Islamic Religious Education as a Medium for Strengthening the Value of Moderation (Tawasuth) in the Digital Era: A Case Study at MAN 2 Aceh Tengah
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37249/jomess.v1i2.1280Keywords:
Islamic Religious Education, Tawasuth, moderation, digital era, religious toleranceAbstract
This study investigates the role of Islamic Religious Education (IRE) as a medium for strengthening the value of tawasuth the Islamic principle of moderation—in the context of the Digital Era, which is characterized by rapid technological change and increasing ideological polarization. The research focuses on how Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) 2 Aceh Tengah integrates moderate Islamic values into teaching practices and digital interactions to promote balanced thinking, tolerance, and ethical awareness among students.
Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers and students, and document analysis of school programs related to religious moderation. Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns of pedagogical adaptation, digital engagement, and institutional strategies supporting tawasuth in Islamic education. The findings reveal that MAN 2 Aceh Tengah has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy to embed moderation values through curriculum design, teacher exemplarity, and digital ethics education. Teachers function as both moral guides and media literacy facilitators, encouraging students to critically engage with online religious content while maintaining ethical communication and respect for diversity. The school also integrates tawasuth into extracurricular activities and digital campaigns, promoting harmony between faith, reason, and technology. This study concludes that Islamic Religious Education, when supported by institutional policy and digital pedagogy, serves as an effective platform for cultivating tawasuth as a living value in students’ character formation. The research contributes to contemporary debates on religious moderation, moral resilience, and ethical citizenship in the digital age, offering a model for faith-based schools navigating the challenges of online radicalization and moral fragmentation.
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