From Rigid Rules to Radical Compassion: Integrating the Love-Based Curriculum into Fiqh Learning at MTs As'adiyah Putra Pusat Sengkang

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the integration of the Love-Based Curriculum (Kurikulum Berbasis Cinta/KBC) into Fiqh learning at MTs As'adiyah Putra Pusat Sengkang, an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Motivated by the pervasive phenomenon of dehumanization in religious education — where Fiqh instruction has been reduced to rigid legal formalism devoid of emotional and spiritual depth — this research investigates three interrelated dimensions: (1) the planning processes through which KBC principles are embedded in instructional modules, (2) the pedagogical implementation of KBC-integrated Fiqh learning using the Deep Learning approach (Meaningful, Mindful, Joyful), and (3) the supporting and inhibiting factors encountered in this integration. Data were collected through structured observation, in-depth interviews with the principal, curriculum coordinator, Fiqh teachers, and students, and documentation analysis of teaching modules, learning objectives, and assessment instruments. Analysis followed the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana interactive model of qualitative data analysis. Findings reveal that KBC integration systematically repositions Fiqh education from a nomos-oriented paradigm — grounded in fear and legal compliance — toward an eros-oriented paradigm grounded in love, compassion, and conscious spirituality. Key outcomes include meaningful shifts in student motivation, affective engagement, and behavioral transformation. Institutional leadership, strong pesantren culture, and motivated teachers were identified as primary enabling factors, while digital infrastructure deficits, curriculum overload, and student diversity posed significant challenges. The study demonstrates that Love-Based Curriculum can serve as a transformative pedagogical framework for humanizing Islamic religious education in pesantren contexts.