australia: Taylor and Francis, 2024, pp. 189–199. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003523949-17.
H. Liu, “Globalization and World Citizenship Education,” Int. J. Learn., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 94–97, 2020, https://doi.org/10.18178/IJLT.6.2.94-97.
Muthoifin, S. Shobron, N. Hanif Wachidah, and R. Ab Rahman, “Contribution of Kartini’S Thought on Women Education,” Humanit. Soc. Sci. Rev., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 143–150, 2020, https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2020.82e18.
Mahmudulhassan, Waston, Muthoifin, and S. Uddin Ahmed Khondoker, “Understanding the Essence of Islamic Education: Investigating Meaning, Essence, and Knowledge Sources,” Solo Univers. J. Islam. Educ. Multicult. E, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 27–36, 2024.
S. Anwar et al., “Development of the concept of Islamic education to build and improve the personality of school-age children,” Multidiscip. Rev., vol. 7, no. 8, 2024, https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024139.
S. Anwar et al., “Development of the concept of Islamic education to build and improve the personality of school-age children,” Multidiscip. Rev., vol. 7, no. 8, p. 2024139, May 2024, https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024139.
Mahmudulhassan, Muthoifin, and S. Begum, “Artificial Intelligence in Multicultural Islamic Education : Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations,” Solo Univers. J. Islam. Educ. Multicult., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 19–26, 2024.
S. Shobron, T. Trisno, M. Muthoifin, M. Mahmudulhassan, and M. N. Rochim Maksum, “Humanist Education the Dayak of Kalimantan Indonesia Islamic Perspective,” Solo Univers. J. Islam. Educ. Multicult., vol. 1, no. 01, pp. 20–29, 2023, https://doi.org/10.61455/sujiem.v1i01.27.
S. Shobron, A. Anshori, Damanhuri, and Muthoifin, “Method for developing soft skills education for students,” Univers. J. Educ. Res., vol. 8, no. 7, pp. 3155–3159, 2020, https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.080744.
M. Sudarno Shobron, Amrin, Imron Rosyadi, “Islamic Education Values in the Tradition of Peta Kapanca of Mbojo Community Tribe in West Nusa Tenggara Department of Islamic Law Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta Indonesia,” Int. J. Adv. Sci. Technol., vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 6802–6812, 2020.
E. Saktiani, M. Muthoifin, and M. Jamuin, “Ahmad Muflih Saefuddin’s Educational Thought: Islamization of Science and Campus,” Proc. Int. Conf. Islam. Muhammadiyah Stud. (ICIMS 2022), vol. 676, no. Icims, pp. 281–288, 2022, https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220708.035.
Muthoifin, “Ki Hadjar Dewantara Educational Thought Perspective of Islamic Education,” Pros. ICTEE FKIP UNS, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 773–779, 2016.
Muthoifin, Nuha, and S. Shobron, “Education and Leadership in Indonesia: A Trilogy Concept in Islamic Perspective,” Univers. J. Educ. Res., vol. 8, no. 9, pp. 4282–4286, 2020, https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.080954.
Salahudin, Syamsul Hidayat, Muthoifin, and Ismail Abdul Ghani al-Jalal, “Values of Progressive Islamic Education and Multicultural Education in Alaq: 1-5,” Solo Univers. J. Islam. Educ. Multicult., vol. 1, no. 02, pp. 147–160, 2024, https://doi.org/10.61455/sujiem.v1i02.69.
A. N. AN, Mahmudulhassan, Muthoifin, Waston, and S. Hidayat, “Research Trends In Quranic And Biblical Studies: A Bibliometric Analysis Of Islamic And Christian Scholarship (2019-2024) Andri Nirwana. AN*, Mahmudulhassan, Muthoifin, Waston, Syamsul Hidayat, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta,” Rev. Iberoam. Psicol. DEL Ejerc. Y EL Deport., vol. 19, no. 4148, pp. 343–349, 2024.
Y. Xiao and H. K. Wright, “Culture,” in International Encyclopedia of Education: Fourth Edition, University of British Columbia, The Center for Culture, Identity and Education, Faculty of Education, Vancouver, BC, Canada: Elsevier, 2022, pp. 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.08004-0.
S. Park and K. A. Ramirez, “Globalization in art therapy education: Multicultural training in the South Korean context,” Arts Psychother., vol. 72, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2020.101742.
M. Dwi and A. N. A. Hd, “Transformative impact of AI on multicultural education: A qualitative thematic analysis,” Edelweiss Appl. Sci. Technol., vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 113–118, 2024, https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v8i5.1667.
H. R’boul, “Alternative theorizing of multicultural education: an Islamic perspective on interculturality and social justice,” J. Multicult. Educ., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 213–224, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1108/JME-07-2020-0073.
L. Guo, S. Li, R. Lu, L. Yin, A. Gorson-Deruel, and L. King, “The research topic landscape in the literature of social class and inequality,” PLoS One, vol. 13, no. 7, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199510.
R. Ambarika, M. Saifulaman, N. S. Umar, N. M. Adiutama, and N. A. Anggraini, “Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Stroke in Multicultural Communities: Should the Indonesian Government Reconsider Stroke Awareness Campaigns?” Malaysian J. Med. Heal. Sci., vol. 19, no. Supplement 9, pp. 166–176, 2023, https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.19.s9.25.
S. Mashuri et al., “The building sustainable peace through multicultural religious education in the contemporary era of Poso, Indonesia,” Cogent Educ., vol. 11, no. 1, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2389719.
M. Pasaribu, F. Khairifa, R. Ali, A. A. Muis, and M. Ritonga, “Youth Character Building through Quality Education in Realizing Golden Indonesia 2045,” J. Ecohumanism, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 180–192, 2024, https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i4.3473.
F. E. Luwisch et al., “Life Stories and the Development of a Multicultural Community of Women Educators,” in Totems and Taboos: Risk and Relevance in Research on Teachers and Teaching, University of Haifa, Israel: Brill, 2008, pp. 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789087905675_007.
Y. Waghid and N. Davids, “Muslim education and its (In)commensurability with multiculturalism: Some thoughts on the imaginative madrassah,” Policy Futur. Educ., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 124–130, 2014, https://doi.org/10.2304/pfie.2014.12.1.124.
N. Kholis and N. Mufidah, “Community multicultural integration pattern in environment-based learning,” Int. J. Instr., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 101–124, 2020, https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2020.1317a.
E. Kurniawan, M. Akhyar, C. Muryani, and A. Asrowi, “Education students’ readiness as professional geographic teachers in the 21st century,” Perspekt. Nauk. i Obraz., vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 145–159, 2023, https://doi.org/10.32744/pse.2023.3.9.
Hamdan, Nashuddin, and A. Fadli, “The Implementation of Multicultural Islamic Religious Education Model at Darul Muhajirin Praya High School,” J. Pendidik. Agama Islam, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 165–178, 2022, https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.2022.191-12.
I. Finkelstein, S. Ganon-Shilon, and R. Sela-Shayovitz, “Co-Leading Multicultural School Competencies for an Inclusion and Integration Reform in Times of Crisis,” Leadership. Policy Sch., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1080/15700763.2024.2325574.
J. Dooley and L. Lepeau, “Striving For An Inclusive And Nurturing Campus: Cultivating the Intersections,” in Intersectionality in Action: A Guide for Faculty and Campus Leaders for Creating Inclusive Classrooms and Institutions, Elon University, United States: Taylor and Francis, 2023, pp. 63–76. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003445395-8.
T. F. H. Smits and P. Janssenswillen, “Multicultural teacher education: a cross-case exploration of pre-service language teachers’ approach to ethnic diversity,” Int. J. Qual. Stud. Educ., vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 421–445, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2019.1681536.
M. M. Martín, F. E. Bara, and M. R. B. Estrada, “School, teachers and values,” Rev. Educ., no. EXTRA, pp. 95–113, 2010.
J. M. Halstead, “An Islamic concept of education,” Comp. Educ., vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 517–529, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1080/0305006042000284510.
S. Asai, Y. Rahmawati, C. H. Fauzan Khairi, and T. Jutarosaga, “Multicultural Online Collaborative Learning: Students’ Engagement in Design Thinking Framework,” in SEFI 2023 - 51st Annual Conference of the European Society for Engineering Education: Engineering Education for Sustainability, Proceedings, R. G., M. M., N. B.V., and J. H.-M., Eds., Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan: European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI), 2023, pp. 1605–1613. https://doi.org/10.21427/X7JN-7A21.
N. M. Gulya and A. Fehérvári, “Multiculturalism in the curriculum: a comparative analysis of the Finnish, Irish and Hungarian national core curricula,” J. Multicult. Educ., vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 359–371, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1108/JME-10-2023-0113.
H.-H. Kao and P.-S. Huang, “Influence of Competence-Oriented Instruction on the Learning Outcomes, Motivation, and Multicultural Literacy of Middle School Students Learning Geography,” J. Res. Educ. Sci., vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 157–189, 2023, https://doi.org/10.6209/JORIES.202312_68(4).0006.
Z. Ngiu, N. Q. Laila, A. H. Panai, R. Yunus, and C. Cuga, “Strengthening Civic Education in a Multicultural School: A Local Wisdom Approach,” Eurasian J. Educ. Res., vol. 2023, no. 108, pp. 213–228, 2023, https://doi.org/10.14689/ejer.2023.108.012.
H. Lee and S. Camicia, “‘This is a second-class citizen thing!’: Educating justice-oriented citizenship through critical literacy in elementary social studies,” Citizenship. Teach. Learn., vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 61–80, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1386/ctl_00110_1.
M. Ormond and F. Vietti, “Beyond multicultural ‘tolerance’: guided tours and guidebooks as transformative tools for civic learning,” J. Sustain. Tour, vol. 30, no. 2–3, pp. 533–549, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1901908.
D. Kuyurtar and M. Korumaz, “Culturally Relevant Leadership: Bridging the Equity Gap,” Res. Educ.Adm. Leadersh., vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 506–547, 2023, https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1291612.
H. Starkey, “Reasonable accommodations and security agendas in multicultural societies: Secular and faith-based approaches to citizenship education in Canada, France and England,” Educ. Citizsh. Soc. Justice, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1177/17461979241234533.
S. Hameed, “Global citizenship education practices in Singapore and Australia: the fusion of the global eye with the national eye,” Int. J. Comp. Educ. Dev., vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 169–184, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCED-10-2019-0052.
A. Hysaj, M. Freeman, and Z. R. Khan, “Theory of Planned Behaviour in Higher Education: Exploring the Perceptions of Multicultural ESL Students About Cheating,” in Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), C. A. and V. S., Eds., University of Wollongong in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023, pp. 58–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35927-9_5.
H. Shen and M. Singh, “A translanguaging approach to bilingual theorising in postgraduate researchers’ education,” J. Multiling. Multicult. Dev., vol. 45, no. 9, pp. 3926–3945, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2022.2134876.
S. Seneviratne, “Knowledge information in multicultural South Asia: Redefining education for the next generation,” Ethn. Stud. Rep., vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 179–205, 2003.






