Environmental Literacy in Islamic Elementary Education: Synthesizing Eco-Theology, Eco-Sufism, and Ecological Piety

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70376/x3rtq526

Keywords:

Islamic Environmental Literacy, Eco-Theology, Eco-Sufism, Ecological Piety, Environmental Education; Islamic Elementary Education

Abstract

Environmental literacy is an essential component of sustainability education. However, existing frameworks predominantly emphasize cognitive competencies and pro-environmental behavior while providing limited attention to the theological, spiritual, and moral dimensions, particularly within Islamic education. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for Islamic Environmental Literacy in Islamic elementary education by synthesizing the concepts of Eco-Theology, Eco-Sufism, and Ecological Piety. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol, resulting in the analysis of twenty-two peer-reviewed journal articles primarily retrieved from the Scopus database, with Google Scholar used as a supplementary source for cross-checking. Thematic synthesis identified six conceptual themes, which were subsequently integrated into three higher-order dimensions: The findings demonstrate that Islamic Environmental Literacy should be understood as a developmental pathway in which eco-theology provides the epistemological foundation through the concepts of khalifah, mizan, and ayat kauniyah; eco-Sufism facilitates the internalization of ecological values through zuhd, qana'ah, and muhasabah; and Ecological Piety translates these theological and spiritual values into environmentally responsible behavior. This framework extends conventional environmental literacy perspectives by integrating cognition, spirituality, and character formation into a unified model. The proposed framework provides a theoretical foundation for curriculum development, character-oriented environmental education, and future empirical research in Islamic elementary education.

References

Abiddin, N. Z., Omar, R., & Saroni, M. (2024). Cultivating Empathy and Environmental Stewardship: Harnessing The Partnerships of Parents, Teachers and Communities for Sustainable Moral Development and Social Cohesion. Revista de Gestao Social e Ambiental, 18(8). https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n8-052

Arafa, M. A. (2026). Environmental Stewardship in Islamic Law: Principles, Institutions, and Ecological Governance in the Muslim World. In The Cambridge Handbook of Islam and Environmental Law (pp. 37–47). https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009332118.007

Aydin, M., & Degirmenci, T. (2026). Reassessing the Role of Resource Management on Sustainable Environment: Impacts of Taxation, Depletion, Renewable Energy, and Globalization. Sustainable Development, 34(S1), 879–892. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70219

Azizi, N. (2026). Towards Environmental Sustainability: A Reflection on Islamic Epistemologies and Models for Sustainable Development. In The Cambridge Handbook of Islam and Environmental Law (pp. 227–240). https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009332118.021

Bakar, S. A., Hussin, H., Rozani, M. A. S., & Ahmad, Z. A. S. (2025). Environmental Ethics in the Qur’an: A Thematic Analysis of Conservation and Stewardship. Global Journal Al-Thaqafah, 31–45. https://doi.org/10.7187/GJATSI122025-3

Banerjee, A., Jhariya, M. K., Khan, N., Raj, A., & Meena, R. S. (2021). Ecomodelling Towards Natural Resource Management and Sustainability. In Ecological Intensification of Natural Resources for Sustainable Agriculture (pp. 491–519). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4203-3_14

Bensaid, B. (2023). An Overview of Muslim Spiritual Eco-Education. Journal of Dharma, 48(4), 465–494.

Blankinship, L. A., Gillaspie, S., & Aboul-Enein, B. H. (2025). Highlighting the importance of biodiversity conservation through the Holy Qur’an. Conservation Biology, 39(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14309

Boutaj, H., Moumni, A., Nassiri, O., & Aitouna, A. O. (2021). Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: Biodiversity Under Climate Change. In Research Anthology on Environmental and Societal Impacts of Climate Change (Vol. 2, pp. 578–602). https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-3686-8.ch028

Del Rey, R., Ojeda, M., Mora-Merchán, J. A., Nieves Sánchez-Díaz, M., Morgado, B., & Lasaga, M. J. (2022). Environmental education: Effects on knowledge, attitudes and perceptions, and gender differences. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 31(4), 282–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2021.1977004

Hadisi, L., Fua, J. L., Assingkily, M. S., & Harisatyma, N. K. A. (2025). The Role of Spiritual Leadership in Internalizing Environmental Values in Islamic Eco-Madrasah. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(3), 732–748. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v8i3.141

Hnatyuk, V., Pshenychna, N., Kara, S., Kolodii, V., & Yaroshchuk, L. (2024). Education’s role in fostering environmental awareness and advancing sustainable development within a holistic framework. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7(Special Issue). https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024spe012

Hu, B., Wang, C., Xia, Z., Lu, C., & Ju, X. (2025). Environmental education in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102613

Japar, M., Sumantri, M. S., & Heldy, R. P. P. (2024). Analysis of Character Education Values: School-Based Character in Indonesia. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 30(1), 334–347. https://doi.org/10.52152/kuey.v30i1.665

Jia, F., & Wang, W. (2024). City-level sustainable development impacts on environmental literacy: Feelings toward nature, environmental knowledge, and pro-environmental behavior. Environmental Education Research, 30(8), 1263–1278. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2024.2315573

Kabir, M., Habiba, U., Iqbal, M. Z., Shafiq, M., Hammad, M., & Farooqi, Z. R. (2026). Environmental Degradation Caused by Anthropogenic Activities, Its Impacts and Consequences; A Critical Review. In Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences: Part F1668 (pp. 355–365). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-09299-1_31

Khofi, M. B. (2024). The Green School Concept in Elementary Schools as an Effort to Form Sustainable Behavior and Environmental Awareness. Al-Adzka: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 14(2), 206–225. https://doi.org/10.18592/aladzkapgmi.v14i2.14412

Khofi, M. B., & Sunoko, A. (2025). Principal’s Strategies in Developing Student Leadership Competencies Through Service Learning in Elementary Schools. Journal of Elementary Education Research and Practice, 1(2), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.70376/y2a0p125

Mahmutoğlu, T. (2024). The Founding Role of the Qur’an in the Early Perception of Geography. Hitit Theology Journal, 23, 85–103. https://doi.org/10.14395/hid.1408106

Malik, I., Karimullah, S. S., & Okur, H. (2025). Gender Analysis in the Islamic Law-Based Ecofeminism Movement for Ecosystem Protection. El-Mashlahah, 15(1), 101–124. https://doi.org/10.23971/el-mashlahah.v15i1.9040

Manolis, E. N., Manoli, E. N., Kafteranis, E. S., Retzepi, N. P., & Stilianou, A. (2025). Raising Awareness of Environmental Ethics through Film Screening in Education. Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae, 23(4), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.21697/seb.5865

Masoumbeigi, H., Mohammadi, N. M., Gooshki, H. S., Khoshi, A., Mesri, M., Najjarzadegan, F., Esrafili, A., Kermani, M., & Mahmoudi, N. (2021). An Approach to the Anthropological Theory of the Qur’an and Hadith and Their Roles in ReducingEnvironmentalDegradation. International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.32598/ijmtfm.v11i4.36166

Muassomah, M., Yaacob, S. E., Khairiah, K., Yurisa, P. R., & Demina, D. (2025). Participatory-Based Character Education: Indonesian School Children’s Experiences. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 13(3), 1615–1642. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v13i3.1969

Muchlis, A. F., Larasati, D., Hanifah, Y., Ningsih, A. A., & Triyuly, W. (2024). Sustainability Goals: A Network Analysis of Religious Values for Architecture Education and Ethics. Journal of Islamic Architecture, 8(2), 515–529. https://doi.org/10.18860/jia.v8i2.24196

Muchtar, A. (2021). Reinforcement of the New Islamic Civilization Through Qur’anic Literacy. Library Philosophy and Practice. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85101130467&partnerID=40&md5=a0081bd81c9171e6679425e10b9f19e8

Muhamad, A., Khalil, S. A., Basir, S. A., & Norasid, M. A. (2024). Instilling Islamic Values of Environmental Sustainability Through Experiential Learning: A Case Study of Revealed Knowledge and Natural Phenomena’s Students. Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, 39(2), 219–248. https://doi.org/10.21315/apjee2024.39.2.12

Mustofa, M. L., Zenrif, M. F., & Barizi, A. (2025). Towards an Islamic Ecotheology: Indonesian Muslim Organizations in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts. Problemy Ekorozwoju, 20(2), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.35784/preko.7089

Naila, I., Suwono, H., & Susilo, H. (2026). Trend research and future directions of environmental literacy education in elementary school: A systematic literature review. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 9(5). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2026161

Nur, A., Husin, H. B., & Yasir, M. (2025). Qur’anic Ecotheology and the Ethics of Forest Protection in Indonesia. Jurnal Studi Ilmu-Ilmu al-Qur’an Dan Hadis, 26(2), 351–382. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.v26i2.6312

Petkou, D., Andrea, V., & Anthrakopoulou, K. (2021). The impact of training environmental educators: Environmental perceptions and attitudes of pre-primary and primary school teachers in Greece. Education Sciences, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11060274

Rahmat, H. K., Syah, N., Barlian, E., Hafidzah, N. H., Umar, I., & Veronika, N. (2026). Environmental Literacy and Coastal Education as Pathways to Marine Ecosystem Conservation: A Systematic Literature Review. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 30(2), 1933–1946. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejabf.2026.475064.7671

Ramulumo, M., & Shabalala, N. P. (2025). Comparing Environmental Literacy in Stem and Non-Stem Preschools: Evaluating the Impact on Young Children’s Understanding and Attitudes. International Journal of Early Childhood, 57(2), 447–462. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-024-00405-1

Rodriguez, A. A. (2023). Contributions of philosophy for children to ecosocial education. Childhood and Philosophy, 19. https://doi.org/10.12957/childphilo.2023.69544

Sanidas, E., Velliou, M., Papadopoulos, D., Thomopoulos, C., & Grassos, C. (2025). Environmental degradation. An under-recognized secondary risk factor of hypertension. Kardiologia Polska, 83(4), 427–435. https://doi.org/10.33963/v.phj.104956

Setianingrum, D. A., & Dwiyanto, A. (2024). Environmental Education through Islamic Lens: Values and Practices. 482. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202448204014

Shri, G., & Tiwari, R. (2021). Environmental literacy among college students. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 25(3), 128–132. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_141_20

Taufiqurrochman, R. (2025). Linking Environmental Education and Arabic Language Teaching: Curriculum Analysis of Madrasa and Pesantren in Indonesia. Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae, 23(2), 73–85. https://doi.org/10.21697/seb.2024.5845

Tian, Y., Jin, Y., Zhao, Y., Du, Y., Shen, S., & An, J. (2024). Analysis of Knowledge Graph: Hotspots and Future Trends in Environmental Education Research. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(6). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062378

Udasmoro, W., Hardini, T. I., Zein, T. T., & Syarfina, T. (2025). Student perceptions towards the implementation of higher education’s character education program: Challenges and the role of the academic environment. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.58256/zev7a754

Warren, R., Price, J., & Jenkins, R. (2021). Climate change and terrestrial biodiversity. In The Impacts of Climate Change: A Comprehensive Study of Physical, Biophysical, Social, and Political Issues (pp. 85–114). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822373-4.00025-2

Xiong, Z., Song, Y., & Zhu, R. (2025). Pedagogical Strategies for Teaching Environmental Literacy in Secondary School Education: A Systematic Review. Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(20). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209104

Downloads

Published

2026-10-01

How to Cite

Khofi, M. B. (2026). Environmental Literacy in Islamic Elementary Education: Synthesizing Eco-Theology, Eco-Sufism, and Ecological Piety. Journal of Elementary Education Research and Practice, 2(3), 134-157. https://doi.org/10.70376/x3rtq526