Epistemology, Ontology, and Axiology in Shaping the Insan Kamil

Abstract

This study provides an in-depth examination of the philosophical foundations of Islamic education, focusing on three main dimensions: epistemology, ontology, and axiology. The philosophy of Islamic education is not merely a theoretical instrument but a normative framework that guides all educational practices toward the highest goal: the formation of the insan kamil the perfect human being who integrates the intellectual (aqliyah), spiritual (ruhiyah), and physical (jismiyah) dimensions. Through a qualitative approach using content analysis and comparative analysis of the thought of classical and contemporary Islamic educational philosophers, this study maps how these three philosophical dimensions interact in shaping a holistic Islamic educational system. The research findings indicate that: first, epistemologically, Islamic education integrates the sources of knowledge revelation (bayânî), reason (burhânî), and intuition (irfânî) as a unified whole that complements one another. Second, ontologically, human beings are viewed as khalîfah fî al-ardh, possessing the innate potential (fitrah) to achieve perfection. Third, from an axiological perspective, the Islamic values of tawhid, justice, balance (tawâzun), and ihsan serve as the moral foundation of education. This study concludes that the revitalization of contemporary Islamic educational philosophy must integrate the richness of the Islamic intellectual tradition with the demands of modernity without sacrificing the essential values of Islamic teachings.