Moral formation through children’s songs: an Islamic educational perspective in a global media context

Ahmad H.Osman, Rahmah and Jamal, Rasyidah and Yaapar, Md. Salleh and Hamawiya Ali, Adham and Che Amran, Aisyah Aminah (2025) Moral formation through children’s songs: an Islamic educational perspective in a global media context. International Journal of Modern Education (IJMOE), 7 (28). pp. 1042-1051. E-ISSN 2637-0905

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Abstract

Children’s songs constitute a powerful yet often underexamined medium of moral socialisation in early childhood education. In contemporary Muslim societies, children are increasingly exposed to a plural media environment in which Islamic children’s songs coexist with Western-produced musical content, particularly through digital platforms. While music-based learning has been widely recognised for its cognitive, linguistic, and emotional benefits, comparatively little attention has been given to how different cultural traditions of children’s songs shape moral and religious value formation. This study addresses that gap by offering a qualitative comparative analysis of Islamic and Western children’s songs and examining teachers’ perceptions of their influence on Islamic moral development among young learners in Malaysia. Guided by theories of moral education, socio-cultural learning, and Islamic pedagogy, the study employs thematic content analysis of selected songs alongside survey data from primary and preschool teachers. The findings indicate that Islamic children’s songs consistently integrate moral instruction with religious consciousness, framing ethical behaviour as an expression of faith and accountability to God, whereas Western children’s songs primarily promote general social values within a secular and individualistic framework (Al-Ghazālī, 2004; Barrett, 2016; Lickona, 1991). Teachers reported that moral internalisation was strongest when songs were emotionally engaging and pedagogically mediated through explanation and repetition (Hallam, 2010; Ilari & Sundara, 2009). The study contributes to scholarship on music education and moral development by highlighting the culturally situated nature of musical pedagogy and emphasising the need for intentional mediation of children’s media in Islamic educational contexts.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Moral Formation, Islamic Educational Perspective, Global Media Context
Subjects:	BPL Islamic education P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures T Technology > T Technology (General) > T173.5 Technology and Islam
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Arabic Language and Literature Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User:	PROF. DR. RAHMAH BT AHMAD H. OSMAN
Date Deposited:	30 Dec 2025 08:43
Last Modified:	30 Dec 2025 08:43
Queue Number:	2025-12-Q1436
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/126592

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