IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VALUE OF LOVE FOR KNOWLEDGE IN FIQH LEARNING TO DEVELOP STUDENT'S CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Abstract

Critical thinking is an essential competency to be developed from the secondary level, and in the Islamic educational tradition it is rooted in the value of love of knowledge (cinta ilmu). However, empirical studies on how this value is implemented in fiqh learning at the madrasah tsanawiyah level remain limited. This study aims to describe the implementation of love of knowledge in fiqh learning, its relation to students’ critical thinking development, and its supporting and inhibiting factors at MTs NU Salatiga. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the madrasah head, the fiqh teacher, and students, along with observation of the madrasah environment. The data were analyzed through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing, and validated through source and technique triangulation. The findings show that (1) love of knowledge is regarded as learning capital cultivated jointly by students, teachers, and parents; (2) it is realized through innovative programs, hands-on learning, an enjoyable classroom atmosphere, and teachers’ care for students; and (3) students’ active questioning, answering, and discussing serve as early indicators of critical thinking. Support from fellow teachers and parents acts as a supporting factor, while mobile devices and social media pose the main challenge. The study contributes to Islamic education scholarship through a conceptual model linking the affective foundation of love of knowledge, pedagogy, and learning praxis in developing students’ critical thinking.