al-Afkar, Journal For Islamic Studies
Vol. 9 No. 3 (2026)

The Biography of Imam Al-Ghazali's Thought on Islamic Education and its Relevance to Contemporary Islamic Education

Anggun Putri Melati (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Jul 2026

Abstract

Amid modernization, digitalization, and secular humanism, contemporary Islamic education faces a widening gap between intellectual achievement and moral-spiritual formation. Prior studies have examined isolated dimensions of Imam Al-Ghazali's educational thought, such as character formation or the balance of knowledge and faith, but few have systematically linked his biography with a thematic mapping of his pedagogical concepts and their present-day relevance. This study addresses that gap by examining Al-Ghazali's thought on Islamic education, tracing its formation through his biography, and assessing its contemporary relevance. Using a qualitative library research method, primary sources such as Ihya' Ulum al-Din and Ayyuha al-Walad were analyzed and synthesized. Findings show Al-Ghazali's pedagogy is a coherent, operational framework, integrating knowledge and practice with intellectual, moral, and spiritual dimensions, anticipating the fragmentation between academic competence and character formation still unresolved today. This holistic model offers a substantive solution for restoring moral direction to Islamic education amid globalization.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

Afkar_Journal

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

al-Afkar, Journal for Islamic Studies is published by Association of Secondment Lecturers (Asosiasi Dosen DPK) UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung Indonesia. Focus of al-Afkar, Journal for Islamic Studies is on publishing original empirical research articles and theoretical reviews of Islamic Studies, ...