INTEGRASI KONSEP KHALĪFAH FĪ AL-ARḌ DALAM PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM SEBAGAI BASIS EKOPEDAGOGI

Abstract

The global environmental crisis calls for educational approaches that are capable of fostering ecological awareness grounded in religious values. In the Islamic worldview, the concept of khalīfah fī al-arḍ constitutes a fundamental theological principle that defines humanity’s role as a trustee responsible for preserving and cultivating the earth. This article aims to examine the integration of the concept of khalīfah fī al-arḍ into Islamic Religious Education as a foundation for the development of ecopedagogy in madrasahs. This study employs a qualitative approach through library research, analyzing Qur’anic texts, classical and contemporary tafsir, literature on Islamic education, and scholarly works on ecopedagogy. The findings indicate that Islamic Religious Education plays a strategic role in internalizing eco-theological values through their integration into the curriculum, the application of contextual and participatory learning methods, and the strengthening of madrasah culture. The ecopedagogical approach enables Islamic education to move beyond normative instruction toward the formation of ecological piety that integrates spiritual, social, and environmental dimensions. Therefore, the integration of the concept of khalīfah fī al-arḍ within Islamic Religious Education is not only theologically relevant but also contextually significant in responding to contemporary environmental challenges and in promoting sustainable Islamic education.