Generation Z and the Level of Islamic Akhlaq Practices

Abstract

Akhlaq (good moral character) is an important element in the life of adolescents. It determines adolescent behaviour. Akhlaq is the product of knowledge and an understanding of knowledge gained through formal or informal education. The practice of Islamic akhlaq needs to be internalized in every student in order to build self-respect and good behaviour. The practice of Islamic akhlaq plays a role in creating piety in a person and becomes the measure of balance in Allah’s judgment. Therefore, this research is very relevant for the purpose of identifying the level of Islamic akhlaq practised by the young generation. This research is designed as a survey study that uses a questionnaire as the research instrument. The research sample focuses on Muslim students from six Central Zone Polytechnics. The total number of respondents includes 400 Muslim students in their final semester for each polytechnic. Data obtained from the questionnaire are gathered and analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Science Version 22.0 (SPSS v22.0) software to obtain the frequency, percentage and mean score. The research results find that the highest level of Islamic akhlaq practice among the respondents is calmly listening to al-Quran recitation with a mean score of 4.72, followed by an average and the lowest level of mean score of 3.40, that is, the respondents did not like to loiter. The overall average mean score of 4.44 is high. This shows that the level of Islamic akhlaq practice by polytechnic students in the Central Zone is good but that they are in need of continuous guidance so that good akhlaq can be maintained and enhanced. Gen Z is growing up in a world connected with the ever-growing human-created technology. The generation is often in cyberspace and can connect to every part of the world without boundaries or limitations. Therefore, it is a challenge to the apply values and norms based on Islamic akhlaq for Gen Z.