Adaptive Moderation in Islamic Education: A Study of NU Teachers in Muhammadiyah-Affiliated Schools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/jiis.v5i2.10379Keywords:
Adaptive Moderation, Islamic Education, Muhammadiyah, NU, Teacher PerspectiveAbstract
This study investigates how religious moderation is practiced as an adaptive process by Islamic Education (PAI) teachers affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) working in a Muhammadiyah-based primary school. It addresses a gap in existing studies that largely emphasize normative and policy-oriented perspectives of moderation, while paying limited attention to teachers’ lived experiences, identity negotiation, and pedagogical practices in cross-traditional educational settings. A qualitative case study was conducted at SD Muhammadiyah 2 Samarinda from March to April 2026, involving three purposively selected PAI teachers. Data were collected through direct observation, semi-structured online interviews via Zoom, and documentation, and analyzed using an interactive model combined with thematic coding. The findings reveal that teachers’ religious understanding is grounded in the Qur’an and Hadith, accompanied by selective acceptance of intra-Islamic differences within the domain of furu’iyah. Social interaction with non-Muslims is allowed within worldly affairs, while clear theological boundaries are maintained. Moderation is understood as a balanced stance that integrates doctrinal commitment with social tolerance. In classroom practice, moderation is implemented through the integration of theological instruction and values of respect, supported by exemplification of prophetic conduct. Teachers also demonstrate the ability to maintain their NU-based identity while adapting to the Muhammadiyah institutional environment. These findings indicate that religious moderation operates as a context-dependent and dynamic process shaped by textual commitment, social interaction, and pedagogical strategies, conceptualized in this study as “adaptive moderation,” contributing to a more practice-oriented understanding of moderation in Islamic education.
References
Archibald, M. M., Ambagtsheer, R. C., Casey, M. G., & Lawless, M. (2019). Using Zoom Videoconferencing for Qualitative Data Collection: Perceptions and Experiences of Researchers and Participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919874596
Ardiansyah, A. A., & Erihadiana, M. (2022). Strengthening Religious Moderation as a Hidden Curriculum in Islamic Religious Universities in Indonesia. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 109–122. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v5i1.1965
Arikarani, Y., Azman, Z., Aisyah, S., Ansyah, F. P., & Kirti, T. D. Z. (2024). Konsep Pendidikan Islam Dalam Penguatan Moderasi Beragama. Edification Journal : Pendidikan Agama Islam, 7(1), 71–88. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.37092/ej.v7i1.840
Astuti, A., Mulianingsih, F., Kintoko, K., Purnomo, A., & Saputra, D. (2025). Integration of Religious Moderation in Social Studies Education for Strengthening Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Economic Development in Vulnerable Communities. EDUPIJ: Educational Process: International Journal, 20(5), 1–20. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1389095
Bianda, R., Gunaepi, A., Niteh, M. Y., & Ahmad, M. (2026). From Fatwa to Foreign Policy: A Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah Analysis of the 2024 MUI Fatwa on International Relations. Al-’Adl, 19(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31332/aladl.v19i1.12904
Dewantoro, A. Q., Hilmi, M., & Muthi’Uddin, A. (2026). Comparison of Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah’s Religious Moderation Strategies in the Context of Contemporary Indonesia. Values: Jurnal Kajian Islam Multidisiplin, 3(1), 91–102. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61166/values.v3i1.152
Firmansyah, M., Malintang, J., Alfadhli, & Suratin, S. I. (2025). Integrasi Pendidikan Agama Islam dan Hermeneutika Al- Qur’an dalam Ruang Kehidupan. Raudhah Proud To Be Professionals : Jurnal Tarbiyah Islamiyah, 10(2), 795–805. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.48094/raudhah.v10i2.952
Harahap, E. W., S, S., & Samsudi, W. (2023). Moderasi Beragama dalam Islam. Edukais: Jurnal Pemikiran Keislaman, 7(3), 61–80. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61595/edukais.2023.7.2.61-80
John W. Creswell, C. N. P. (2016). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches.
Keagamaan, B. L. A. dan D. (2019). Moderasi Beragama. Badan Litbang dan Diklat, Kementerian Agama RI. https://books.google.co.id/books/about/Moderasi_beragama.html?id=WkcZ0QEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Khasanah, N., Hamzani, A. I., & Aravik, H. (2023). Religious Moderation in the Islamic Education System in Indonesia. QALAMUNA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Agama, 15(1), 629–642. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v15i1.4115
Meydan, C. H., & Akkaş, H. (2024). The Role of Triangulation in Qualitative Research: Converging Perspectives. Ankara Science University. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-3306-8.ch006
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2020). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook. Sage Publications.
Nasir, M., & Rijal, M. K. (2021). Keeping The Middle Path: Mainstreaming Religious Moderation Through Islamic Higher Education Institutions in Indonesia. Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 11(2), 213–241. https://ijims.iainsalatiga.ac.id/index.php/ijims/article/view/5009
Partono, Naja, S., & Amirudin, M. (2025). From Religious Doctrine to Constructive Dialogue: A Phenomenological Analysis of Religious Moderation Practices among NU and Muhammadiyah Students. Edukasia Islamika: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(2), 272–288. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.28918/jei.v10i2.12620
Pransiska, S. (2025). Konsep Wasathiyah sebagai Fondasi Moderasi Beragama dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam di Lembaga Pendidikan Tinggi: Studi Literatur. Nusantara Journal of Multidisciplinary Science, 3(4), 361–369. https://jurnal.intekom.id/index.php/njms/article/view/1680
Qorib, M., & Umiarso. (2025). The Religious Moderation Model Based on The Unity Of Theo-Socio-Anthropological Values in Muhammadiyah and NU Pesantren in Indonesia. Cogent Education, 12(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2584644
Rahiem, M. D. H. (2025). Towards Resilient Societies: The Synergy of Religion, Education, Health, Science, and Technology: Proceedings of the International Conference on Innovative Interdisciplinary Science for Inclusive and Sustainable Future. CRC Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?hl=id&lr=&id=iJZwEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1954&dq=Maila+D.H.+Rahiem,+Religion+and+Education+in+Global+Era+(CRC+Press,+2025).&ots=te3DDdHtOs&sig=YwWrjnEaN5RbcwsmP5bgmSqwiOw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Maila D.H. Rahiem%2C Religion and Education in Global Era (CRC Press%2C 2025).&f=false
Saeed, A. (2006). Islamic Thought: An Introduction. Routledge. https://books.google.co.id/books/about/Islamic_Thought.html?id=0d1VewAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Sugiyono. (2020). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif dan R&D. Alfabeta.
Syamsuddin, M., Jannah, K., Indriani, N., Sunandar, A. P., Fathin, M. I., Setiawan, B., & Arpannudin, I. (2025). Religious Moderation Muhammadiyah Inclusivism and Syncretic Islam in Javanese Culture in Yogyakarta. Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan, 22(2), 241–252. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21831/jc.v22i2.86207
Wahidah, N. R., & Kasidi. (2024). Integrasi Nilai-Nilai Moderasi Beragama Dalam Kurikulum Pendidikan Islam di MA Alkhairaat Kota Gorontalo: Kajian Filosofis Dan Pedagogis. Moderatio: Jurnal Moderasi Beragama, 4(2), 220–229. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32332/moderatio.v4i2.9899
Zainuddin, Rambe, F. M. R., Sari, R., Basri, & Mulyadi. (2025). Moderasi Beragama: Model Pedagogis Pendidikan Islam di Pondok Pesantren An-Najah. Ta’diban: Journal of Islamic Education, 6(1), 81–92. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61456/tjie.v6i1.305
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Winda Islamitha Nurhamidah Nurhamidah, Muqowim

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with the Journal of Indonesian Islamic Studies agree to the following terms:
- Authors have retained full articles copyright and grant the Journal of Indonesian Islamic Studies right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the Journal of Indonesian Islamic Studies published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or edit it in a book), with an acknowledgment of initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (see also deposit policy and archiving on page journal).


