Bridging 7th-century Islamic pedagogy and modern gamification: culturally responsive design for digital education

While gamification has emerged as a transformative tool in digital education, its designs often prioritize universal mechanics over culturally adaptive strategies, limiting engagement in non-Western contexts. This study addresses this gap by analyzing 7th-century Islamic pedagogical practices of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Targhib wa Tarhib (balanced reward/deterrence), Qasas (narrative storytelling), and Halaqat (community learning) as foundations for culturally responsive gamification. Through thematic codingof classical texts (Hadith, Sirah), case studies of the Kuttab system, Al-Qarawiyyin University, the gamified app QuranQuest, interviews with Islamic scholars and gamification designers, the research demonstrates how Prophetic strategies align with gamification principles: QuranQuest’s Sadaqah Points (virtual rewards redeemable for charity donations) increased daily engagement by 40%, while Al-Qarawiyyin’s debate-centric “quests” achieved 92% student satisfaction by merging collaborative competition with progressive mastery. The study proposes actionable gamification insights, including integrating intrinsic rewards (e.g., spiritual/cultural pride) to complement extrinsic mechanics, embedding culturally resonant narratives into story-driven modules, and designing virtual Halaqat (learning circles) to foster peer accountability. By translating Prophetic pedagogical wisdom into gamified solutions, this work advances a culturally adaptive paradigm for digital education, aligning with global calls to bridge historical traditions and modern innovation.