Local Wisdom as Pedagogical Capital in Islamic Education: A Critical Integrative Review from the Global South

Dyah Hapsari Eko Nugraheni; Abdullah Idi; Achmad Syarifuddin

doi:10.35445/alishlah.v18i3.9988

Local Wisdom as Pedagogical Capital in Islamic Education: A Critical Integrative Review from the Global South

Dyah Hapsari Eko Nugraheni, Abdullah Idi, Achmad Syarifuddin

Abstract

Islamic education in the Global South is embedded in local traditions, communal practices, and historically shaped power relations, yet local wisdom is often treated as cultural decoration rather than as a substantive pedagogical resource. This study examines how local wisdom is conceptualized, operationalized, and contested in the transmission of Islamic values and proposes a more contextual and ethically reflexive pedagogical framework. A critical integrative review was conducted on 32 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025. Following PRISMA-guided selection procedures, the studies were analyzed through thematic coding, conceptual clustering, and critical synthesis, with attention to pedagogical mechanisms, institutional contexts, moral authority, gender, and power relations. The findings reveal two dominant conceptualizations: local wisdom as a peripheral cultural context and as pedagogical-moral capital that shapes students’ moral habitus. Values were transmitted most effectively through role modelling, habituation, communal rituals, affective relationships, and school–community practices. However, uncritical integration may reproduce hierarchy, conformity, gender bias, exclusion, and hidden forms of authority. Institutional autonomy, curriculum flexibility, educator reflexivity, and community participation strongly influenced the depth of integration. The study concludes that local wisdom should be positioned not as symbolic local content but as a critically examined pedagogical resource. A reflexive, dialogical, and culturally responsive approach is therefore needed to strengthen ethical agency, contextual relevance, and socially just Islamic education.

Keywords

Islamic education; local wisdom; values transmission; critical pedagogy; global south

References

Abubakar, B., Sanusi, S., Razali, R., Yeniningsih, T. K., & Mujiburrahman, M. (2023). Parenting Education In Islamic Families Within The Framework Of Family Resilience In Aceh, Indonesia. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam, 7(2), 1121. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v7i2.17901

Ahmad, A. B. Hj., & Mujani, W. K. (2019). An Evaluation Of The Earliest Thought And Philosophy On Mosques In Malacca. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(4), 538–541. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.7472

Ahmed, F. (2018). An Exploration Of Naquib Al-Attas’ Theory Of Islamic Education As Ta’dīb As An ‘Indigenous’ Educational Philosophy. Educational Philosophy And Theory, 50(8), 786–794. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2016.1247685

Aliyah, U., Wibowo, M. E., Purwanto, E., & Sunawan, S. (2024). Construct Social Emotional Learning (Sel) In The Islamic Paradigm For Muslim Students In Indonesia. Islamic Guidance And Counseling Journal, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.25217/0020247500300

Anam, R. K. (2025). Anthony Giddens’s Structuration Theory And Relevance With Sociology Of Knowledge (Vol. 1, Issue 2).

Apple, M. W. (2019). Ideology And Curriculum (Fourth Edition). Routledge.

Arifin, I., Juharyanto, Mustiningsih, & Taufiq, A. (2018). Islamic Crash Course As A Leadership Strategy Of School Principals In Strengthening School Organizational Culture. Sage Open, 8(3), 2158244018799849. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018799849

Arizona, K., Rokhmat, J., Ramdani, A., Gunawan, G., & Sukarso, Aa. (2025). Integrating Islamic Values And Local Wisdom Into Science Education: Enhancing Character Development In Higher Education. Ulumuna, 29(1), 398–428. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v29i1.1308

Arthur, J., Kristján Kristjánsson, Wright, D. F., Harrison, T., & Sanderse, W. (2017). Teaching Character And Virtue In Schools. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

As Sabiq, A. H., Roqib, Moh., Sarah, S., & Ma’ruf, A. (2022). Pesantren Students’ Religious Beliefs And Attitudes Toward Learning English In Indonesia. 3l The Southeast Asian Journal Of English Language Studies, 28(1), 60–74. https://doi.org/10.17576/3l-2022-2801-05

Ashraf, M. A., Tsegay, S. M., & Ning, J. (2021). Teaching Global Citizenship In A Muslim-Majority Country: Perspectives Of Teachers From The Religious, National, And International Education Sectors In Pakistan. Religions, 12(5), 348. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12050348

Azra, A. (2004). Jaringan Ulama: Timur Tengah Dan Kepulauan Nusantara Abad Xvii & Xviii (Ed. Rev). Kencana.

Bali, M. M. E. I., & Susilowati, S. (2019). Transinternalisasi Nilai-Nilai Kepesantrenan Melalui Konstruksi Budaya Religius Di Sekolah. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 16(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.jpai.2019.161-01

Ball, S. J. (2016). Education, Justice And Democracy: The Struggle Over Ignorance And Opportunity. In A. Montgomery & I. Kehoe (Eds.), Reimagining The Purpose Of Schools And Educational Organisations (Pp. 189–205). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24699-4_14

Baltaeva, L. B. (2015). The Transformation Of The Position Of A Woman In The Republic Of Turkey In The Twentieth Century. Journal Of Sustainable Development, 8(7), P61. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v8n7p61

Banks, J. A. (2016). Cultural Diversity And Education: Foundations, Curriculum, And Teaching (Sixth Edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Biesta, G. (2013). The Beautiful Risk Of Education. Paradigm Publishers.

Bourdieu, P. (1996). Theory, Culture And Society: On The Family As A Realized Cat (3rd Ed., Vol. 13).

Bourdieu, P., & Passeron, J. C. (1990). Reproduction in education, society and culture (Vol. 4). Sage.

Chalik, L., Leslie, S.-J., & Rhodes, M. (2017). Cultural Context Shapes Essentialist Beliefs About Religion. Developmental Psychology, 53(6), 1178–1187. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000301

Chaplin, C. (2018). Salafi Activism And The Promotion Of A Modern Muslim Identity: Evolving Mediums Of Da’wa Amongst Yogyakartan University Students. South East Asia Research, 26(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0967828x17752414

Dadze-Arthur, A. (2017). The Interpretation Of Cultures (1st Ed). Macat Library.

Dhofier, Z. (2011). Tradisi Pesantren: Studi Pandangan Hidup Kyai Dan Visinya Mengenai Masa Depan Indonesia (Cet. 8 Rev). LP3ES.

Fauzi, A., Pelu, I. E. A., & Suhairom, N. (2023). Local Wisdom Of Pesantren As Core Value In Building An Islamic Education Organizational Culture In Indonesia. Cendekia: Jurnal Kependidikan Dan Kemasyarakatan, 21(1), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.21154/cendekia.v21i1.6065

Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Continuum. New York.

Gay, G. (2018). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, research, and practice. teachers college press.

Giroux, H. A. (2018). The Public In Peril: Trump And The Menace Of American Authoritarianism. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315173238

Gunara, S., Sutanto, T. S., & Cipta, F. (2019). Local Knowledge System of Kampung Naga: A Study to Investigate the Educational Values of Indigenous People in Transmitting Religious and Cultural Values. International Journal of Instruction, 12(3), 219-236.

Hadi, A. (2017). The Internalization of Local Wisdom Value in Dayah Educational Institution. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 5(2), 189-200.

Halstead, M. (2004). An Islamic Concept Of Education. Comparative Education, 40(4), 517–529. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305006042000284510

Hannaway, J., & Richardson, J. G. (1987). Puzzles, Facts, And Tensions: Inquiry In The Sociology Of Education. Educational Researcher, 16(6), 43. https://doi.org/10.2307/1175546

Hefner, R. W. (2008). Introduction. In R. W. Hefner (Ed.), Making Modern Muslims (Pp. 1–54). University Of Hawai’i Press. https://doi.org/10.21313/hawaii/9780824832803.003.0001

Heldiansyah, J. C., Aufa, N., Wastuty, P. W., & Saud, M. I. (2025). Calligraphy Ornaments As Islamic Identity In The Bubungan Tinggi And The Gajah Baliku House, Teluk Selong, South Borneo, Indonesia. Journal Of Islamic Architecture, 8(3), 795–805. https://doi.org/10.18860/jia.v8i3.26272

Huda, M., Jasmi, K. A., Mustari, I., Basiron, B., & Sabani, N. (2017). Traditional Wisdom On Sustainable Learning: An Insightful View From Al-Zarnuji’s Ta‘Lim Al-Muta‘Allim. Sage Open, 7(1), 2158244017697160. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017697160

Irwandi, I., Nurmalina, N., & Rijal, F. (2025). Integrating Sharia Values Into Education In Aceh: A Qualitative Case Study Of Policy, Curriculum, And Pedagogical Practice. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(3). https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v17i3.7849

Jackson, R. (2020). Religious Education For Plural Societies: The Selected Works Of Robert Jackson. Routledge.

Junaedi, J., Syafi’i, I., Hasyim, F., & Jawid Marwat, M. (2025). Transformational Curriculum Model Through Interpretation Epistemology; Islamic Boarding School Curriculum Management Perspective. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(3), 387–403. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v6i3.1802

Kim, M., & Taylor, M. J. (2017). Cultivating Morality In The Asia-Pacific: Influences, Issues, Challenges And Change. Journal Of Moral Education, 46(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2017.1285222

Lukens-Bull, R. A. (2013). Islamic Higher Education In Indonesia. Palgrave Macmillan Us. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137313416

M. Suud, F., Bin Husen Ismail, F., Mirawati, M., Na’imah, T., Rachmawati Musslifah, A., Shinta, S., Sholawati, S., & Bin Sahimi, M. S. (2025). Preventing Bullying Through The Experimental Ta’awun Program Among Boarding School Students. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2), 400–413. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v8i2.181

Maksum, A. (2017). Discourses On Islam And Democracy In Indonesia: A Study On The Intellectual Debate Between Liberal Islam Network (Jil) And Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (Hti). Journal Of Indonesian Islam, 11(2), 405. https://doi.org/10.15642/jiis.2017.11.2.405-422

Maswati, Ramli, R., Sumiati, S., Pribadi, I., Athillah, F., & Pajarianto, H. (2025). Integrating Local Wisdom In Strengthening The Pancasila Student Profile. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal Of Islamic Education, 7(1), 18–32. https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v7i1.2314

Nasir, M. A. (2019). Revisiting The Javanese Muslim Slametan: Islam, Local Tradition, Honor And Symbolic Communication. Al-Jami’ah: Journal Of Islamic Studies, 57(2), 329–358. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2019.572.329-358

Nasir, M., & Rijal, M. K. (2021). Keeping The Middle Path: Mainstreaming Religious Moderation Through Islamic Higher Education Institutions In Indonesia. Indonesian Journal Of Islam And Muslim Societies, 11(2), 213–241. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.213-241

Niyozov, S., & Memon, N. (2011). Islamic education and Islamization: Evolution of themes, continuities and new directions. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 31(1), 5-30.

Nurhidayah, L. K., & Choiri, M. M. (2024). The Influence Of Islamic Boarding School Environment And Ta’lim Muta’alim On Morals Towards Teachers: The Role Of Self-Awareness. Abjadia : International Journal Of Education, 9(3), 609–621. https://doi.org/10.18860/abj.v9i3.28629

Nursalim, E., Zurqoni, Z., & Khojir, K. (2024). Model Of Internalization Religious Character Values To Strengthen Moral Student. Tarbiya: Journal Of Education In Muslim Society, 10(2), 163–182. https://doi.org/10.15408/tjems.v10i2.37575

Oh, I. (2017). Islam And Local Culture: The Peril Of State Violence And Hallyu Fandom In Indonesia (With Reference To Palestine). Kritika Kultura, 29. https://doi.org/10.13185/kk2017.02911

Page, M. J., Moher, D., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., Mcdonald, S., … Mckenzie, J. E. (2021). Prisma 2020 Explanation And Elaboration: Updated Guidance And Exemplars For Reporting Systematic Reviews. In The Bmj (Vol. 372). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n160

Popkewitz, T. S., & Rizvi, F. (2009). Globalization And The Study Of Education: Preface. Yearbook Of The National Society For The Study Of Education, 108(2), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7984.2009.01157.x

Pulungan, R., Ws, H., & Juita, N. (2025). Exploring Language Politeness In Mandailing Onang-Onang Oral Traditions: A Pathway To Enriching Islamic Education. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(1), 107–122. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v8i1.108

Rekan, A. A., Rosin, N., Mohamad Salleh, M. N., Jamil, A. I., Awel, H. R., Huda, M., & Isbahi, M. B. (2025). Embedding 21st Century Soft Skills In Islamic Higher Education. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2), 318–335. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v8i2.232

Rohmatulloh, R., Hasanah, A., Sahlani, L., & Zuhri, M. T. (2023). Energy-Saving Triangle: Internalizing Islamic Ethical Values On Energy Saving In Integrative Learning. Religions, 14(10), 1284. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14101284

Romlah, L. S., Pahrudin, A., Fauzan, A., Kesuma, G. C., & Purnama, R. (2025). Institutionalizing Obe Through Transformative Curriculum Management: Insights From An Indonesian Islamic University. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(4), 575–585. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v6i4.2319

Sah, Moh. A., & Fuad, A. J. (2024). Islamic Boarding School Education Cultivates Moderate Character In Poso Central Sulawesi. Al-Hayat: Journal Of Islamic Education, 8(3), 1173–1196. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v8i3.661

Sahin, A. (2018). Critical Issues In Islamic Education Studies: Rethinking Islamic And Western Liberal Secular Values Of Education. Religions, 9(11), 335. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9110335

Sidik, F., Anwar, H., & Kobandaha, I. M. (2025). Transformation Of Character Education Through Implementation Of Local Wisdom Values In Madrasah. Qalamuna: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Agama, 17(2), 835–844. https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v17i2.7140

Sirojuddin, A., Maskuri, M., & Ghoni, J. (2025). Integration Of Higher Education Curriculum With Islamic Boarding Schools From A Multicultural Islamic Education Perspective. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v8i2.163

Snyder, H. (2019). Literature Review As A Research Methodology: An Overview And Guidelines. Journal Of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039

Suyatno, S., Wantini, W., Sukiman, S., & Rachmawati, Y. (2022). Progressive Islamic Education: Bridging The Gap Of Islam, Indonesianness, And Modernity. The Qualitative Report. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.4782

Dube, S. & Zheba, K. (2025). Integrating Modern Pedagogies Into Islamic Education: Bridging Tradition With 21st-Century Innovation. Jmpi: Jurnal Manajemen, Pendidikan Dan Pemikiran Islam, 3(2), 210–233. https://doi.org/10.71305/jmpi.v3i2.567

Tambak, S., Hamzah, H., Sukenti, D., & Sabdin, M. (2021). Internalization Of Islamic Values In Developing Students’ Actual Morals. Jpi (Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia), 10(4). https://doi.org/10.23887/jpi-undiksha.v10i4.30328

Wakhidah, I. (2025). Internalisasi Nilai Pendidikan Islam Moderat dalam Pesantren melalui Pembelajaran Kitab Jawāhirul Adab: Penelitian. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat dan Riset Pendidikan, 3(4), 4857-4864. https://doi.org/10.31004/jerkin.v3i4.1355

Waston, W. (2018). Building Peace Through Mystic Philosophy: Study On The Role Of Sunan Kalijaga In Java. Indonesian Journal Of Islam And Muslim Societies, 8(2), 281. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v8i2.281-308

Wibowo, A. (2025). Islam And Local Culture: Shifthing Values Of Religious Practices Among Modern Javanese Society. Jurnal Keislaman, 8(2), 322–335. https://doi.org/10.54298/jk.v8i2.552

Yağdi, Ş. (2025). Islamic Religious Education And Citizenship Education: An Empirical Study Of Teachers’ Perspectives In Austria. Religions, 16(4), 502. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16040502

Yusuf, N., Usup, D., Tumiwa, A. J., Bilalu, N., & Isima, N. (2025). Mapalus Tradition: North Sulawesi Muslim Society In The Maqashid Syariah Discourse. Al-Ihkam: Jurnal Hukum & Pranata Sosial, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.19105/al-lhkam.v20i1.14025

Zabidi, F. N. M., Abd Rahman, N., & Halim, L. (2021). Integration Of Islamic Values For Environmental Conservation: An Analysis Of School Textbooks. Religions, 12(7), 509. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12070509

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v18i3.9988