Islamic Religious Education and Moral Development in the Digital Age: A Conceptual Framework for Addressing Digital Ethical Challenges

The advancement of digital technology has transformed the lives of younger generations while simultaneously presenting significant challenges to moral development, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, the dissemination of misinformation, inappropriate online communication, and inadequate self-regulation. In addressing these challenges, Islamic Religious Education (IRE) plays a strategic role in instilling Islamic values as a moral foundation for interactions in digital environments. This study aims to examine the challenges of moral development among the digital generation, explore the relevance of Islamic Religious Education values in responding to digital ethical challenges, and formulate strategies for strengthening morality based on Islamic values. This study employs a qualitative approach through library research. Data were collected by reviewing scholarly journal articles, books, and other relevant literature and subsequently analyzed using content analysis within a descriptive-analytical framework. The findings indicate that the Islamic values of honesty (?idq), trustworthiness and responsibility (amanah), ethical conduct (adab), self-regulation, and mutual respect (tas?mu?) are highly relevant to addressing moral challenges in digital environments. These values need to be internalized through educators’ role modeling, contextual learning, the development of digital ethical awareness, and collaborative engagement among families, schools, and communities. The study contributes by proposing a conceptual framework for Islamic value-based digital moral education that connects digital moral challenges, the normative foundations of Islamic Religious Education, educational strategies, and expected moral behaviors. This framework is expected to provide a conceptual foundation for developing Islamic Religious Education that responds effectively to technological advancements while fostering a digitally competent generation characterized by virtuous conduct and moral and spiritual responsibility.