Integrating Adabul ‘Alim Wal Muta’allim into EFL Teacher Professional Identity in the Indonesia Islamic University Context

Authors

  • Nuskhan Abid Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
  • Rudi Hartono Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
  • Rahayu Puji Haryanti Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
  • Siti Marpuah Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Eko Widianto University of Galway, Ireland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21154/cendekia.v24i1.13101

Keywords:

Adabul ‘Alim wal Muta’allim, English teacher identity, Islamic ethics, Moral agency, Narrative inquiry

Abstract

The integration of religious ethics within English Language Teaching (ELT) remains underdeveloped, often sidelined by an epistemological dichotomy between general and religious disciplines. This study investigates how the ethical dimensions of K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari’s classical text, Adabul ‘Alim wal Muta’allim, are integrated into the professional identity and pedagogical practices of English teachers at Indonesian Islamic universities. Employing a narrative inquiry methodology, data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations with five experienced English educators. The findings reveal that the embodiment of adab is a dynamic process in which teachers reposition themselves as teachers, viewing language instruction as a form of worship and as a site of moral agency. Educators internalize virtues such as sincerity, patience, and fairness to navigate linguistic challenges and student anxieties. This integration transforms the classroom into an inclusive locus of respect. Ultimately, the study concludes that religious integrity and professional excellence are inseparable in the formation of teacher identity. This research informs Islamic education by providing a framework to reduce the knowledge dichotomy and offering a model for curricular innovation that harmonizes linguistic mastery with the cultivation of religious ethics.

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Published

2026-06-19

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