Raising thinkers or followers? Negotiated obedience, autonomy, and critical thinking in Muslim families

Rusuli, Izzatur and Akmal, Saiful and Borhan, Lihanna and Muhammad Daud, Zakiul Fuady and Silahuddin, Silahuddin (2026) Raising thinkers or followers? Negotiated obedience, autonomy, and critical thinking in Muslim families. Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura, 26 (2). pp. 555-580. ISSN 1412-1190 E-ISSN 2407-7542

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Abstract

This study examines how obedience, autonomy, and critical thinking are negotiated in Muslim families. Using a qualitative Constructivist Grounded Theory design, the study drew on semi-structured interviews with 22 Muslim participants aged 18–20 years in Central Aceh, Indonesia. Data were analysed through constant comparison, initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding. The analysis was informed by Self-Determination Theory, relational autonomy, and the Islamic ethical concept of birr al-wālidayn (dutifulness and kindness toward parents), which frames parental authority in moral and religious terms. Participants described varied responses to parental authority, including reflective compliance, negotiated disagreement, and covert noncompliance. Negotiated obedience refers to compliance accompanied by reflection, personal evaluation, and negotiation of parental expectations rather than unquestioning acceptance. Autonomy and critical thinking were expressed through questioning family rules, comparing perspectives, experiencing internal conflict, and expressing opinions while maintaining respect for family relationships. These findings suggest that obedience, autonomy, and critical thinking can be interrelated rather than mutually exclusive in the family experiences examined. By interpreting negotiated obedience and relational critical thinking within the existing relational autonomy framework, the study offers a context-specific understanding of these relationships in Muslim family education, with relevance to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Autonomy, Critical Thinking, Negotiated Obedience, Muslim family education
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF712 Developmental psychology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP174 The Practice of Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP174 The Practice of Islam > BP175 Psychology of Islam L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1101 Child study
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Psychology
Depositing User:	Dr Lihanna Borhan
Date Deposited:	21 Oct 2026 10:17
Last Update:	21 Oct 2026 10:17
Queue Number:	2026-10-Q5740
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/132135
Indexed In:	Google Scholar

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