Cultivating muslimah’s faith steadfastness in the digital era: a character strengthening strategy in islamic education

Oki Setiana Dewi; Devi Juliani

doi:10.51574/hamka.v6i1.192

Authors

Oki Setiana Dewi
oki.setiana_dewi@umj.ac.id
Program studi Doktor Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, Sekolah Pascasarjana, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, Indonesia, 13770, Indonesia
Devi Juliani Program Studi Magister Manajemen, Program Pascasarjana, Universitas Muhammadiyah Tangerang, Indonesia 13770, Indonesia

Keywords:

Digital literacy, Faith steadfastness, Islamic education, Muslimah character, Pedagogical framework

Abstract

Purpose: This study formulates and evaluates a pedagogical model to cultivate faith steadfastness (istikamah) among Muslimah, countering contemporary socio-digital challenges such as algorithmic disruption and moral relativism in Islamic education settings.

Method: Employing a qualitative thematic synthesis combined with conceptual framework modeling, this research analyzed scholarly literature and grounded empirical insights from interviews with school leaders, teachers, and senior high school students across Islamic educational institutions.

Findings: The findings operationalize istikamah into five core dimensions: Piety (Taqwa), Epistemic Autonomy ('Ilm), Moral Modesty ('Iffah and Sabr), Self-Regulation (Qana'ah), and Transformative Agency (Amanah). These dimensions underpin a validated, seven-stage sequential model and a four-domain Critical Islamic Digital Literacy matrix (Critical, Ethical, Self-Regulatory, and Productive), which demonstrate high conceptual coherence and practical viability for character strengthening.

Practical implications: The framework provides curriculum designers and educators with an actionable blueprint to move beyond defensive isolationism, offering structured interventions to enhance digital resilience, ethical decision-making, and proactive social leadership among female learners.

Originality/value: This study pioneers the integration of classical Islamic constructs (istikamah) with modern socio-digital realities, re-articulating Social Learning Theory through an Islamic lens to offer a novel structural model for Muslimah empowerment.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akbar, F. H., Fasha, F. L., & Abdullah, F. (2024). The concept of religious moderation in a review of the Qur’an and Hadith. Bulletin of Islamic Research, 2(1), 59–80. https://doi.org/10.69526/bir.v2i1.21

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.69526/bir.v2i1.21

Alrubaishi, D., McAdam, M., & Harrison, R. (2021). Culture, convention, and continuity: Islam and family firm ethical behavior. Business Ethics: A European Review, 30(2), 202–215. https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12328

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12328

Alshehri, F. A., Fotaki, M., & Kauser, S. (2020). The effects of spirituality and religiosity on the ethical judgment in organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 174(3), 567–593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04614-1

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04614-1

Alwi, Z., Parmitasari, R. D. A., & Syariati, A. (2021). An assessment on Islamic banking ethics through some salient points in the prophetic tradition. Heliyon, 7(5), Article e07103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07103

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07103

Ardi, R., Tobing, D. H., Agustina, G. N., Iswahyudi, A. F., & Budiarti, D. (2021). Religious schema and tolerance towards alienated groups in Indonesia. Heliyon, 7(7), Article e07603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07603

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07603

Asrori, M., Asy’arie, B. F., Akhirudin, Yusup Sofian, G., Syakir Hidayat, A. F., Suja, A., & Roibin. (2025). Islamic educational and cultural values in Indonesian puppetry art: A systematic literature review. Cogent Education, 12(1), Article 2490445. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2490445

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2490445

Caspersen, O. H. (2009). Public participation in strengthening cultural heritage: The role of landscape character assessment in Denmark. Geografisk Tidsskrift-Danish Journal of Geography, 109(1), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/00167223.2009.10649594

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00167223.2009.10649594

Chen, J., Liu, Y., Dai, J., & Wang, C. (2023). Development and status of moral education research: Visual analysis based on knowledge graph. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 1079955. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1079955

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1079955

Farid, A., & Lamb, M. (2020). English for Da’wah? L2 motivation in Indonesian pesantren schools. System, 94, Article 102310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102310

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102310

Hasan, K., & Juhannis, H. (2023). Religious education and moderation: A bibliometric analysis. Cogent Education, 11(1), Article 2292885. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2292885

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2292885

Hasanah, N. Z., Alfi, R., Rifkiah, R., & Muhyi, A. A. (2024). Contemporary traditions and challenges: Tafsir Maudhu’i’s study of Islam and fundamentalism. Bulletin of Islamic Research, 2(2), 181–198. https://doi.org/10.69526/bir.v2i2.7

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.69526/bir.v2i2.7

Huda, M., Khoirurrijal, K., Dacholfany, M. I., Susminingsih, S., Hashim, A., Marni, N., Mohamed, A. K., Puad, M. A. A., Rozali, M. H., Maseleno, A., Muhamad, N. H. N., & Ikhwan, A. (2019). Empowering learning ethics culture in Islamic education. Dalam Advances in educational technologies and instructional design book series (hlm. 244–267). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-8528-2.ch013

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-8528-2.ch013

Huda, S., Tsani, I., Syazali, M., Umam, R., & Jermsittiparsert, K. (2019). The management of educational system using three law Auguste Comte: A case of Islamic schools. Management Science Letters, 9(5), 617–624. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2019.9.018

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2019.9.018

Islam, A., Zawawi, N. F. M., & Wahab, S. A. (2021). Rethinking survival, renewal, and growth strategies of SMEs in Bangladesh: The role of spiritual leadership in crisis situation. PSU Research Review, 8(1), 19–40. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRR-02-2021-0010

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/PRR-02-2021-0010

Kurniawan, R., Bakti, I. K., Firmansyah, M., Bahri, R., Kholis, N., & Kusaeri. (2025). Islamic emotional-cognitive integration: How Islamic education shapes students’ cognitive processes and outcomes through expressive writing. British Journal of Religious Education, 47(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2523385

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2523385

Latif, M., & Hafid, E. (2021). Multicultural attitudes in an Islamic boarding school of South Sulawesi – Indonesia. Cogent Education, 8(1), Article 1968736. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2021.1968736

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2021.1968736

Lee, G. L., & Manning, M. L. (2013). Introduction: Character education around the world, Part 2: Character education for world peace and the well-being of all mankind. Childhood Education, 89(6), 347–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/00094056.2013.850911

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00094056.2013.850911

Leli, L., Sunarya, P. A., Lutfiani, N., Santoso, N. P. L., & Toyibah, R. A. (2021). The importance of technology to the view of the Qur’an for studying natural sciences. APTISI Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), 3(1), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.34306/att.v3i1.142

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.34306/att.v3i1.142

Linando, J. A., Tumewang, Y. K., Nahda, K., & Nurfauziah. (2023). The dynamic effects of religion: An exploration of religiosity influences on Islamic work ethic over time. Cogent Business & Management, 10(1), Article 2181127. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2181127

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2181127

Maemonah, M., Zuhri, H., Masturin, M., Syafii, A., & Aziz, H. (2023). Contestation of Islamic educational institutions in Indonesia: Content analysis on social media. Cogent Education, 10(1), Article 2164019. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2022.2164019

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2022.2164019

Mergaliyev, A., Asutay, M., Avdukić, A., & Karbhari, Y. (2019). Higher ethical objective (Maqasid al-Shari’ah) augmented framework for Islamic banks: Assessing ethical performance and exploring its determinants. Journal of Business Ethics, 170(4), 797–834. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04331-4

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04331-4

Nasution, F. N., & Rafiki, A. (2019). Islamic work ethics, organizational commitment and job satisfaction of Islamic banks in Indonesia. RAUSP Management Journal, 55(2), 195–205. https://doi.org/10.1108/RAUSP-01-2019-0011

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/RAUSP-01-2019-0011

Prayitno, H. J., Markhamah, Nasucha, Y., Huda, M., Ratih, K., Ubaidullah, Rohmadi, M., Boeriswati, E., & Thambu, N. (2022). Prophetic educational values in the Indonesian language textbook: Pillars of positive politeness and character education. Heliyon, 8(8), Article e10016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10016

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10016

Randeree, K. (2019). Demography, demand and devotion: Driving the Islamic economy. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 11(2), 301–319. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-06-2018-0102

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-06-2018-0102

Rockenbach, A. N. (2020). Character education for the public good: The evolution of character capacities in and beyond college. Journal of College and Character, 21(1), 6–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/2194587X.2019.1696834

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2194587X.2019.1696834

Rosadi, K. I. (2023). The effect of emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and school culture on strengthening senior high school student’s character in Jambi Province. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(1), Article 2194564. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2194564

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2194564

Salin, A. S. A. P., Manan, S. K. Ab., & Kamaluddin, N. (2020). Ethical framework for directors – learning from the prophet. International Journal of Law and Management, 62(2), 171–191. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-04-2018-0075

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-04-2018-0075

Sauri, S., Gunara, S., & Cipta, F. (2022). Establishing the identity of insan kamil generation through music learning activities in pesantren. Heliyon, 8(7), Article e09958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09958

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09958

Sian, S., Agrizzi, D., Wright, T., & Alsalloom, A. (2020). Negotiating constraints in international audit firms in Saudi Arabia: Exploring the interaction of gender, politics and religion. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 84, Article 101103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2020.101103

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2020.101103

Siddiqi, D. A., Memon, M., Miraj, F., Iftikhar, S., Shah, M. T., Hargraves, M., & Chandir, S. (2025). Strengthening character among frontline health workers delivering care to underserved communities in Sindh, Pakistan. Journal of Moral Education, 54(4), 529–553. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2025.2484039

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2025.2484039

Wijaya, H., Hati, S. R. H., Ekaputra, I. A., & Kassim, S. (2024). The impact of religiosity and financial literacy on financial management behavior and well-being among Indonesian Muslims. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), Article 873. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03309-6

Crossref DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03309-6