RELIGIOUS MODERATION ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC LAW AND ITS APPLICATION IN EDUCATION

Abstract

Religious moderation (wasathiyah) from an Islamic legal perspective and its implementation in education. This research uses a qualitative-descriptive approach based on library research, referring to primary sources of Islamic law, namely the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the works of classical and contemporary scholars.The results of the study indicate that religious moderation is not a new idea, but rather the essence of Islamic law itself, grounded in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 143, where Muslims are positioned as a community of wasathan (a community of people). This concept rests on five main pillars: tawassut (the middle path), i'tidal (justice), tasamuh (tolerance), tawazun (balance), and shura (deliberation). Methodologically, Islamic law supports the principle of moderation through the flexibility of ijtihad and the principles of Islamic jurisprudence oriented towards the Maqasid al-Shari'ah. In the context of education, the application of religious moderation is carried out through four main strategies: integrating the values of moderation into the curriculum, strengthening the role of teachers as role models (uswah), creating an inclusive school culture, and implementing critical and reflective learning methods. The main challenges faced in the digital era include filter bubbles, the spread of radical narratives, and the shallowing of religious understanding due to the consumption of micro-content. These challenges can be overcome through strengthening digital religious literacy, reorienting the curriculum, and collaboration between schools, families, and the community.Education is the most strategic instrument for transforming a moderate, inclusive, and welcoming understanding of Islam, in order to shape a generation that is both steadfast in its faith and flexible in social interactions amidst the diversity of the Indonesian nation.