Local Wisdom in Islamic Education: A Conceptual and Practical Study

Abstract

This study explores the integration of local wisdom into Islamic education across diverse cultural and regional contexts. Drawing on literature and documentation from various provinces in Indonesia such as Jambi, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, South Sulawesi, Lombok, Kalimantan, and Papua as well as Islamic traditions in Pakistan and Morocco, the research identifies specific forms of local wisdom that align with Islamic educational goals. These include rituals (e.g., Megengan, Nyadran, Grebeg Maulud), ethical systems (e.g., Pangngadereng), Sufi traditions (e.g., Urs and Zawiya), and community-based practices (e.g., Ambengan, Bakar Batu). The findings highlight that local wisdom enhances the moral, spiritual, and social dimensions of Islamic education, fostering stronger cultural identity, emotional engagement, and contextual learning. Best practices, such as the implementation of character values in pesantren through cultural symbols like Warok in Ponorogo, demonstrate how tradition and religion can synergize effectively. This study concludes that local wisdom is not a peripheral supplement but a core pedagogical asset that can ground Islamic teachings in students' lived realities, thus enriching the formation of holistic and context-sensitive Islamic character.