Muslim Education Review

Preface

Nina Nurmila — 2025-07-01

After three years of intensive publication twice a year, MER is accredited as Sinta 3 journal in March 2025. Of course, we expected higher result, even indexed by Scopus. However, we understand that success takes time to achieve. As a “baby” journal under five years old, we will try harder to achieve a better accredited and reputable journal. With this level of accreditation, other than advertising to have online journal system (OJS) submission, we keep relying on our sources of article from MER Writing Competition, Annual Conference papers and papers written by our Scholar in Residence. When we have better accredited journal, we believe that MER will attract more OJS submissions.

Understanding School-Based Interpersonal Relationships: The Case of Morning Greetings at Adameesoksavittaya Islamic School, Krabi, Thailand

Ubaidillah Ubaidillah — 2025-07-01

Morning greeting rituals are a common yet culturally rich practice in many schools, serving as more than simple pleasantries. In the Thai-Muslim context of Adameesoksavittaya School in Krabi, these daily interactions reflect deeper values of respect, identity and community. This research delves into an investigation of the socio-cultural dynamics surrounding morning greeting gestures at Adameesoksavittaya School in Krabi, Thailand. The objectives of the research are to observe the significance of morning greetings within the school’s cultural context and to explore how these gestures contribute to interpersonal relationships among students and staff. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, data was gathered through participant observation, interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal rich cultural norms and social interactions embedded in the morning greeting rituals, that these gestures serve as more than mere formalities; they embody respect, solidarity and communal belonging within the school community. The study also elucidates the nuanced variations in greeting gestures based on culture. The main argument underscores the importance of recognizing the sociocultural intricacies inherent in seemingly mundane daily practices. Understanding and respecting these customs not only foster a sense of inclusivity and mutual respect but also contribute to the overall well-being and cohesion of the school community. This research provides valuable insights into the role of cultural practices in shaping social dynamics within educational settings.

Exploring the Meaning of the 'Secret Book of Bainal Haq' as a Literature Learning: A Study of Ludwig Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Language

Hasanuddin Chaer — 2025-07-01

This article delineates the stylistic similarities between Hölderlin's poetry and Sufi poetry within the manuscript of the 'Secret Book of Bainal Haq'. Accordingly, this research aims to highlight the shared stylistic features found in both types of poetry within the context of understanding the existence of God. The expressions of Sufi poetry contained therein reflect universal spiritual symbols capable of transcending cultural and historical boundaries. The Sufi literary discourse in the 'Secret Book of Bainal Haq' is connected to past literary traditions and anticipates the future direction of literature, as reflected in the poetry and metaphors used in the manuscript. This research approach adopts a qualitative descriptive content analysis method, employing Wittgenstein's 'Philosophical Investigations' approach. The research findings demonstrate that this approach effectively traces the relationship between transcendental existence (God) and religious aspects through Sufi literature in the 'Secret Book of Bainal Haq'. Within the framework of this research, the philosophy of language is considered an effective tool for understanding transcendental existence through literary discourse.

What Are Effective Strategies to Ensure Teachers’ Psychological Well-Being Amid Social Crisis?: A Lesson From Covid-19 Pandemic

Muhammad Yahya Abdullah — 2025-07-01

In the context of a crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the decline in teachers’ psychological well-being has become a serious issue that affects the effectiveness of the learning process. Through previous literature studies, this research aims to map various strategies that can foster teachers’ psychological well-being in a social crisis, using the COVID-19 pandemic as the model crisis. This can serve as a guide for regulators in educational institutions in facing future crisis events. The research method used is a systematic literature review, which allows researchers to systematically evaluate and synthesize findings from various relevant literature sources published between 2019 and 2023, including only journal articles. Eventually, the results identified 10 strategies that can be implemented: teacher creativity, resource support, supportive environment, relational support, teacher competency development, psychological support, organization, physical training, collaboration with policy makers, and additional funding. It is hoped that these strategies can become the basis to contribute positively to teachers’ psychological well-being while facing complex challenges in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic later.

Implementing Religious Moderation Values at Madrasah Aliyah

Siti Zulfa — 2025-07-01

Religious diversity in Indonesia demands its citizens to be moderate as they encounter religious affairs in society. Educators have made substantial efforts in many contexts, including in Madrasah Aliyah, to enable students to embrace the values of religious moderation not only in academic settings but also on a daily basis. This study aims to identify how a Madrasah Aliyah promotes religious moderation values, including students’ responses towards the notion. This study used a qualitative approach and case study design. The research instruments used questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. This study was situated in the scope where the school implements Islamic concepts in learning, which involved a teacher and 32 students. The data for this study is gathered from questionnaires and interviews. The study found that the values of religious moderation are promoted through learning activities supported by the school’s system. Being fair, tolerant, respecting differences, helping others, being honest, humble, cooperative, peaceful, responsible, and being a role model are religious moderation values promoted by the school. These values are embedded in all stages of learning. Also, this study discovered that teachers and students have implemented religious moderation values during teaching and learning. This study has shed light on how religious moderation values can be implemented in Madrasah Aliyah, and students can integrate those values into academic and actual life conditions.

Storytelling and Creative Writing: Critical Literacy Practices in a Community Learning Center in Central Java

Zulfa Sakhiyya — 2025-07-01

Despite providing flexible, accessible and relevant learning opportunities to Indonesia’s marginalized groups, the equivalency program is looked down upon and its students are labelled with the stigma of second-class students. By co-constructing qualitative data through document analysis, site visits and interviews with the principal, facilitators and students of Omah Dongeng Marwah, a community learning center which provides a high school equivalency program in Kudus Central Java, the current study challenges such stereotypes by exploring critical literacies as practiced in the community learning center. This study argues that meaningful literacy practices, especially storytelling and creative writing, can be effective and viable mechanisms to enhance literacy learning, and build student agency and voice. Our findings reveal that storytelling might contribute to the improvement of reading skills as students are exposed to diverse narratives, while creative writing offers a space where students can practice articulating their ideas and feeling in authentic and meaningful ways. More importantly, storytelling and creative writing as practiced in the learning process have given underprivileged students opportunities and agency to define themselves despite being marginalized.

The The Role of School Climate Perception on Teaching Efficacy with Special Needs Children : Examining Teachers' Perspective in Kota Depok

Anisa Rahmadani — 2025-07-01

This study is grounded in the premise that prior to delving into teachers' perspectives on inclusive education implementation, it is imperative to possess a tool that assesses their confidence in teaching children with special needs. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research investigates the correlation between demographic variables, perceptions of school climate, and the effectiveness of teaching children with special needs. 72 teachers from public and private schools in Kota Depok were involved in this research. This research aims to address the question, does perceived school climate impact teaching efficacy for children with special needs? Using a t-test and regression analysis, this research found a significant association between teachers' perceptions of an inclusive school climate and their efficacy in instructing students with special needs. Moreover, the regression analysis underscores the predominant role of school-provided resources, collaboration, and instructional innovation in shaping teaching efficacy.