The Concept of Wasathiyah in Islam: A Study of Religious Moderation in Indonesia

Nahrowi Nahrowi; Siti Ropiah; Dede Fakhruddin; Mustopa Mustopa

doi:10.31943/afkarjournal.v9i1.3233

Authors

Nahrowi Nahrowi Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Haji Agus Salim
Siti Ropiah Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Haji Agus Salim
Dede Fakhruddin Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Haji Agus Salim
Mustopa Mustopa Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Haji Agus Salim

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31943/afkarjournal.v9i1.3233

Keywords:

Wasathiyah, Religious Moderation, Islam, Tolerance, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to examine in depth the concept of wasathiyah in Islam as the foundation of religious moderation in Indonesia. The main focus of this research is to analyze the core values of wasathiyah such as justice, balance, tolerance, and deliberation, and to explore how these values are implemented within the socio-religious context of Indonesia’s plural society. The objective of this study is to understand the relevance of wasathiyah teachings in strengthening interreligious harmony and contributing to the establishment of a peaceful and inclusive religious life amidst challenges of radicalism and intolerance.

The research employs a qualitative descriptive approach using a library research method. Data were collected from scientific journals, books, previous research findings, and official documents from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia discussing religious moderation and wasathiyah. Data analysis was conducted through content analysis to identify main themes and correlations between the normative concept of wasathiyah and socio-religious practices in Indonesia.

The findings reveal that wasathiyah is not merely a theological concept but also a social paradigm emphasizing balance between creed, worship, and social relations (muamalah). The values of wasathiyah are reflected in various national policies and programs such as strengthening religious moderation, multicultural education, and interfaith dialogue. The application of wasathiyah values has proven effective in preventing social polarization and reinforcing interreligious cohesion in Indonesia.

The study concludes that the concept of wasathiyah serves as a fundamental basis for religious moderation in Indonesia. The internalization of wasathiyah values should be systematically implemented through religious education, public policy, and the exemplary leadership of community figures. Consistent implementation will strengthen the nation’s character as tolerant, just, and civilized.

The implications of this study highlight the importance of synergy among educational institutions, government bodies, and religious leaders in mainstreaming wasathiyah as a religious culture. This research also serves as an academic reference for developing religious moderation curricula and deradicalization strategies based on the Islamic values of rahmatan lil ‘alamin (mercy to all creation).

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Achmad Asrori, “Penguatan Nilai-Nilai Islam Wasathiyah melalui Pendidikan Agama Islam di Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam Swasta,” UNISAN Journal / Jurnal An-Nur (2024): hlm. 1–12. https://journal.an-nur.ac.id/index.php/ unisanjournal/article/view/4187.

Ali Iskandar Zulkarnain, Amanda Agni Oktavia Ramadhani, Diar Mukti Asri, dan Rica Amelia Putri, “Analisis Faktor-Faktor Pendukung dan Penghambat Moderasi Beragama dalam Lingkungan Sekolah,” Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, Vol. 9 No. 1 (2025): hlm. 10630–10636. https://jptam.org/index.php/jptam/article/ download/26355/18076/44999.

Burhan Bungin, Analisis Data Penelitian Kualitatif: Pemahaman Filosofis dan Metodologis ke Arah Penguasaan Model Aplikasi (Jakarta: RajaGrafindo Persada, 2020), hlm. 74.

Dewi Syafitri Dwi Jayanti, Tamyis, dan Endang Ekowati, “Implementasi Moderasi Beragama dalam Membentuk Generasi Wasathiyah Siswa di Madrasah Aliyah Hidayatul Mubtadiin Sidoharjo Jati Agung Lampung Selatan,” Journal on Education Vol. 07 No. 01 (September–Desember 2024): hlm. 6086–6094. PDF: https://jonedu.org/index.php/joe/article/download/7205/5784.

Fahri Ramadhana dan Athaya Dzaikra, “Islam Wasathiyah dan Tantangannya di Era Digital: Upaya Meneguhkan Moderasi Beragama di Tengah Arus Informasi,” Sagoe Cendikia: Jurnal Studi Islam Vol. 1 No. 1 (2024): hlm. 87–102; dan Indra A. Maliki, ibid., hlm. 112–115. https://journal.sagoeatjeh.or.id/index.php/cendikia/ article/download/155/34. dan https://e-journal.metrouniv.ac.id/index.php/ moderatio/article/download/7041/3495/26212.

Gatot Prasetyo, Yanuar Rizki Fauziah, dan Ahmad Syafii, “From Policy to Pedagogy: Religious Moderation as a Counter-Radicalization Strategy in Islamic Education A Systematic Literature Review,” Jurnal Pendidikan Islam (Systematic Review) (2025): hlm. 31–33. https://ejournal.uin-suka.ac.id/tarbiyah/JPI/article/ download/10694/4271/41779.

Ibnu Imam Al Ayyubi, Abdul Muhaemin, Sofia Martini, Anita Andriani, dan Sabrina Yasmin, “Moderasi Beragama dalam Pendidikan Agama Islam Berdasarkan Literatur Al-Qur’an dan Hadits,” SYAIKHONA: Jurnal Magister Pendidikan Agama Islam, Vol. 2 No. 1 (April 2024): hlm. 70–73. https://jurnal.stainidaeladabi.ac.id/index.php/syaikhona/article/view/180.

Indarwati, Sulton, dan Ardhana J.M., “Moderasi Antar Umat Beragama dalam kajian Ilmu Kewarganegaraan (Studi Kasus Moderasi Beragama Islam dan Buddha di Desa Bulu Lor),” Jurnal Pancasila dan Kewarganegaraan, Vol. 7 No. 2 (2022): hlm. 39–41 https://journal.umpo.ac.id/index.php/JPK/article/download/6128 /2416/21657.

Indra A. Maliki, “Living Hadith dan Islam Wasathiyah: Representasi Dakwah Moderat dalam Dakwah Digital,” Moderatio: Jurnal Moderasi Beragama, Vol. 3 No. 1 (2023): hlm. 103–115. https://e-journal.metrouniv.ac.id/index.php/moderatio/ article/view/7041.

John W. Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Fourth Edition (Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, 2018), p. 256.

Lexy J. Moleong, Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif (Bandung: PT Remaja Rosdakarya, 2019), hlm. 6.

Mara Ongku Hsb, “Konsep Wasathiyah Dalam Hukum Islam Perspektif Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy,” An-Nida’ Vol. 46 No. 2 (Juli–Desember 2022): hlm. 144–165. PDF: https://ejournal.uinsuska.ac.id/index.php/Anida/article/download/20859/8901

Muqowim Muqowim, Sibawaihi Sibawaihi, dan Naif Daifullah Alsulami, “Developing Religious Moderation in Indonesian Islamic Schools Through the Implementation of the Values of Islām Wasaṭiyyah,” Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam Vol. 19 No. 2 (2022): hlm. 207–222. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.2022.192-03. (akses artikel: https://ejournal.uin-suka.ac.id/tarbiyah/jpai/article/view/2022.192-03).

Putri, Sagnofa Nabila Ainiya & Muhammad Endy Fadlullah, “Wasathiyah (Moderasi Beragama) dalam Perspektif Quraish Shihab,” INCARE: International Journal of Educational Resources 3, no.1 (June 2022), 66–80. https://doi.org/10.59689/incare.v3i1.390.

Rahim, Abdan, Zulhijra Zulhijra, M. Arsyad Almakki, and Mardani Mardani. 2025. “Internalizing Wasatiyah Values in Islamic Education for Religious Moderation”. SYAMIL: Journal of Islamic Education 13 (1), 125-33. https://doi.org/10.21093/sy.v13i1.10745.

Rahmah rahmah, Hamdan Hamdan, M Ilham Muchtar, Hj.Sumiati Sumiati (2024), “Konsep Pendidikan Islam Wasathiyah (Strategi Mencegah Sikap Intoleransi, Radikalisme Dan Terorisme) Jurnal MUDARRISUNA: Media Kajian Pendidikan Agama Islam Vol. 14, No. 4, (2024), 503-515. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22373/jm.v14i4.24361.

Shindid Gunagraha dan Anwar Dhani, “Analisis Nilai-Nilai Moderasi Beragama dalam Buku Pendidikan Al-Islam Penerbit Muhammadiyah Jenjang SMP Tahun 2024,” EDU-RILIGIA: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Islam dan Keagamaan Vol. 8 No. 4 (2024): hlm. 40–51. https://jurnal.uinsu.ac.id/index.php/eduriligia/article/view/22151.

Siti Ropiah, “Hajj Fund Polemic (Between Subsidies and Istitha’ah),” al-Afkar: Journal For Islamic Studies Vol. 7 No. 4 (2024): hlm. 1–8. https://al-afkar.com/index.php/Afkar_Journal/article/view/1569.

Sugiyono, Metode Penelitian Kualitatif, Kuantitatif dan R&D (Bandung: Alfabeta, 2022), hlm. 145.

Titin Nurjanah, “Literasi Digital dan Ketahanan Moderasi Beragama: Telaah Integratif dalam Perspektif Maqashid al-Syari’ah,” Jurnal Syariah dan Hukum Islam, Vol. 3 No. 1 (12 Juni 2024): hlm. 1–3. https://journal.iaidalampung.ac.id/ index.php/jshi/article/download/422/325/1421.

Wildani Hefni dan Rizqa Ahmadi, “Facing Religious Contemporary Challenges: Redefining the Partnership of Islamic Higher Education and Islamic Religious Instructors in Mainstreaming Religious Moderation,” Journal of Penelitian, Vol. 19 No. 2 (2022): hlm. 111–117. https://e-journal.uingusdur.ac.id/Penelitian /article/view/6161.