ISLAMIC EDUCATION IN STRENGTHENING PEACE AND TOLERANCE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MULTICULTURAL SOCIETIES IN MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA
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The diversity of religions, ethnicities, cultures, and languages in Malaysia and Indonesia presents opportunities and challenges for peacebuilding. Differences that are not managed through inclusive education have the potential to give rise to prejudice, discrimination, and identity conflicts. This research aims to analyze the values, strategies, and challenges of Islamic education in strengthening peace and tolerance in multicultural societies in both countries. The research uses a qualitative approach with a comparative study design. Secondary data was collected through literature studies and document analysis, which included articles, academic books, education policies, curriculum, institutional reports, and relevant publications from Malaysia and Indonesia. Data are analyzed thematically-comparatively through reduction, categorization, interpretation, and triangulation of sources. The results show that Islamic education constructs tolerance as an active attitude to respect, understand, and cooperate with groups of different religions, ethnicities, and cultures. This strengthening is carried out through value-based, dialogical, reflective, collaborative, and social experience-based learning, which is supported by the example of educators and an inclusive institutional culture. Indonesia highlights the need for religious moderation, polarization management, and digital literacy, while Malaysia needs to strengthen equitable relations between communities in a pluralistic society structure. This study concludes that Islamic education can support positive peace if the values of mercy, justice, deliberation, and humanitarian brotherhood are integrated into inclusive pedagogy and supported by the synergy of schools, families, communities, and the state.
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