Cognitive Efficiency vs. Spiritual Depth: Pedagogical Readiness and Digital Ethics of Prospective Islamic Education Teachers

Muhammad Mufid, Moh Sugeng Solehudin, Abdul Khobir, Sopiah Sopiah

Abstract


Although technology adoption in education continues to rise, previous research indicates that the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Islamic Education remains predominantly instrumental and administrative. This trend risks creating a disconnect between technical proficiency and critical thinking, while posing a threat to religious authority. This study aims to explore the pedagogical readiness and digital ethics challenges faced by prospective Islamic Education teachers in confronting AI-driven learning transformations. Employing a qualitative approach with a case study design, the research was conducted at the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training, UIN K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, digital classroom observations, and curriculum documentation, all validated via methodological triangulation. The findings reveal that AI can function as a digital More Knowledgeable Other (digital MKO), accelerating cognitive efficiency through adaptive personalized learning. However, this efficiency exists in tension with affective-spiritual depth, triggering risks such as plagiarism, hallucination of fictitious information, and the erosion of the tabayyun (verification) tradition. This study offers insights for re-evaluating the competency framework of Islamic Education teachers by synchronizing technology with sacred Islamic values. Practical implications urge Islamic higher education institutions to redefine educators' roles as value curators, promote digital Islamic sanad literacy, and formulate ethical standards for AI usage to cultivate future Murabbi who are digitally proficient yet spiritually grounded.

Keywords


Artificial Intelligence; Digital Ethics; Digital Sanad Literacy; Islamic Education; Pedagogical Readiness

Full Text:

76-88

References


Achruh, Rapi, M., Rusdi, M., & Idris, R. (2024). Challenges and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Islamic Education in Indonesian Higher Education Institutions. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(11), 423–443. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.11.22

Adiyono, Matari, A. S. Al, Patimah, L., Syahrani, & AS, A. A. N. (2025). Can AI-Optimized YouTube Videos Enhance Islamic Religious Education ? A Quantitative Study on Student Learning Outcomes. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.v22i1.11100 Can

Ahyani, S., Arifa, L. N., Khasani, F., Umie, S., & Sarie, R. (2025). AI-Enhanced TPACK with a Modeling the Way Approach for Conceptual Development and Strengthening Representational Fluency in Islamic Education. J-PAI : Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 12(1), 57–65. https://doi.org/DOI : 10.18860/jpai.v12i1.38584

Al-Attas, M. N. (1980). The concept of education in Islam. Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur.

Albuquerque, F., & Santos, P. G. dos. (2026). Can ChatGPT be a knowledgeable and accurate ethical accountant ? Assessing the overall usefulness of ChatGPT ’ s answers to ethical dilemmas ☆. Journal of Accounting Education, 73(November 2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccedu.2025.101000

Asiyah, N., Labibunnajah, M. H., Almuzakky, A. H., & Alif, A. A. (2026). Conceptualizing Qur ’ anic Learning Engagement : Integrating Value Co-Creation and Relational Sustainability in the Digital Era. J-PAI : Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 12(2), 245–259. https://doi.org/10.18860/jpai.v12i2. 41828

Bannert, M., Kasneci, E., Sessler, K., Stefan, K., Fischer, F., Gasser, U., Groh, G., Stephan, G., Poquet, O., Sailer, M., Schmidt, A., & Seidel, T. (2023). ChatGPT for Good ? On Opportunities and Challenges of Large Language Models for Education. Learning and Individual Differences, 103, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2023.102274

Barkati, A., & Cahyadi, A. (2024). Teknologi Sebagai Pendekatan Dalam Optimalisasi Pendidikan Agama Islam (PAI). Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 3(1), 173. https://doi.org/10.52434/jpai.v3i1.3739

Barrot, J. S. (2023). Using ChatGPT for second language writing: Pitfalls and potentials. Assessing Writing, 57, 100745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2023.100745

Bond, M., Khosravi, H., Laat, M. De, Bergdahl, N., Negrea, V., Oxley, E., Pham, P., Chong, S. W., & Siemens, G. (2024). A meta systematic review of artificial intelligence in higher education : a call for increased ethics , collaboration , and rigour. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 21(4), 1–41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00436-z

Carr, N. (2020). The shallows: What the Internet is doing to our brains. WW Norton & Company.

Celik, I. (2023). Towards Intelligent-TPACK : An empirical study on teachers ’ professional knowledge to ethically integrate artificial intelligence ( AI ) -based tools into education. Computers in Human Behavior, 138(May 2022), 107468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107468

Chan, C. K. Y., & Hu, W. (2023). Students ’ voices on generative AI : perceptions , benefits , and challenges in higher education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(43), 20–43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00411-8

Chen, X. H., Hasan, M., Zhu, D. X., & Jellason, N. (2023). Relationship between Entrepreneurial Energy Efficiency Orientation and Carbon Footprint Reduction: The Mediating Role of Green Networking and Identification of …. Journal of Environmental Management, 347, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119256

Chiu, T. K. F. (2024). The impact of Generative AI ( GenAI ) on practices , policies and research direction in education : a case of ChatGPT and Midjourney. Interactive Learning Environments, 32(10), 6187–6203. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2023.2253861

Cole, R. (2024). Inter-Rater Reliability Methods in Qualitative Case Study Research. Sociological Methods & Research, 53(4), 1944–1975. https://doi.org/10.1177/00491241231156971

Cotton, D. R. E., Cotton, P. A., Shipway, J. R., Cotton, D. R. E., Cotton, P. A., Chatting, J. R. S., & Cotton, D. R. E. (2024). Chatting and cheating : Ensuring academic integrity in the era of ChatGPT. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 61(2), 228–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2023.2190148

Fadel, C., Holmes, W., & Bialik, M. (2019). Artificial intelligence in education: Promises and implications for teaching and learning. The Center for Curriculum Redesign, Boston, MA. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 14(4), 228.

Ferianto, Susanto, A., & Hajimasamae, M. (2025). A Pedagogical Model for Worship Literacy : Integrating the Skill Mastery Pyramid in Islamic Religious Education. J-PAI : Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.18860/jpai.v12i1.36583

Haidir, H., Arizki, M., & Fariz, M. (2021). An Innovation of Islamic Religious Education in The Era of The Industrial Revolution 4.0 in Elementary School. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 4(3), 720–734. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v4i3.1688

Holmes, W., & Tuomi, I. (2022). State of the art and practice in AI in education. European Journal of Education, 57, 542–570. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12533

Huberman, M., & Miles, M. B. (2002). The qualitative researcher’s companion. sage.

Huda, M. N. (2025). Reconstructing the management of Islamic education learning technology : Synthesizing the TPACK framework with principles of Islamic leadership for sustainable innovation. Jurnal Studi Edukasi Integratif, 2(1), 30–41. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.53696/30474329

Ibrahim, M., Rijal, S., Mawardi, M., Miswari, M., & Sihotang, B. (2025). Implementing Tazkiyah Al-Nafs In The Development Of Student Character. MIQOT: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 49(1), 162–183.

Ilmudinulloh, R., Bustomi, A., & Pratiwi, W. R. (2020). Development of Tutorial Videos to Improve Learning Outcomes of Islamic Education Students. Tarbiyah: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan, 0, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.32332/tarbawiyah.v6i1.4785

Khasani, F. (2026). From knowledge transfer to wisdom cultivation: Reorienting islamic education in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and post-truth. Journal of Modern Islamic Studies and Civilization, 4(01), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.59653/jmisc.v4i01.2205

Kurikulum, B. S. (2024). Panduan Pembelajaran dan Asesmen Kurikulum Merdeka Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, Pendidikan Dasar, dan Pendidikan Menengah. Badan Standar, Kurikulum, dan Asesmen Pendidikan (BSKAP) Kementerian ….

Kwon, K., Yang, S., Kale, U., Kim, K., & Park, J. (2026). Generative AI in high school English career preparation units: Student interactions, perceptions, and ethical concerns. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 10(March), 100588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2026.100588

Li, Y., Nong, R., Liu, J., & Evans, L. (2025). Adaptive Learning Systems: Personalized Curriculum Design Using LLM-Powered Analytics. ArXiv Preprint ArXiv:2507.18949.

Ma’arif, M. J., Khoiriyah, S., & Anwar, S. (2025). Pesantren and Digital Literacy: Fiqh-Based Assessment of Islamic Teachers’ Competency in Strengthening Religious Moderation. EDUKASIA ISLAMIKA Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(2), 181–209. https://doi.org/10.28918/jei.v10i2.12117

Matthew, M., Bainbridge, D., Bishop, V., Sinding, C., Winemaker, S., Kilbertus, F., Kortes-Miller, K., & Seow, H. (2023). Implementing palliative care education into primary care practice: a qualitative case study of the CAPACITI pilot program. BMC Palliative Care, 22(1), 143.

Mazzoni, E., Benvenuti, M., & Benassi, M. (2025). Reframing AI In Education: A Vygostskian Perspective On Proximal Development. International Journal of Arts, Humanities & Social Science, 6(Special Issue), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.56734/ijahss.v6nSa2

Mintasih, D., Sukiman, & Purnama, S. (2024). Integration of Digital Technology in Islamic Religious Education Learning : A Qualitative Study on Teachers ’ Competence and Implementation Models in Secondary Schools. JURNAL PENDIDIKAN ISLAM, 13(1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2024.131.

Mishra, P., & Koehler, M. J. (2006). Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge: A Framework for Teacher Knowledge. Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education, 108(6), 1017–1054. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810610800610

Muharromah, L., & Manshur, U. (2025). Digital Ethics in the Perspective of Islamic Education : Cultivating Religious Awareness in Cyberspace. Journal of Educational Management Research, 04(06), 2484–2497. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v4i3.1397

Nguyen, H., Marleen, J., & Strijbos, J. (2024). Developing a Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge ( TPACK ) survey for university teachers. Computers and Education Open, 7(July), 100202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2024.100202

Qosim, N., & Hamid, A. (2025). Tuhan dalam Genggam: Transformasi Pengalaman Spiritual dan Praktis Keagamaan di Era Kecerdasan Buatan (AI). Setyaki Jurnal Studi Keagamaan Islam, 3, 38–52. https://doi.org/DOI : 10.59966/setyaki.v3i4.2452

Ramadhan, M. R., Crismono, P. C., Hanifiyah, F., & Yakoh, M. (2026). Integrating Qur ’ anic Values into Algebra Learning : A Pedagogical Model for Developing Islamic Scientific Character. J-PAI : Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 12(2), 172–187. https://doi.org/10.18860/jpai.v12i2. 41485

Razafinirina, M. A., Dimbisoa, W. G., & Mahatody, T. (2024). Pedagogical Alignment of Large Language Models (LLM) for Personalized Learning: A Survey, Trends and Challenges. Journal of Intelligent Learning Systems and Applications, 16(04), 448–480. https://doi.org/10.4236/jilsa.2024.164023

Sakdiah, Hayati, Mahmud, S., & Furqan, M. (2025). Gamification In I Slamic R Eligious Education : Developing Interactive Learning Media Via Quizizz With The Addie. Edukasi: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran, 12(1), 171–191.

Salvagno, M., Taccone, F. S., & Gerli, A. G. (2023). Artificial intelligence hallucinations. Critical Care, 27(1), 180. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-023-04473-y

Schlunegger, M. C., Zumstein-Shaha, M., & Palm, R. (2024). Methodologic and Data-Analysis Triangulation in Case Studies : A Scoping Review. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 46(8), 611–622. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459241263011

Selwyn, N. (2019). Should robots replace teachers?: AI and the future of education. John Wiley & Sons.

Selwyn, N. (2023). Digital degrowth : toward radically sustainable education technology. Learning, Media and Technology, 49(2), 186–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2022.2159978

Sujatha, S. M., Rani, S. L., & Sngeetha, N. U. (2023). The Exemplary Leadership Qualities Of Teachers. Journal of Research Administration, 5(2), 1650–1660.

Syarifuddin, A. I. (2026). From Sanad to Algorithms: The Transformation of Islamic Authority and the Reconstruction of Nusantara Islamic Epistemology in the Digital Age. AL GHAZALI: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pemikiran Islam, 6(2), 467–488.

Syukur, F., Maghfurin, A., Marhamah, U., & Jehwae, P. (2024). Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Islamic Higher Education : Comparative Responses between Indonesia and. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(3), 531–553. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i3.13

Vygotsky, L. S., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard university press.

Widodo, R. B. (2025). Dakwah Berbasis Teknologi Artificial Intelligence (Pendekatan Teori Komunikasi Massa Dalam Mempengaruhi Khalayak). Jurnal Dakwah: Risalah Merintis, Dakwah Melanjutkan ·, 8(2), 4–10.

Yunita, I., Saidah, A., & Fahmi, M. (2025). The Imperative of Integrating Knowledge and Adab in Reconstructing Islamic Education in the Digital Era : A Study of Al- Attas ’ s Thought. J-PAI : Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 11(2), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.18860/jpai.v11i2. 32660

Zahari, M. Z. I., Yusof, N. H., & Abdullah, M. S. N. (2026). Opportunities And Challenges in the Authorization of the Sanad Talaqqi of The Qur’an in Digital Era. Contrarius Series: Law & Social Justice, 1(1), 34–42.

Zuhriyeh, S., Ali, M., & Hidayat, A. (2025). Digital Transformation of Islamic Education : An Artificial Intelligence- Based Teaching Module Development Study. Edunesia : Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan, 6(2), 1113–1126. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.51276/edu.v6i2.1255




DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860/jpai.v13i1.44942

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 M Mufid, Moh Sugeng Solehudin, Abdul Khobir, Sopiah Sopiah

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Indexed by:

SINTA GARUDA Crossref Dimensions BASE ROAD Indonesia OneSearch Neliti DOAJ