Integrating Islamic Moral Values into Foreign Language Curricula in Bangladeshi Higher Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24036/kjie.v10i1.455Keywords:
Islamic moral values, foreign language curricula, integration, higher educationAbstract
The integration of Islamic moral values into foreign language curricula has emerged as a critical issue in Bangladeshi higher education, where universities strive to reconcile global academic standards with local religious and cultural contexts. This study explores the challenges and prospects of embedding Islamic ethical principles into undergraduate and graduate English Language and Literature programs while maintaining academic rigor, critical inquiry, and intercultural competence. Employing a qualitative research design, purposive sampling was used to select 20 participants, including English faculty members, curriculum developers, department chairs, and an academic administrator from public and private universities in Bangladesh. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis supported by systematic coding and categorization. The findings highlight significant challenges, such as the absence of a coherent curriculum framework, limited pedagogical resources, inadequate faculty training, institutional constraints, and concerns regarding academic neutrality. Despite these obstacles, participants viewed English Language and Literature as a promising platform for integrating Islamic moral values through ethical literary interpretation, value-based language instruction, contextualized learning activities, and interdisciplinary curriculum development. This study contributes to the growing scholarship on value-based curriculum reform by offering an empirically grounded framework for integrating Islamic moral values into foreign language education in Muslim-majority contexts.
References
Addzaky, K. U., & Apriyanti, C. (2025). Konseptualisasi Nilai-Nilai Moral dalam Perspektif Islam. Fikr: Jurnal Pemikiran Studi Islam, 1(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.62448/fjpsi.v1i1.228
Ahamed, K. (2025). English Language and Literature As an Academic Subject in Bangladesh. Journal of Linguistics, Literature & Communication Studies, 1(1), 01–10. https://doi.org/10.63456/jllcs-1-1-7
Aifang, X., Ahmad, N. K., & Rahman, S. N. A. (2024). Impact of Multicultural Literature on Intercultural Communicative Competence Development in English Language Education: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(11), 308–324. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.11.16
Al-Atas, S. M. N. (2014). Understanding the Concept of Education in Islam. In Harakah Daily. ISTAC.
Alatise, T., & Akinfolarin, C. (2025). School Based Management Committee Roles and Facilities Maintenance as Correlates of Teachers’ Effectiveness. Multidisciplinary Journal of Thought and Research, 1(3), 80–96. https://doi.org/https://mujoter.intischolar.id/index.php/mujoter/article/view/18
Amin, M. R. (2019). The teaching situation of the department of English in the universities of Bangladesh: a critical evaluation. Leksika, 13(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.30595/lks.v13i1.4062
Amir, A. N., & Rahman, T. A. (2023). Education in the Al-Faruqi’s Perspective and Its Implementation in the Context of the Islamization of Knowledge. Southeast Asian Journal of Islamic Education, 5(1), 65–80. https://doi.org/10.21093/sajie.v5i1.5475
Anidar, J., Nursyamsi, N. Diminurman, A., & Engkizar, E. (2026). Building religious character in students: a qualitative study of youth information and counseling centers. Jurnal Konseling Dan Pendidikan, 14(1), 194–204. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.29210/1158400
Ashrafuzzaman, M., Ahmed, I., & Begum, M. (2021). Learning English language through literature: Insights from a survey at university level in Bangladesh. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(S2), 1190–1209. https://doi.org/10.17263/jlls.904150
Asyibli, B., Ibtihal, A. A., Fauzan, M. F., Fauzi, A., & Hidayat, W. (2025). Epistemological Dimensions in Islamic Educational Philosophy: A Critical Analysis. Journal of Islamic Education Research, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.35719/jier.v6i1.464
Aydin, N. (2020). Paradigmatic foundation and moral axioms of ihsan ethics in Islamic economics and business. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 11(2), 288–308. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-12-2016-0146
Basarah, M. R. P., Soesanto, E., & Maharani, N. (2025). Memupuk Jiwa Kreatif dan Inovatif dalam Kewirausahaan untuk Generasi Gen Z yang Lebih Baik. Journal of Creative Student Research, 3(1), 120–129. https://doi.org/10.55606/jcsr-politama.v3i1.4732
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Reflecting on qualitative research methods: Thematic analysis and beyond. Routledge.
Brokerhof, I. M., Sucher, S. J., Bal, P. M., Hakemulder, F., Jansen, P. G. W., & Solinger, O. N. (2023). Developing Moral Muscle in a Literature-Based Business Ethics Course. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 22(1), 63–87. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2020.0072
Chand, S. P. (2025). Methods of Data Collection in Qualitative Research: Interviews, Focus Groups, Observations, and Document Analysis. Advances in Educational Research and Evaluation, 6(1), 303–317. https://doi.org/10.25082/aere.2025.01.001
Chande, A. (2023). Global Politics of Knowledge Production: The Challenges of Islamization of Knowledge in The Light of Tradition Vs Secular Modernity Debate. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 6(2), 271–289. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v6i2.3502
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. SAGE Publication, Inc.
Denny, E., & Weckesser, A. (2022). How to do qualitative research?: Qualitative research methods. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 129(7), 1166–1167. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17150
Ebrahimi, M., & Yusoff, K. (2017). Islamic Identity, Ethical Principles and Human Values. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 6(1), 325. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejms.v6i1.p325-336
Efendi, E., Jaafar, A., & Engkizar, E. (2026). Muslim Women’s Leadership in Conflict Management in Higher Education. Tadris: Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Tarbiyah, 11(2), 826–838. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24042/tadris.v11i2.30474
Elmahjub, E. (2021). Islamic Jurisprudence as an Ethical Discourse: An Enquiry into the Nature of Moral Reasoning in Islamic Legal Theory. Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, 10(1), 16–42. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojlr/rwaa023
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Hamzah, M. I., Syafril, S., Ediz, M. H., Efendi, E., & Oktavia, G. (2026). Tartil Method as an Effective Pedagogical Approach for Enhancing Students’ Interest in Quranic Learning. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research of Higher Education (IJMURHICA, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.24036/ijmurhica.v9i1.637
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Hamzah, M. I., Syafril, S., Febriani, A., Oktavia, G., & Satrial, A. (2026). Quran Teachers’ Skills as Pedagogical Foundations: Conceptual and Practical Insights into Nine Competencies. Muaddib: Journal of Islamic Teaching and Learning, 2(1), 22–38. https://doi.org/10.67055/xt598c43
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Hamzah, M. I., Syafril, S., Oktavia, G., Febriani, A., & Albizar, A. (2026). Tartil Method as an Effective Strategy for Transforming Students’ Positive Attitudes in Learning the Qur’an. Journal of Quranic Teaching and Learning, 2(1), 50–63. https://joqer.intischolar.id/index.php/joqer/article/view/21
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Sarianto, D., Ayad, N., Rahman, A., Febriani, A., Oktavia, G., Puspita, R., & Rahman, I. (2024). Analysis of Quran Education Problems in Majority Muslim Countries. International Journal of Islamic Studies Higher Education, 3(1), 65–80. https://doi.org/10.24036/insight.v3i1.209
Farzana, T. (2024). Making English Language Learning Easier: Teaching Literature Using Content-Based Instruction in the Bangladeshi Tertiaryt Efl Classroom. International Journal of English Learning and Applied Linguistics (IJELAL), 4(1), 88–102. https://doi.org/10.21111/ijelal.v4i1.11113
Halstead, J. M. (2004). An Islamic concept of education. Comparative Education, 40(4), 517–529. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305006042000284510
Halstead, J. M. (2007). Islamic values: A distinctive framework for moral education? Journal of Moral Education, 36(3), 283–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240701643056
Hamid, M. O. (2021). Interrogating the English of the English Curriculum in Postcolonial Bangladesh. Asiatic, 15(2), 11–29. https://doi.org/10.31436/ASIATIC.V15I2.2341
Hamzah, M. I., Fakhruddin, F. M., Mokhtar, M. M., Langputeh, S., & Syafrimen, S. (2025). Six Office of International Affairs Programs to Achieve World Class Universities. Journal of International Affairs and Students Mobility, 1(1), 1–16. https://jiasmy.intischolar.id/index.php/jiasmy/article/view/1
Hidayat, S., Sutisna, A., & Jaelani, R. (2025). Integrating Islamic Values into General Subjects in Elementary Schools: A Holistic Approach to Character Education. Journal of Innovation and Research in Primary Education, 4(4), 2058–2064. https://doi.org/10.56916/jirpe.v4i4.2036
Hossen, M., & A.-A.-, M. (2022). Teaching Language through Literature to Tertiary Level Students: A Study on English Language Teaching in Cumilla Region of Bangladesh. Journal of Education and Practice, 13(2), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.7176/jep/13-2-02
Ikhlas, R. Z., Ulwi, K., & Patri, P. (2025). Arabic Language Program Management for Muhadatsah Class. Journal of Arabic Literature, Teaching and Learning, 1(2), 27–37. https://jaliter.intischolar.id/index.php/jaliter/article/view/3
Jamaluddin, M., Hasib, K., & M.Ardiansyah. (2025). Islamisasi Dan Integrasi Ilmu Pengetahuan Dalam Perspektif Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas. Cognitive: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 3(3), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.61743/cg.v3i3.159
Jamil, M. S., & Fadhilah, F. A. (2025). Konsep Etika Dalam Perspektif Ta’dib Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas. Halaqa: Journal of Islamic Education, 1(2), 259–276. https://doi.org/10.61630/hjie.v1i2.31
Kilic, M. A., Ghazali, M. A., & Shehab, J. M. (2025). Prophetic Ethics in Islamic Thought: A Contemporary Analytical Study of the Qur’anic Message and Philosophical Morality. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 14(2), 967–975. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarped/v14-i2/25401
Laabdi, M., & Elbittioui, A. (2024). From Aslamat al-Maᶜrifa to al-Takāmul al-Maᶜrifī: A Study of the Shift from Islamization to Integration of Knowledge. Religions, 15(3), 342. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15030342
Lahmar, F. (2020). Islamic education: An islamic “wisdom-based cultural environment” in awestern context. Religions, 11(8), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11080409
Li, L., Sha, L., Fang, J., & Xiong, C. (2021). Intergovernmental Relations in the Educational Management System of Rural Preschool in China：Policy Evolution and Future Development. Chinese Education and Society, 54(1–2), 21–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611932.2021.1949215
Liu, B. F., Shi, D., Lim, J. K. R., Islam, K., Edwards, A. L., & Seeger, M. (2022). When Crises Hit Home: How U.S. Higher Education Leaders Navigate Values During Uncertain Times. Journal of Business Ethics, 179(2), 353–368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04820-5
Luciana, O. (2026). Teaching Ethics to Management Students: A Reflective Inquiry into Character and Moral Development. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 18(1), 13–22. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v18i1.8737
Mansoor, A., & Bano, M. (2021). Decolonial pedagogy and English literary studies: problematics in a Pakistani context. Compare, 51(4), 512–528. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2019.1645589
Marujo, H. Á., & Casais, M. (2021). Educating for public happiness and global peace: contributions from a Portuguese unesco chair towards the sustainable development goals. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(16), 9418. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169418
Masoud, M., & Almajri, S. (2025). The use of artificial intelligence-based translation tools for language department students. Journal of Arabic Literature, Teaching and Learning, 1(3), 76–92. https://jaliter.intischolar.id/index.php/jaliter
Mazurek, K. (2018). Naturalistic Inquiry. In Journal of Educational Thought / Revue de la Pensée Educative (Vol. 22, Issue 1, pp. 57–62). https://doi.org/10.55016/ojs/jet.v22i1.52853
Minoiu, C. A., Bǎrbulescu, R., & Soare, V. C. (2026). Interdisciplinary education as a foundation for value-based societal development. International Journal of Education, Leadership, Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Business, Life Sciences, and Society, 4(04), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.65222/viral.2026.1.5.25
Moni, B., & Suchona, I. J. (2025). Teachers’ Perspectives on using Literature to Teach English to Engineering Students. Shanlax International Journal of English, 13(3), 17–26. https://doi.org/10.34293/english.v13i3.9011
Nah, D. (2025). Dialogic ethical criticism in practice: Examining student receptivity and resistance to ethically oriented literature pedagogies in Singapore secondary schools. https://doi.org/10.32658/10497/30503
Noaparast, K. B. (2017). Islam and the Philosophy of Education: The Three Approaches. In Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory. ISTAC. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-588-4_334
Prawiyogi, A. G., Suparman, T., & Fitri, A. (2025). Folktales as a media for positive character building education in elementary schools (Case Study in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia). Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 9(1), 1219–1227. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v9i1.4378
Qiso, A. A., Ani Nafisah, Erik Pebrikarlepi, Muhammad Wahyudi, & Ferry Heryadi. (2025). Reconstructing the Integrative Paradigm of Islamic Education: A Critical Analysis of Integrated Islamic Schools in Indonesia. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 23(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.35905/alishlah.v23i1.13625
Rahman, M. M., Islam, M. S., Karim, A., Chowdhury, T. A., Rahman, M. M., Seraj, P. M. I., & Singh, M. K. M. (2019). English language teaching in Bangladesh today: Issues, outcomes and implications. Language Testing in Asia, 9(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-019-0085-8
Rahman, S. F. B. A., & Smith, J. (2024). The Impact of Islamic Values-Based Management on Educational Quality in Islamic Schools. JMPI: Jurnal Manajemen, Pendidikan Dan Pemikiran Islam, 2(2), 89–100. https://doi.org/10.71305/jmpi.v2i2.83
Rashid, A., & Rana, M. M. (2021). The efficacy of syllabi of general english courses at undergraduate level in bangladesh: An evaluation. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 12(6), 979–989. https://doi.org/10.17507/JLTR.1206.14
Salim, M. T. H. (2023). Restoring Language to Literature Pedagogy: Towards an Interactive Approach. Indonesian Journal of English Language Studies (IJELS), 9(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.24071/ijels.v9i1.5340
Sholihah, M., Sunanto, Afifuddin, M. A., & Salik, M. (2026). The Unity of Knowledge in the Perspective of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas: An Epistemological Analysis of Islamic Education. At-Tadzkir: Islamic Education Journal, 5(1), 62–81. https://doi.org/10.59373/attadzkir.v5i1.252
Simpson, A., & Cremin, T. M. (2022). Responsible Reading: Children’s Literature and Social Justice. Education Sciences, 12(4), 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12040264
Sithole, A. (2025). Choosing a Qualitative Research Paradigm for Social Sciences: A Literature Review for Educational Researchers. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, VIII(XII), 3945–3954. https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2024.8120327
Sudirman, S. (2023). The Conception of Morality and Value Education In Islamic Education. Jurnal Simki Pedagogia, 6(1), 87–96. https://doi.org/10.29407/jsp.v6i1.221
Sugiarto, F. (2025). Integration of Qur’an and Hadith Values as Pedagogical Innovation to Improve the Quality of Islamic Education. QALAMUNA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Agama, 17(1), 171–184. https://doi.org/10.37680/qalamuna.v17i1.6817
Suhardi, S., Sutrisno, S., & Ahyar, S. (2026). Epistemology of Islamic Education in the Qur’an: Themes, Methods, and Pedagogical Implications. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 18(1), 1266–1277. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v18i1.7651
Sultana, N. (2019). Language assessment literacy: an uncharted area for the English language teachers in Bangladesh. Language Testing in Asia, 9(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-019-0077-8
Supriyatno, T., El-Aribi, C. M. A., Muntakhib, A., & Taruna, M. M. (2021). Philosophy of Islamic Values and Life: A Review of the Methodology of Cultivating Islamic Values Towards Modern Culture. International Journal of Cultural and Religious Studies, 1(1), 01–07. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijcrs.2021.1.1.1
Thanh, N. C., Thi, T., & Thanh, L. (2015). The Interconnection Between Interpretivist Paradigm and Qualitative Methods in Education. American Journal of Educational Science, 1(2), 24–27. http://www.aiscience.org/journal/ajes
Wirentake, W. (2022). Promoting Intercultural Communication and Understanding in Diverse Language Learning Environments. Transformational Language Literature and Technology Overview in Learning (Transtool), 1(4), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.55047/transtool.v1i4.1364
Xu, L., & Mustafa, Z. (2024). Research on the Mode of University-enterprise Cooperation in Multiple Cooperative Education of Higher Education. Region - Educational Research and Reviews, 5(8), 37. https://doi.org/10.32629/rerr.v5i8.2180
Yanniris, C. (2021). Education for sustainability, peace, and global citizenship: An integrative approach. Education Sciences, 11(8), 430. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11080430
Yasmin, F. D. (2023). Effects of Bangla Literature Courses on Students of English Department in Bangladesh. International Journal of Academic Studies in Technology and Education, 1(1), 65–80. https://doi.org/10.55549/ijaste.3
Younus, M. A. Al. (2023). English Language Teachers’ Professional Development at Tertiary Level in Bangladesh: Challenges and Prospects. Journal of Critical Studies in Language and Literature, 4(6), 28–36. https://doi.org/10.46809/jcsll.v4i6.237
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Kafil Uddin, Mohammad Amimul Ahsan, Saber Ahmad, A B M Nurul Absar, Hossain Ahmed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
