UIN academic: Prophet Muhammad's birthday a momentum to strengthen moral education
The meaning of Maulid should not merely stop at ceremony, the chanting of shalawat or the narration of the Prophet’s life journey, but should also encourage reflection on the relevance of prophetic values in contemporary society.
Purwokerto (ANTARA) - An academic from Universitas Islam Negeri Prof KH Saifuddin Zuhri (UIN Saizu) Purwokerto, Muridan, has said that the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (Maulid Nabi) can become a momentum to strengthen moral education and exemplary conduct amid the increasingly complex moral problems facing society.
“The meaning of Maulid should not merely stop at ceremony, the chanting of shalawat or the narration of the Prophet’s life journey, but should also encourage reflection on the relevance of prophetic values in contemporary society,” he said in Purwokerto, Central Java, on Tuesday.
He said the exemplary conduct of the Prophet Muhammad needs to be actualised through social behaviour, such as honesty, compassion, justice, respect for others and moral responsibility.
According to him, these values are increasingly important amid moral problems in the form of verbal violence within families, the habit of insulting and judging others, bullying in digital spaces, and the strengthening of individualistic attitudes.
He said the Prophet Muhammad is an uswah hasanah, or a good example, including in facing differences, treating family members, speaking to others, responding to mistakes and building social relationships.
However, exemplary education faces challenges, he said, because the younger generation does not only learn from parents, teachers and religious figures, but also from various figures through social media.
According to him, moral education must begin from the closest spaces, such as the family and the surrounding environment.
He assessed that Maulid Nabi needs to be directed from mere ceremony towards behavioural transformation. Muridan gave the example that within the family, the exemplary conduct of the Prophet Muhammad can be realised through a culture of speaking gently; in education through teachers who practise moral values; and in society through care for others.
“Meanwhile in digital spaces, exemplary conduct can be realised by verifying information, avoiding insults and maintaining communication ethics,” he said.
He said the life of the Prophet Muhammad in a diverse society is also relevant to the conditions of modern society.
According to him, differences should not become a reason for hostility, but need to be managed with respect and proper conduct. “Morality is not a complement to religion. Morality is the face of religion in social life,” he said.