Physical Education in the Al Quran Perspective

https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v5i2.4575

Authors

  • Akbar Yusuf Pendidikan Jasmani Kesehatan dan Rekreasi, STKIP YPUP Makassar
  • Halimah Basri Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar
  • Andi Miswar Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar

Keywords:

Al-Qur'an, Hifẓ al-Nafis, Insān Kāmil, Physical Education, Quwwah

Abstract

Physical education plays a crucial role in shaping human beings holistically, yet in formal educational practice it is often narrowly understood as merely physical activity without the integration of Islamic values. This study aims to examine the concept of physical education from the perspective of the Qur'an, its relationship to physical health and the quality of worship, and its contribution to shaping healthy, strong, and noble individuals. This study uses a qualitative approach of the literature study type with the tafsir mawḍū‘ī method. Data were analyzed from Qur'anic verses, classical and contemporary tafsir literature, hadith, and the views of scholars. The research findings show that the Qur'an views the physical (jasad) and spiritual (rūḥ) dimensions as an inseparable whole. The term "quwwah" is redefined to encompass not only muscular strength but also the aspects of capability (qudrah), moral integrity (wara‘), consistency (wuṣūl), and submission (tawakkul). The Qur'anic narrative about the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Thalut emphasizes that the ideal human quality is a combination of physical strength (al-qawiyy) and moral integrity (al-amīn). Quranic-based physical education plays a vital role in shaping individuals capable of optimally fulfilling the role of khalīfah through maintaining health in line with the principles of maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah, particularly hifẓ al-nafs (protecting the soul) for the perfection of worship. Thus, physical education is an integral component in realizing the ideals of insān kāmil.

References

Aisy, A. N. H., Hasan, S. N., & Abadi, L. T. (2025). Hakikat Jiwa Dalam Harmoni Akal, Nafsu, Dan Ruh: Kajian Pemikiran Imam Al-Ghazali: Kajian Pemikiran Imam Al-Ghazali. EL-FIKR: Jurnal Aqidah dan Filsafat Islam, 6(1), 92-109. https://doi.org/10.19109/el-fikr.v6i1.26769

Aksir, M. I., Hasyim, H., & Syafruddin, M. A. (2024). Utilization of Digital Platform-Based Learning Media: Interest and Learning Achievement in Physical Education at State Elementary School. ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review, 3(4), 65-74. https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v3i4.2188

Andica, U., Welis, W., Syahrastani, S., Chaeroni, A., & Ockta, Y. (2024). The Relationship between Environment and Physical Fitness on Physical Education Learning Outcomes and Al-Quran Tahfidz Ability of Middle School Students. Journal of Education, Teaching and Learning, 9(1), 14-21. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/224755/

Aniqoh, A., Mufid, A., Mujibatun, S., & Ulama’i, A. H. A. A. (2025). Hadith of Gratitude and Mental Health: A Conceptual Analysis in The Works of Al-Ghazali. Jurnal Ushuluddin, 33(2), 454-473. http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/jush.v33i2.37895

Arroisi, J., & Syamil, A. H. (2025). Al-Ghazali's Dhikr Theory: An Analysis of the Treatment of Psychological Problems in Islam. Al-Afkar, Journal For Islamic Studies, 8(1), 728-746. https://doi.org/10.31943/afkarjournal.v8i1.1305

Bakti, S., Nahar, S., & Arsyad, J. (2025). Physical Education In Sahih Al Bukhari: Insights From The Hadith. Edukasi Islami: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 14(001), 707-728. https://doi.org/10.30868/ei.v14i001.9384

Benn, T., Jawad, H., & Al-Sinani, Y. (2012). The role of Islam in the lives of girls and women in physical education and sport. Gender, religion and education in a chaotic postmodern world (pp. 255-270). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5270-2_17

Brownridge, R. (2025). Mens Sana in Corpore Sano: Exploration of the Individuation Process Through Intensive Involvement in Sports (Master's thesis, Pacifica Graduate Institute).

Brunsdon, J. J., & Walker, D. I. (2022). Cultivating character through physical education using memetic, progressive and transformative practices in schools. Journal of Moral Education, 51(4), 477-493. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2021.1894105

Charef, I., & Benmaiza, K. (2025). The repute of recreational sports activity in Islam-Implications from the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, 5(2), 175-188.‎ https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/282987

Cockerham, W. C. (2023). Health lifestyle theory in a changing society: The rise of infectious diseases and digitalization. Journal of health and social behavior, 64(3), 437-451. https://doi.org/10.1177/00221465231155609

Cooper, J. W. (2016). Scripture and philosophy on the unity of body and soul: An integrative method for theological anthropology. The Ashgate research companion to theological anthropology (pp. 27-42). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315613673-4

Ellis, R., & Weir, J. S. (2020). In praise of God: Sport as worship in the practice and self-understanding of elite athletes. Religions, 11(12), 677. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11120677

Gholami, A. (2024). The integration of spiritual curriculum into primary school physical education in relation to transformational teaching approaches. Physical Activity in Children, 1(1), 14-20. https://doi.org/10.61186/pach.416547.1005

Greenwood, T. C., & Delgado, T. (2013). A journey toward wholeness, a journey to God: Physical fitness as embodied spirituality. Journal of religion and health, 52(3), 941-954. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9546-9

Habyarimana, J. D. D., Tugirumukiza, E., & Zhou, K. (2022). Physical education and sports: A backbone of the entire community in the twenty-first century. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(12), 7296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127296

Hasmyati, H., Anwar, N. I. A., Syafruddin, M. A., & Hamzah, A. (2024). Educational Video-Based Play Methods in Physical Education Learning: Social Emotional of Children with Special Needs. ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review, 3(4), 129-140. https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v3i4.2339

He, J., Yu, H., Jiang, M., & Bialas, M. (2023). A research synthesis on successful educational practices and student outcomes for physical education in schools. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1280871. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1280871

Insaf, M. G. M., & Ashath, M. (2024). The role of sports in Islamic festivals and its relevance to pluralistic society: an analysis from the prophet Muhammed’s tradition. Al-Arfa: Journal of Sharia, Islamic Economics and Law, 2(1), 131-149. https://doi.org/10.61166/arfa.v2i1.86

Jadwiszczak, M., Wawrzyniak, S., & Pezdek, K. (2025). More than movement: a systematic review of moral and social development in adolescents physical education. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2076. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23169-2

Mappasessu, M. (2025). Islamic Law Principles as a Pillar of Ideal Civilization and Global Stability. Proceedings of International Conference on Research and Community Services (Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 95-110). https://e-journal.uac.ac.id/index.php/ICORcs/article/view/6627

Martín-Rodríguez, A., Gostian-Ropotin, L. A., Beltrán-Velasco, A. I., Belando-Pedreño, N., Simón, J. A., López-Mora, C., ... & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024). Sporting mind: the interplay of physical activity and psychological health. Sports, 12(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12010037

Miftah, M., Gusmian, I., & Wulandari, F. (2025). Educational Management of Special Sports Classes: An Integration of Religious Knowledge and Physical Education at NU Al Ma’ruf Senior High School, Kudus. Journal of Science and Education (JSE), 6(1), 780-792. https://jse.rezkimedia.org/index.php/jse/article/view/571

Mohammadi, M. (2025). Philosophy of sport and physical activity Based on islamic principles. International Journal of Sports Technology and Science, 3(1), 147-158. https://www.globsportsjournal.com/index.php/pub/article/view/61

Nasir, M. S. (2020). Principles of a Successful Social Life, In The Light of Islamic Teachings: Principles of a Successful Social Life, In The Light of Islamic Teachings. American Journal of Economics and Business Management, 3(3), 37-50. https://doi.org/10.31150/ajebm.Vol3.Iss3.173

Nuraeni, H. A., Gahana, N. M., & Aisy, N. R. (2023). Human Need for Religion: Imam Al-Ghazali's Perspective. International Journal of Education, Information Technology, and Others, 6(4), 193-200. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10447300

Nuriyyah, H., & Soleh, A. K. (2026). Mental Health from Al-Ghazali's Perspective. Medina-Te: Jurnal Studi Islam, 22(1), 292-300. https://doi.org/10.19109/medinate.v21i3.30050

Peng, B., Ha, A. S., & Gray, S. (2024). There is Education, There is Physical Education: Recapitulate the Marginalization of China's Physical Education. There is Physical Education: Recapitulate the Marginalization of China's Physical Education (August 20, 2024). https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5046425

Sahin, A. (2018). Critical issues in Islamic education studies: Rethinking Islamic and Western liberal secular values of education. Religions, 9(11), 335. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9110335

Shuhari, M. H., Hamat, M. F., Basri, M. N. H., Khairuldin, W. M. K. F., Wahab, M. R., Alwi, E. A. Z. E., & Mamat, A. (2019). Concept of al-amanah (trustworthiness) and al-mas' uliyyah (responsibility) for human's character from ethical Islamic perspective. J. Legal Ethical & Regul. Isses, 22, 1.

Singh, C., Bandre, G., Gajbe, U., Shrivastava, S., Tiwade, Y., Bankar, N., & Moizuddin, K. (2024). Sedentary habits and their detrimental impact on global health: a viewpoint. National Journal of Community Medicine, 15(02), 154-160. https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.150220243590

Solihah, I., Aljauhany, I. H., Akmaluddin, K., Mustafidin, A., Alrumayh, S., Rochmawan, A. E., & Azid, A. (2025). Integrating al-Qur’an, Hadith, and science in Islamic education: Tracing scientific insights. Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan dan Sains Islam Interdisipliner, 123-131. https://doi.org/10.59944/jipsi.v4i3.453

Sulistiyani, F., Nasikhin, N., & Astuti, N. Y. (2025). Keseimbangan Jiwa Raga dalam Pendidikan Islam: Perspektif Al-Ghazali. Jurnal Budi Pekerti Agama Islam, 3(3), 62-70. https://doi.org/10.61132/jbpai.v3i3.1167

Tao, D., Gao, Y., Cole, A., Baker, J. S., Gu, Y., Supriya, R., ... & Awan-Scully, R. (2022). The physiological and psychological benefits of dance and its effects on children and adolescents: A systematic review. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 925958. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.925958

Ulya, M., Masyhuri, A. A., Jawwas, F. A., Nurhasanah, N., & bin Mohammad, W. M. (2025). Reactualizing prophetic Qur’anic values for contemporary social challenges. ZAD Al-Mufassirin, 7(2), 437-470. https://doi.org/10.55759/zam.v7i2.329

Umar, A., Salminawati, S., & Usiono, U. (2023). Physical Education From The Perspective Of Islamic Education Philosophy. Riwayat: Educational Journal of History and Humanities, 6(4), 2986-2991. https://doi.org/10.24815/jr.v6i4.36293

Wicks, C., Barton, J., Orbell, S., & Andrews, L. (2022). Psychological benefits of outdoor physical activity in natural versus urban environments: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of experimental studies. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 14(3), 1037-1061. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12353

Published

2026-03-16

How to Cite

Yusuf, A., Basri, H., & Miswar, A. (2026). Physical Education in the Al Quran Perspective. ETDC: Indonesian Journal of Research and Educational Review , 5(2), 1231–1243. https://doi.org/10.51574/ijrer.v5i2.4575

Issue

Section

Articles