The coast of the Malacca Strait has historically been an intellectual corridor that brought together various Islamic schools of thought in the archipelago and surrounding areas. Raja Ali Haji, with his phenomenal work Gurindam Dua Belas, formulated Islamic etiquette that harmonized the worldly and spiritual dimensions. This study aims to examine the relevance of these ethics to the contemporary character-building program “Seven Habits of Great Indonesian Children” (Wake Up Early, Worship, Exercise, Eat Healthy, Love Learning, Socialize, and Sleep Early). Using qualitative methods with a literature review and content analysis approach, this study found a strong synchronization of values between 19th-century coastal Islamic thought and the character needs of children in the contemporary era. The results of the study show that each point in the Seven Habits has a philosophical basis in the articles of the Twelve Gurindam, especially in terms of strengthening faith, self-control, and social responsibility. The conclusion of the study emphasizes that the integration of local Malay Islamic wisdom into the national character education system is essential in order to shape a generation that excels in physical and intellectual performance while maintaining a depth of ethics and monotheistic faith
Copyrights © 2026