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Unisia
2025, Vol. 43, No. 1-22
https://doi.org/10.20885/unisia. vol43.iss1.art1
Contact: Rahmadi Agus Setiawan 145110404@uii.ac.id
Developing Rahmatan lil 'Alamin-Based
Islamic Religious Education in Indonesian
Higher Education
Rahmadi Agus Setiawan
Program Studi Teknik Sipil (S1), Universitas Islam Indonesia, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
ABSTRACT
This article examines approaches for advancing Islamic Religious
Education (IRE) in higher education, centered on the principle of
rahmatan lil 'alamin (mercy to all creation). It underscores the critical
role of embedding values such as moderation, tolerance, social
justice, and compassion within a curricular framework. Employing a
qualitative literature review methodology, the study elucidates the
foundational tenets of rahmatan lil 'alamin, identifies systemic
barriers to its application, and advances actionable approaches for
its pedagogical integration. Findings reveal that systematically
incorporating these values into IRE can foster inclusive, moderate,
and globally conscious students. Nevertheless, persisting challenges
impede progress, including institutional resistance to curricular
reform, educators’ limited grasp of the concept’s nuances, and
sociopolitical pressures shaping policy. To mitigate these issues, the
article recommends modernizing curricula to align with evolving
societal demands, enhancing educators’ pedagogical capacities
through targeted professional development, and fortifying
institutional frameworks to reinforce value-based education. By
pursuing these approaches, Islamic education can address
contemporary global challenges and nurture a generation dedicated
to peace and universal welfare, thereby enriching academic
discourse on reimagining religious education for the modern era.
Keywords
curriculum development; higher education; Islamic religious
education; rahmatan lil 'alamin
Citation: Setiawan, R. A. (2025). Developing Rahmatan lil 'Alamin- Based Islamic Religious Education in Indonesian Higher Education.
Unisia, 43(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.20885/unisia.vol43.iss1.art1
INTRODUCTION
Islamic Religious Education (IRE) plays a pivotal and multidimensional role in molding
the character, ethics, and moral consciousness of students in higher education. As key
pillars of society, higher education institutions are entrusted not only with advancing
ARTICLE HISTORY
Submitted: December 31, 2024
Revised: February 2, 2025
Accepted: February 3, 2025
Published: February 5, 2025
Publisher’s Note: Universitas
Islam Indonesia stays neutral
with regard to jurisdictional
claims in published maps and
institutional affiliations.
Copyright: © 2025 Rahmadi
Agus Setiawan. Licensee
Universitas Islam Indonesia,
Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
This article is an open access
article distributed under the
terms and conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY-SA 4.0) license
(https://creativecommons.org
/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).
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2 Setiawan
intellectual rigor but also with nurturing the ethical and spiritual growth of students.
These institutions serve as critical platforms for cultivating future leaders by equipping
them with the knowledge, competencies, and values required to address the
complexities of an increasingly interconnected world. Within this context, IRE is of
paramount importance, as it extends beyond imparting religious doctrine to instilling
universal principles such as justice, tolerance, and social cohesion—qualities
indispensable for thriving in pluralistic societies. Furthermore, IRE fosters the
internalization of faith and piety while cultivating an inclusive, compassionate mindset
rooted in Islamic ethics. By integrating these principles, IRE shapes individuals who
epitomize rahmatan lil 'alamin (mercy for all creation), a concept emphasizing peace,
equity, and collective welfare.(Dewi et al., 2024, p. 1301) This holistic pedagogical
framework equips students to excel intellectually while cultivating a strong moral
compass, thereby preparing them to make meaningful contributions to societal
progress.
IRE in higher education, as a discipline that explores the interconnectedness of
humanity, divinity, society, and the environment, bears a profound responsibility to
embed the timeless yet adaptable principles of Islam—such as moderation,
universality, and contextual relevance—within the modern academic landscape.
Transcending its traditional focus on ritual practices and jurisprudence, IRE now
prioritizes the cultivation of a nuanced understanding of social ethics, stewardship of
the natural world, and the development of moral frameworks applicable to
contemporary life. In this capacity, IRE is instrumental in nurturing students who excel
academically while embodying wisdom, equity, and empathy in their interactions with
both society and the environment. By harmonizing intellectual rigor with character
development, IRE ensures that graduates are not only prepared for professional
excellence but are also deeply committed to advancing justice, peace, and the
collective welfare of humanity.
Moreover, amid the unprecedented complexities of globalization and
modernization, higher education institutions face escalating challenges in preparing
youth for multifaceted sociopolitical and cultural realities. Contemporary challenges—
such as discrimination against minority groups in campus organizations, systemic
injustices in the allocation of academic resources based on religious or ideological
affiliations, and the emergence of radicalism through extremist student groups
promoting divisive ideologies—undermine social cohesion and contradict the universal
values of compassion and equity that IRE seeks to uphold. These concrete examples
underscore the urgency of integrating an ethically grounded IRE framework that
addresses such problematics head on. In this light, IRE in higher education emerges not
only as a vital ethical and intellectual framework but also as a catalyst for societal
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Rahmatan lil 'Alamin-Based Education 3
harmony, equipping students to navigate and ameliorate contemporary challenges
through the lens of rahmatan lil 'alamin. (Sabtina, 2023, p. 62)
The significance of IRE in higher education ultimately stems from its capacity to
nurture a holistic and well-grounded understanding of Islamic principles. As an
essential component of academic curricula, IRE enables students to recognize the
interconnectedness between science and religion and illustrates how these fields can
collaboratively tackle modern-day challenges. Furthermore, by offering valuable
perspectives on Islam’s contributions to sustainable development across social,
economic, and cultural domains, IRE highlights the adaptability and enduring
applicability of Islamic teachings in resolving pressing global issues.
The concept of rahmatan lil 'alamin (mercy for all of creation) stands as a central
tenet of Islam, embodying the faith’s mission to cultivate peace, prosperity, and
universal well-being for humanity and the natural world. As affirmed in the Qur’an
(Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:107), “And We have not sent you (Muhammad) except as a mercy
to all the worlds.” This principles underscores that the Islamic teachings, when
authentically interpreted and practiced, trancend individual rituals to generate
transformative influence across social, political, economic, and ecological spheres. By
framing Islam as a holistic force for civilizational equity and harmony, rahmatan lil
'alamin emerges as the ethical bedrock for fostering just, inclusive, and sustainable
societies.(Abuddin Nata, 2016, p. 3)
The relevance of rahmatan lil 'alamin in higher education - particularly within IRE -
holds critical significance in shaping students who are spiritually grounded yet globally
conscious. Higher education institutions, as hubs of intellectual and sociaetal
advancement, bear a profound responsibility to instill Islam’s universal values:
tolerance, compassion, and justice. Thus, IRE anchored in rahmatan lil 'alamin
transcends theological instruction, empowering graduates to become agents of
positive change in a fractured world and stewards of global harmony.
Furthermore, the urgency of applying the concept of rahmatan lil 'alamin in higher
education becomes increasingly evident amid of complex global challenges such as
intolerance, extremism, and environmental degradation. In the context of higher
education, particularly in IRE, rahmatan lil 'alamin can serve as a foundation for
teaching students to think critically, appreciate diversity, and resolve conflicts
peacefully and constructively. By understanding and internalizing the values of
rahmatan lil 'alamin, students will be better prepared to face and address various social
challenges facing the global community, including inequality, discrimination, and
climate change.
The application of the concept of rahmatan lil 'alamin in higher education also
deepens the understanding of the relationship between Islam and science. Islam