From Ritual Compliance to Spiritual Internalization: The Experiential Dimension of Religiosity among Indonesian Madrasa Students
Keywords:
Spiritual Internalization, Multidimensional Religiosity, Experiential Dimension, Madrasa, Muslim AdolescentsAbstract
Many Islamic educational institutions face the challenge of students performing religious rituals as a mere formality without deep spiritual internalization. This study aims to explore the experiential dimension of students' religiosity and dissect the transition process from ritual compliance to spiritual internalization. A qualitative approach was employed using a multi-site case study design at MA NU Lekok and MA Fathul Latif Rejoso. Data were collected through phenomenological in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation. The study identified a four-stage transformation model: institutional habituation, reflective catalysis through meaning-making, experiential engagement providing peace of mind, and autonomous internalization where worship becomes an existential need. Authentic spiritual internalization is achieved when madrasas successfully transform "mandatory" regulations into meaningful emotional experiences, resulting in substantive religiosity and self-regulating mechanisms in adolescents. This article offers a new theoretical framework for educators to understand the stages of students' spiritual development within formal educational environments.
References
Andhika, M. Rezki, Yusup Ridwan, Rusdy Iskandar, Tengku Hafinda, Makmur Makmur, and Enny Haryanti. “The Islamic Scaffolding–Based REFLECT Model for Developing Students’ Spiritual Awareness.” Scaffolding: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Dan Multikulturalisme 8, no. 1 (2026): 761–79. https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v8i1.8950.
Anwar, Anwar. “Internalization of Religious Educational Values in Developing Students’ Interpersonal Intelligence.” PPSDP International Journal of Education 2, no. 2 (2023): 35–45. https://doi.org/10.59175/pijed.v2i2.106.
Asmendri, Asmendri, Milya Sari, Deni Asrida, Lita Sari Muchlis, Vicky Rizki Febrian, and Nur Azizah. “Transformational Leadership in Islamic Education Institution Through Social Media Engagement.” Jurnal Pendidikan Islam 10, no. 2 (2024): 336–49. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v10i2.40221.
Atin, Sri, and Maemonah Maemonah. “Internalisasi Nilai-Nilai Karakter Religius Melalui Pembelajaran Akidah Akhlak Di Madrasah Ibtidaiyah.” EDUKASI: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Agama Dan Keagamaan 20, no. 3 (2022): 323–37. https://doi.org/10.32729/edukasi.v20i3.1302.
Baxter, Pamela, and Susan Jack. “Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers.” The Qualitative Report 13, no. 4 (2008): 544–59. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1573.
Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. “Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 3, no. 2 (2006): 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Erfani, Ahmad Faqih, and Moh Ulum. “Analisis Pembentukan Karakter Religius Siswa Melalui Program Pembiasaan Sekolah.” J-Simbol: Jurnal Magister Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra Indonesia 13, no. 1 (2025): 468–80. https://doi.org/10.23960/simbol.v13i1.642.
Fusch, Patricia, and Lawrence Ness. “Are We There Yet? Data Saturation in Qualitative Research.” The Qualitative Report 20, no. 9 (2015): 1408–16. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2015.2281.
Glock, Charles Y., and Rodney Stark. Religion and Society in Tension. Rand McNally, 1966.
Hadi, Mokhamad Yaurizqika, and Dini Siamika Tito Prayogi. “Managing Islamic School Culture to Develop Students’ Religious Character.” Journal of Educational Research and Practice 3, no. 2 (2025): 255–75. Jakarta, Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.70376/jerp.v3i2.304.
Huda, Miftahul. “Strengthening Religious Moderation Through the Core Values of Islamic Boarding School Education.” Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education 8, no. 1 (2024): 59–71. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v8i1.458.
Ilmah, Mulyati Choirul, and Muhammad Yusron Maulana El Yunusi. “Internalization of Islamic Boarding School Values in Forming Student’s Personalities.” Ambarsa : Jurnal Pendidikan Islam 6, no. 1 (2026): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.59106/abs.v6i1.458.
Khalifatus Sa’adah, Ainol, and Ismatul Izzah. “Kepemimpinan Transformasional Kepala Madrasah Terhadap Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka Di Probolinggo.” Al-Fahim : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam 5, no. 1 (2023): 120–35. https://doi.org/10.54396/alfahim.v5i1.553.
Manaf, Abdul. “A School Culture-Based Empowerment Model to Strengthen Religious Traditions in Madrasah.” RASAFAT: Research and Studies on Academic Frameworks and Thought 1, no. 1 (2025): 49–68.
Muid, Muhamad Abdul. “Information Literacy Skills of Students in Pesantren Environments: A SCONUL Seven Pillars Analysis in Language Learning Contexts.” Literaturia: Journal of Linguistics, Literature, and Language Teaching 1, no. 1 (2026): 17–26.
Nadhifah, Firyal, and Karimulloh Karimulloh. “Hubungan Religiusitas dan Resiliensi Akademik pada Mahasiswa dalam Perspektif Psikologi Islam.” Al-Qalb : Jurnal Psikologi Islam 12, no. 1 (2021): 51–60. https://doi.org/10.15548/alqalb.v12i1.2444.
Nur, Tya Shofarina M., Aceng Kosasih, Saepul Anwar, and Nur Fatimah. “Substantive Religiosity among Adolescents: A Comparison between Junior High School and Madrasah Tsanawiyah in Bandung.” Mimbar Agama Budaya 42, no. 2 (2025): 340–56. https://doi.org/10.15408/mimbar.v42i2.47244.
Nurhakim, Amien, and Andi Rahman. “The Ihsan Hadith as The Spiritual Foundation of Muraqabah: A Comparative Study with Contemporary Mindfulness.” Afkar: Jurnal Akidah Dan Pemikiran Islam 27, no. 2 (2025): 427–56. https://doi.org/10.22452/afkar.vol27no2.13.
Nursobah, Asep, Arjuna Arjuna, Muhammad Miftah Ulhaq, and Mutiara Ariska. “Integrative Model of Religious Habituation in Building Students Religious Character.” Fitrah: Journal of Islamic Education 6, no. 2 (2025): 310–25. https://doi.org/10.53802/fitrah.v6i2.1142.
Rahmadi, Rahmadi, and Hamdan Hamdan. “Religious Moderation in the Context of Islamic Education: A Multidisciplinary Perspective and Its Application in Islamic Educational Institutions in Indonesia.” Khazanah: Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Humaniora 21, no. 1 (2023): 59–82. https://doi.org/10.18592/khazanah.v21i1.8487.
Rahmatullah, Asep, and Akhmad Fauzi Hamzah. “Model Bimbingan Konseling Dengan Pendekatan Cognitive Behavioral Di Pesantren Moderat At-Thohiriyah Banten.” Muthmainnah: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling Islam Dan Psikosufistik 1, no. 1 (2025): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.38073/muthmainnah.v1i1.3498.
Sariroh, Sa’idatus, Iwan Kuswandi, and Framz Hardiansyah. “Cultivating Spiritual Awareness in Islamic Primary Education through Contemplative Pedagogy: A Quasi-Experimental Study.” Journal of Integrated Elementary Education 6, no. 1 (2026): 239–53. https://doi.org/10.21580/jieed.v6i1.30538.
Sudin, Mahmudin, and Zailani Zailani. “Transformation of Islamic Education through the Integration of Sufism For the Enhancement of Spiritual Intelligence.” Fitrah: Journal of Islamic Education 6, no. 2 (2025): 417–35. https://doi.org/10.53802/fitrah.v6i2.1316.
Suprayitno, Achmad. “The Role of Spiritual Leadership in Strengthening the Religious Culture of Schools.” International Journal of Islamic Pedagogical Research 1, no. 1 (2025): 36–51. https://doi.org/10.65789/ijipr.v1i1.38.
Usman, Usman, A’zhami Alim Usman, and Faras Puji Azizah. “The Role of Muraqabah in Developing Pedagogical Competence Among Islamic Higher Education Lecturers.” Jurnal Pendidikan Islam 10, no. 2 (2024): 207–17. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v10i2.38650.
Xu, Shuhui. “The Three‐dimensional Dynamic Model of Legal Socialization: A Cross‐cultural Theoretical Integration of Chinese and Western Research.” Legal and Criminological Psychology, March 2, 2026, lcrp.70028. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.70028.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nurul Indana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
