Relevansi Pemikiran Imam Al-Ghazali dalam Menghadapi Tantangan Pendidikan Abad 2I

Abstract

This study examines the contemporary relevance of Imam Al-Ghazali’s  intellectual legacy in addressing the complex challenges faced by Islamic education in  the 21st century. As modern education systems evolve toward competency-based  learning, digital literacy, holistic character formation, and interdisciplinary  integration, Islamic education is required to harmonize spiritual, ethical, and  intellectual dimensions to remain transformative and meaningful. Imam Al-Ghazali,  widely recognized as a pivotal figure in Islamic intellectual history, offers a  comprehensive framework that integrates knowledge (‘ilm), ethical refinement  (tazkiyah al-nafs), and balanced pedagogy. His educational philosophy emphasizes  the cultivation of the heart, moral discipline, experiential learning, and the  purification of intention principles increasingly relevant in an era marked by  technological disruption, moral fragmentation, and the commodification of  knowledge.This research employs a conceptual-qualitative approach to reinterpret Al Ghazali’s thought within modern educational paradigms such as character education,  critical thinking, digital ethics, and lifelong learning. The study highlights several key  contributions of Al-Ghazali to contemporary Islamic education, the first is a holistic  model that integrates intellect and spirituality, second is a moral-ethical framework  adaptable to digital-era challenges and third is a pedagogical vision that prioritizes  purpose, meaning, and inner resilience. Prior studies have acknowledged aspects of  Al-Ghazali’s relevance, but few have systematically connected his ideas to the  comprehensive set of 21st-century competencies. The findings affirm that Al-Ghazali’s  thought offers profound insights for reorienting Islamic education toward producing  morally grounded, critically competent, and spiritually resilient learners capable of  navigating modern complexities.