Integrating Ecotheology into Islamic Education: A Multicultural Perspective Study among Kindergarten Students
Keywords:
Ecotheology; Islamic Education; Multicultural Education; Kindergarten Children; Environmental Awareness
Abstract
This study examines the integration of ecotheology in early childhood Islamic education through a multicultural perspective at Al-Hikmah Kindergarten, Samarinda, East Kalimantan. The study is based on the view that the ecological crisis is not only related to physical environmental damage, but also reflects a lack of ethical, spiritual, social, and cultural awareness in caring for nature. This research employs a case study qualitative design. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with the principal and Islamic education (PAI/IMTAQ center) teachers, as well as documentation including lesson plans, school programs, and child development assessment formats. The observation subjects were 17 kindergarten B students aged 5–6 years. The findings show that ecotheological values—such as tauhid (oneness of God), khalifah (stewardship), amanah (trust), mizan (balance), rahmah (compassion), and cleanliness ethics—are integrated through prayers, illustrated stories, visual media, IMTAQ center activities, role modeling, habits such as handwashing, proper waste disposal, plant care, outdoor activities, and cultural practices. The school’s proximity to the Mahakam River and Kampung Ketupat provides concrete ecological and cultural learning spaces, while the students’ multicultural backgrounds strengthen cooperation, tolerance, mutual assistance, and respect for diversity. This article emphasizes that integrating ecotheology in early childhood Islamic education should be concrete, enjoyable, contextual, and inclusive, enabling children to recognize nature as God’s creation, care for the environment, use resources wisely, and live harmoniously in a diverse society.
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Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Aini, R., & Hasanah, F. N. (2025). Islamic religious education students’ perceptions of environmental awareness from Islamic ecotheology perspective. The 8th International Conference on Islamic Studies 2025, 1414–1424.
Ardoin, N. M., & Bowers, A. W. (2020). Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature. Educational Research Review, 31, 100353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2020.100353
Bagir, Z. A., Northcott, M. S., & Wijsen, F. (2021). Varieties of religion and ecology: Dispatches from Indonesia. LIT Verlag.
Banks, J. A. (2019). An introduction to multicultural education (6th ed.). Pearson.
Barrable, A., & Booth, D. (2020). Nature connection in early childhood: A quantitative cross-sectional study. Sustainability, 12(1), 375. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010375
Bascopé, M., Perasso, P., & Reiss, K. (2019). Systematic review of education for sustainable development at an early stage: Cornerstones and pedagogical approaches for teacher professional development. Sustainability, 11(3), 719. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030719
Children, N. A. for the E. of Y. (2020). Developmentally appropriate practice: A position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Creswell, J. W. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Fitriani, I. (2026). Integrating ecotheology in anticipating ecological crises in Islamic education through interdisciplinarity. JASNA: Journal for Aswaja Studies, 6(1), 89–106.
Foltz, R. (2004). Islam and ecology bibliography. Forum on Religion and Ecology.
Hanurawan, F., & Waterworth, P. (1997). Multicultural perspectives in Indonesian social studies education curriculum. The Journal of Education, 4(Special Edition), 265–275.
Ibn Mājah, M. ibn Y. (n.d.). Sunan Ibn Mājah, no. 425, Book of Purification and its Sunnah: Concerning Moderation in Ablution and Avoiding Extravagance. https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:425
In’ami, M. (2026). Saving the earth without sacrificing God: The paradox of modern eco-theology in Islamic education. MSI Journal of Education and Social Science, 2(2), 1–20. https://zenodo.org/records/19658086
Johnstone, A., Martin, A., Cordovil, R., Fjørtoft, I., Iivonen, S., Brown, H., Hughes, A. R., & Reilly, J. J. (2022). Nature-based early childhood education and children’s social, emotional and cognitive development: A mixed-methods systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), 5967. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105967
Khomisah, S. (2025). Environmentally conscious Islamic education curriculum design (Eco- Theology). Journal of Proceedings Series, 3, 29–38.
Kusumawati, M., & Hasanah, N. I. (2024). Cultivating moral values and diversity for early childhood: A contextual approach of multicultural education. Mu’adalah: Jurnal Studi Gender Dan Anak, 12(1), 27–38. https://doi.org/10.18592/muadalah.v12i1.12356
Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2016). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Mustofa, T. (2025). Integrating ecotheological values in the Islamic religious education curriculum: The green Islamic education perspective in Karawang secondary schools. Jurnal Ilmiah, 10(3), 51–66.
Nasr, S. H. (1978). An introduction to Islamic cosmological doctrines: Conceptions of nature and methods used for its study by the Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’, al-Bīrūnī, and Ibn Sīnā (Rev. ed.). Thames and Hudson.
Nugroho, M. A. (2025). Green Wasathiyyah campus as a space for transforming Islamic Wasathiyyah values through ecotheology. Analisa: Journal of Social Science and Religion, 10(1), 79–100. https://doi.org/10.18784/analisa.v10i1.3206
Nuraeni, I. I. (2025). Green Islamic education: Integrating eco-theological values into Islamic curriculum to address the global environmental crisis. At Turots: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), 1335–1345.
Rohman, A., Kurniawan, E., Syifauddin, M., Muhtamiroh, S., & Muthohar, A. (2024). Religious education for the environment: Integrating eco-theology in the curriculum of Islamic Religious and Character Education to enhance environmental education in Indonesia. Nadwa: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.21580/nw.2024.18.2.21094
Sapitri, E. Y., Hamami, T., & Muttakin, K. (2025). Integrating ecotheology into Islamic religious education: A systematic literature review on students’ spiritual, social, and cognitive character development. DAYAH: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(2), 178–201. https://doi.org/10.22373/jie.v8i2.34136
Setiawan, A. (2024). The implementation of tolerance values through multicultural education program. Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 21(2), 332–341. https://doi.org/10.21831/jc.v21i2.71337
Syafaruddin, B. (2025). Ecotheology in the perspective of Islamic education: A conceptual review. Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review, 4(3), 720–731. https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v4i3.3253
Taufikin. (2025). Integrating eco-theology in Islamic education: A case study on fostering ecological awareness through religious pedagogy. El-Tarbawi, 18(1), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.20885/tarbawi.vol18.iss1.art1
UNESCO. (2017). Education for sustainable development goals: Learning objectives. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://doi.org/10.54675/CGBA9153
UNESCO. (2020). Education for Sustainable Development: A Roadmap. UNESCO Publishing. UNESCO. (2024a). Green school quality standard: Greening every learning environment. United
Wibowo, A. P. (2023). Multiculturalism in Indonesia: How does literature affect the development of diversity? Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(10), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i10.1787
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Published
2025-12-31
How to Cite
Qamariah, S., Ilyasin, M., & Bahrani, B. (2025). Integrating Ecotheology into Islamic Education: A Multicultural Perspective Study among Kindergarten Students. Dinamika Ilmu, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v25i2.13027
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