Qur’anic Moral Education Values in QS. An-Naml 18–19: A Tafsir Al-Misbah Analysis and Its Pedagogical Implications for Islamic Education

Abstract

This study examines the Qur’anic moral education values contained in QS. An-Naml verses 18–19 through the interpretive perspective of Tafsir Al-Misbah by M. Quraish Shihab and explores their pedagogical implications for Islamic education. Although previous studies have discussed Qur’anic values and character education, limited attention has been given to how specific Qur’anic narratives can be systematically interpreted and reconstructed into educational principles through contemporary tafsir perspectives. This study employs a qualitative library research approach using thematic Qur’anic interpretation (maudhu’i) and content analysis. The primary source is Tafsir Al-Misbah Volume 10, supported by relevant academic literature on Qur’anic pedagogy, Islamic education, and moral development. The analysis reveals four interconnected moral educational values derived from the story of Prophet Solomon and the ant: (1) empathic and humanistic leadership, reflecting responsible and compassionate authority; (2) ethical communication based on husnuzan, emphasizing respectful and constructive interaction; (3) gratitude as an ethical orientation in utilizing knowledge and power; and (4) collective responsibility and social solidarity as foundations for communal care. These findings indicate that QS. An-Naml verses 18–19 contain educational principles that extend beyond narrative understanding and provide conceptual resources for developing moral education in Islamic contexts. This study contributes to Qur’anic pedagogy by connecting Tafsir Al-Misbah’s socio-cultural interpretation with contemporary Islamic educational discourse and highlighting the relevance of Qur’anic narratives as sources of moral pedagogical reflection.