The Role of Islamic Religious Education Teachers in Developing Students’ Spiritual and Existential Intelligence
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The cultivation of spiritual and existential intelligence from elementary school age is a fundamental aspect in shaping a generation that is faithful, virtuous, and capable of understanding the meaning of life. Islamic Education teachers play a strategic role not only as instructors but also as facilitators, motivators, and counselors who guide students toward self-awareness, empathy, and moral resilience. This study aims to explore the role of Islamic Education teachers in fostering students’ spiritual and existential intelligence at State Elementary School 01 Medan City.
Methodology: The research employed a qualitative case study approach with purposive site selection, as the school was considered active in guidance practices and open to character development. The main subjects were Islamic Education teachers and the principal. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation, and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model of data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. Data validity was ensured through source and method triangulation, persistence, and member checking.
Main Findings: The results show that Islamic Education teachers play a significant role in instilling values of faith, empathy, and awareness of life’s meaning amidst the individualistic challenges of urban environments. Strategies include varied instructional methods, collaboration with parents, and institutional support, all of which strengthen their role in character development.
Novelty/Originality of this study: This study highlights how Islamic Education teachers contribute uniquely to integrating spiritual and existential dimensions into education, offering a contextual model for holistic character formation in modern urban schools.
References
M. A. S. Siregar, “Sejarah Perkembangan Sistem Pendidikan Islam di Pesantren Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Kota Medan,” JUSPI J. Sej. Perad. Islam, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 113–123, 2018.
S. Lubis, R. Ependi, T. Tumiran, M. Y. Harahap, and A. Hakim, “The Relevance of Jamal Al-Banna’s Islamic Legal Thoughts with Religious Moderation in Indonesia,” Al-Istinbath J. Huk. Islam, vol. 8, no. 1 May, p. 237, May 2023, doi: 10.29240/jhi.v8i1.6649.
F. R. P, B. Siregar, R. Widya, and R. Nofianti, “Growing and developing religious education in school after Indonesian independence,” Int. J. Res. Rev., vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 405–412, 2019.
B. Siregar, T. Tumiran, N. Nurrayza, and V. Putri, “Portrait of Pai Teacher in the Implementation of the 2013 Curriculum towardS an Independent Learning Curriculum at Ar-Rahman High School MedaN Helvetia,” in In Proceeding International Seminar, 2023.
M. H. Rahman and M. Maemonah, “Development of Module Early Childhood Education Based on Panca Amal Al-Washliyah to Improve Teacher’s Pedagogic Competence in RA Al-Washliyah Kisaran Kabupaten Asahan Sumatera Utara,” Golden Age J. Pendidik. Anak Usia Dini, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 55–63, Dec. 2019, doi: 10.29313/ga:jpaud.v3i2.5985.
B. Raharjo, “Peran Guru Pendidikan Agama Islam dalam Meningkatkan Kecerdasan Intelektual, Kecerdasan Emosional dan Kecerdasan Spiritual Siswa di Randusanga Brebes,” Maret, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 393–412, 2024, doi: 10.51903/bersatu.v2i2.649
H. Herlina and M. Y. Harahap, “Strategi Penguatan Nilai Agama dan Moral Peserta Didik di SMP Muhammadiyah 47 Sunggal,” TANJAK J. Educ. Teach., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 46–63, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.35961/tanjak.v5i1.1418.
L. N. Parhati, S. Zulijah, and M. T. Nugroho, “Peran Guru PAI dalam Mengembangkan Kecerdasan Spiritual dan Emosional Peserta Didik Sekolah Dasar,” J. Elem. Educ. Res., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 121–129, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.30984/jeer.v2i2.285.
T. Tumiran, “Meningkatkan Prestasi Belajar Melalui Model Pembelajaran Creative Problem Solving (Dalam Kajian Aqidah Akhlak),” J. Ilm. Al-Hadi, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 26, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.54248/alhadi.v6i1.1084.
A. Fitriani and E. Yanuarti, “Upaya Guru Pendidikan Agama Islam Dalam Menumbuhkan Kecerdasan Spiritual Siswa,” BELAJEA J. Pendidik. Islam, vol. 3, no. 2, p. 173, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.29240/belajea.v3i2.527.
S. B. Djamarah and A. Zain, Strategi Belajar Mengajar. Jakarta: Rieneka Cipta, 2010.
A. Dudung, “Kompetensi profesional guru,” JKKP (Jurnal Kesejaht. Kel. dan Pendidikan), vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 9–19, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.21009/JKKP.051.02.
S. B. Djamarah, Guru dan Anak Didik dalam Interaksi Edukatif: Suatu Pendekatan Teoretis Psikologis. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta, 2010.
Aditya Ramadhan, “Peran guru dalam mengembangkan potensi siswa,” Tarb. bil Qalam J. Pendidik. Agama dan Sains, vol. 8, no. 1, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.58822/tbq.v8i1.198.
Y. K. Barus, A. F. Ubaidillah, and S. Arifin, “Implementasi Kecerdasan Majemuk Di Sekolah Dasar: Rekonstruksi Praktik Baik Guru Dalam Membangun Potensi Siswa Secara Insklusif,” Elem. Sch., vol. 10, pp. 386–393, 2023.
Wiranti and M. H. Rahman, “Pengembangan Karakter Spiritual Anak Usia Dini melalui Pembelajaran Bermakna di RA Alwashliyah Meranti Asahan,” Indones. Res. J. Educ., vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 208–211, 2025.
M. Yunan, R. Ependi, and N. Amin, “Model Pendidikan Tazkiyatun Nafs Dalam Membentuk Akhlakul Karimah Peserta Didik di Madrasah Aliyah Swasta Tarbiyah Islamiyah Kab. Deli Serdang,” JIM J. Ilm. Mhs. Pendidik. Sej., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 560–569, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.24815/jimps.v8i2.24720.
R. Imelda and M. Y. Harahap, “Muhasabah An-Nafs untuk Mengenali Potensi Diri Siswa di Madrasah Aliyah Swasta Miftahussalam Medan,” J. Pendidik. dan Kewirausahaan, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 400–414, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.47668/pkwu.v11i2.748.
E. S. M. Habbah, E. N. Husna, Y. Yantoro, and B. Setiyadi, “Strategi guru dalam pengelolaan kelas yang efektif untuk meningkatkan motivasi belajar siswa,” J. Holistika, vol. 7, no. 1, p. 18, May 2023, doi: 10.24853/holistika.7.1.18-26.
J. Suprihatiningrum, Strategi Pembelajaran. Yogyakarta: Ar-Ruzz Media, 2013.
I. Isnanto, S. Pomalingo, and M. N. Harun, “Strategi Pengelolaan Kelas Di Sekolah Dasar,” J. Pendidik. Glas., vol. 4, no. 1, p. 7, 2020, doi: 10.32529/glasser.v4i1.392.
Y. Yuliatun, “Mengembangkan Kecerdasan Spiritual Anak Melalui Pendidikan Agama,” ThufuLA J. Inov. Pendidik. Guru Raudhatul Athfal, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 153, 2018, doi: 10.21043/thufula.v1i1.4251.
I. Ismaraidha, M. Y. Harahap, and L. Hannum, “Pendidikan Karakter Religius Melalui Budaya Literasi Al-Qur’an Di Madrasah Aliyah Swasta Amaliyah Sunggal,” J. Keislam., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 249–362, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.54298/jk.v7i2.264.
A. Sahnan, “Multiple Intelligence dalam Pembelajaran Pai (Al-Qur`An Hadits Sd/Mi),” Auladuna J. Prodi Pendidik. Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 44–66, May 2019, doi: 10.36835/au.v1i1.162.
E. Dia, “Peran guru agama dalam membangun kecerdasan emosional dan spiritual siswa di SDN 1 tanjung sari kecamatan palas kabupaten lampung selatan,” UIN Raden Intan Lampung, 2021.
Zohar, Danah, and Ian Marshall, SQ: Spiritual Intelligence the Ultimate Intellegence. Soho Square London: Vloomsbury Publishing, 2000.
M. H. Rahman and R. Kencana, “Implementasi Model Pembelajaran Kooperatif dalam Meningkatkan Perkembangan Sosial Anak Usia Dini,” Musamus J. Prim. Educ., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 67–75, 2020, doi: 10.35724/musjpe.v2i2.2177.
A. Abdullah, M. A. Rahman, and R. N, “Peran guru pendidikan agama islam dalam meningkatkan kecerdasan intelektual, kecerdasan emosional dan kecerdasan spiritual peserta didik,” J. Stud. Islam, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 25–52, Jul. 2023, doi: 10.33477/jsi.v12i1.4480.
D. Goleman, Kecerdasan Emosional. terj. T. Hermaya. Jakarta: Pustaka Gramedia Utama, 2007.
J. Rahmat, SQ: Mengembangkan Kecerdasan Spiritual Anak Sejak Dini. Bandung: Mizan, 2007.
F. H. Sulaiman, Konsep Pendidikan al-Ghazali. Jakarta: P3M, 1999.
A. M. Huberman and M. B. Miles, The qualitative researcher’s companion. Sage Publications, 2002.
A. Kusumastuti, Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Semarang: Lembaga Pendidikan Sukarno Pressindo., 2021.
A. Fidelis, A. C. Moreira, and A. Vitória, “Multiple perspectives of spiritual intelligence: A systematic literature review,” Soc. Sci. Humanit. Open, vol. 9, p. 100879, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.100879.
M. Roberts, “Encounters with Existential Intelligence: Possibilities for Today’s Effective Educator,” Int. J. Interdiscip. Soc. Sci. Annu. Rev., vol. 5, no. 7, pp. 241–254, 2010, doi: 10.18848/1833-1882/CGP/v05i07/51794.
M. Syaiful and R. K. Anam, “The Concept Of Moral Education According To Imam Al Ghazali And Relevance To Education In Indonesia,” AT-TAJDID J. Pendidik. Dan Pemikir. Islam, vol. 08, no. 02, pp. 601–615, 2024.
D. Jacquette, “Wittgenstein on the transcendence of ethics,” Australas. J. Philos., vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 304–324, Sep. 1997, doi: 10.1080/00048409712347921.
M. A. Anwar, Aa. M. O. Gani, and M. S. Rahman, “Effects of spiritual intelligence from Islamic perspective on emotional intelligence,” J. Islam. Account. Bus. Res., vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 216–232, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1108/JIABR-10-2016-0123.
P. Singh and C. M. Dali, “The value of empathy as an instructional leadership competency for school principals,” Educ. as Chang., vol. 17, no. sup1, pp. S65–S78, Dec. 2013, doi: 10.1080/16823206.2014.865991.
M. H. Rahman, “Metode Mendidik Akhlak Anak Dalam Perspektif Imam Al-Ghazali,” Equal. J. Stud. Gend. dan Anak, vol. 1, no. 2, p. 30, Dec. 2019, doi: 10.24235/equalita.v1i2.5459.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mhd. Rusli Siagian, Muhammad Yunan Harahap
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and acknowledge that the Indonesian Journal of Education Research (IJoER) is the first publisher licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges and earlier and greater citation of published work.
.png)
.png)
