Pendidikan Sebagai Pembentuk Karakter Bangsa: Analisis Konsep Negara Ideal Al-Farabi

Abstract

This study discusses the concept of education as a means of shaping national character from the perspective of Al-Farabi through an analysis of the ideal state concept (al-Madinah al-Fadhilah) in the goals of Islamic education in the modern era. The study is motivated by various moral crises in education, such as the dominance of academic-oriented learning, the decline of exemplary role models, and the weakening of students’ social awareness due to modernity and technological development. This research employs a library research method with a descriptive-analytical approach by examining Al-Farabi’s thoughts and relevant literature. The findings reveal that, according to Al-Farabi, education is not merely aimed at developing intellectual intelligence, but also at shaping morality, ethics, and social responsibility in order to create an ideal society and state. This concept remains relevant to be adapted by teachers and educators today through exemplary conduct, moral habituation, and contextual as well as humanistic learning approaches. Therefore, Islamic education in the modern era should not only focus on academic achievement, but also on building a civilized national character.