A Narrative Approach to Character Cultivation in Islamic Religious Education: Using Rumi’s Mathnawi as an Example for Storytelling

In our increasingly pluralistic world, the field of religious education faces significant challenges and transformations. This is particularly true for Islamic Religious Education (IRE), which must adapt to a diverse range of denominational and sociocultural differences in both majority Muslim countries and diasporic communities. Given the importance of ethical considerations in navigating interpersonal relationships, ethical learning emerges as a crucial aspect and focal point for IRE to foster the development of constructive relationships among Muslim learners. The article advocates for a narrative-based approach to character cultivation in IRE for primary school children. It emphasises the significance of integrating narratives into IRE to address contemporary challenges and expectations. The study delves into the utilisation of a story from Rūmī’s Mathnawī, entitled “The Name for Grapes,” as a case study to illustrate how narratives can serve as didactic tools within Islamic culture. Through the incorporation of narratives, Muslim children can gain a deeper understanding of ethical challenges, nurture character traits and align their thoughts, feelings and actions with Islamic values.