THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS’ RELIGIOUS CHARACTER THROUGH THE QUR’AN MEMORIZATION PROGRAM AT SMA MUHAMMADIYAH 1 PONOROGO

Abstract

Strengthening students’ religious character has become increasingly important amid globalization and social media influences that may shape students’ behavior and religious habits. The Qur’an memorization program provides an educational strategy that extends beyond memorization by fostering the internalization of religious values in students’ daily lives. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the Qur’an memorization program, identify its supporting and inhibiting factors, and examine its contribution to the development of students’ religious character at SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Ponorogo. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the study involved the principal, Qur’an memorization program coordinator, program instructors, and participating students. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation and analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña framework, with source and technique triangulation ensuring data credibility. The findings show that the program operates systematically through planning, implementation, and evaluation using talaqqi, memorization recitation, muroja’ah, tasmi’, tahsin, periodic assessment, and memorization monitoring books. School support, instructor competence, parental involvement, adequate facilities, and the boarding school environment facilitate implementation, while differences in memorization ability, limited time, laziness, boredom, and fatigue present challenges. The program strengthens religious character through moral knowing, moral feeling, and moral action, reflected in discipline, responsibility, worship practices, good conduct, and social concern.