The Urgency of Humility (Tawadhu’) in Moral Education: An Analysis of the Concept of Humility in Islam

Abstrak

Introduction to the Problem: In the modern era, which is filled with individualism and existentialism, humility (tawadhu') has become a rare but essential value. The imbalance between self-achievement and spiritual awareness often leads to arrogance, social conflict, and moral degradation. Purpose: This article aims to examine the meaning and urgency of humility and its relationship with self-actualization from an Islamic perspective. Design/methods/approach: This study uses a qualitative method based on library research. Data was collected through a review of literature related to the concepts of tawadhu' and selfactualization in Islam. Findings: This study found that humility is not an obstacle to self-actualization but rather a moral balancing force to prevent the process of self-actualization from leading to arrogance. Tawadhu’ encourages individuals to develop holistically, with a focus on benefiting others and seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT. Research implications/limitations: The limitation of this study lies in its qualitative, text-based approach, which does not include empirical field data. Originality/value: This article offers an integrative perspective between Islamic creed-ethics teachings and self-actualization theory in psychology, which is rarely explored in depth in contemporary moral-spiritual studies. The added value of this article is its emphasis on humility as a filtering mechanism in self-actualization, as well as the basis for social harmony and the formation of a healthy academic culture.