Islamic Moral Education through Linguistic Habituation: Local Wisdom, Polite Speech, and the Formation of Adab as a Hidden Curriculum
This study investigates Islamic moral education through linguistic habituation grounded in local wisdom, emphasizing polite speech as a hidden curriculum for the formation of adab. The research was conducted as an in-depth case study involving 18 informants (one religious leader, three teachers, two administrators, and twelve students). Data were generated through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and analysis of institutional language practices. Data credibility was ensured through source and method triangulation as well as member checking. Thematic analysis using an interactive model reveals that polite language is not treated as formal linguistic instruction but operates as a culturally embedded pedagogical practice within everyday Islamic boarding school life. Linguistic habituation functions as a hidden curriculum that shapes moral dispositions, including verbal politeness, emotional self-control, humility (tawadhu’), and respect toward teachers and peers. Continuous exposure to polite speech fosters an orderly, respectful, and low-conflict communicative environment, strengthening social harmony among students. This study contributes conceptually by positioning language as a pedagogical mechanism for Islamic moral education and proposes a locally grounded yet contextually adaptable model for diverse Islamic educational settings.
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