The Imperative of Integrating Knowledge and Adab in Reconstructing Islamic Education in the Digital Era: A Study of Al-Attas’s Thought

Abstract

In the digital era, Islamic education faces significant challenges, particularly in maintaining the harmony between knowledge and adab (ethical conduct). These challenges materialize in the form of moral disconnection among students, digital distractions that weaken focus, and the commodification of knowledge driven by market interests. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas identifies the erosion of adab as the root crisis in Islamic education. This study aims to explore al-Attas’s concepts of knowledge and adab, examining their relevance in reimagining Islamic education amid digital transformation. Relying on a library research method, the study employs philosophical exegesis and textual hermeneutics to critically analyze al-Attas’s seminal works, especially Islam and Secularism and The Concept of Education in Islam. Key concepts such as the loss of adab, confusion of knowledge, and the Islamic worldview are discussed as foundations for an integrated educational model. The findings emphasize that the principle of ta’dib which integrates intellectual, moral, and spiritual development is crucial for addressing contemporary issues. This research contributes a contemporary reinterpretation of ta’dib, offering both theoretical insights and practical applications for Islamic education in the digital context. Proposed strategies include ethical digital literacy, value-based teacher training, and curriculum design grounded in Islamic metaphysics. The study advocates that technology must serve to reinforce the Islamic worldview rather than secularize it. Ultimately, this work proposes a framework that reconnects knowledge with adab, ensuring Islamic education remains morally grounded and intellectually relevant in the face of digital challenges.