Morals are the main foundation in the formation of the character of students in Islamic boarding schools, but modern challenges such as the influence of globalization and the development of information technology have the potential to weaken the internalization of moral values. In this case, the dawn halaqah activity at the Darul Ilmi Banjarbaru Islamic Boarding School is an important strategy to instill moral values through direct experience, material appreciation, and the example of the supervisors. This research aims to examine the process of internalizing moral values through dawn halaqah as a medium for character development of students. The approach used is phenomenological qualitative, with data collection through in-depth interviews with ustaz, pesantren administrators, and students, as well as participatory observation and documentation. Data analysis is carried out inducively through the stages of reduction, presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study show that dawn halaqah plays a significant role in shaping the attitudes and behaviors of students, including honesty, tawadhu', responsibility, patience, discipline, tolerance, and emotional control, thereby creating a harmonious and conducive pesantren environment. The internalization process takes place through regular habituation, spiritual reflection, and the example of the supervisor, which not only strengthens spirituality, but also builds the emotional and social maturity of the students. These findings confirm the effectiveness of routine religious activities as a medium for character development and show that a hands-on and exemplary approach can strengthen the internalization of moral values. The implications of this research can be the basis for the development of character education strategies in other Islamic boarding schools and religious education institutions, as well as provide guidance for teachers to design activities that are more contextual, systematic, and oriented towards the formation of a complete character. The uniqueness of this study lies in the discovery that the intensity of student involvement in the dawn halaqah is a key factor that directly accelerates the process of internalizing moral values, something that has not been widely revealed in previous research.
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