Epistemic Inquiry and Ethical Formation: A Constructivist Reading of Prophet Ibrahim’s Search for God

Abstract

This paper examines constructivist values in Islamic education through the story of Prophet Ibrahim in his search for God as recorded in Surah Al-An‘am verses 74-79. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach and thematic interpretation analysis, this study aims to identify Ibrahim's rational thinking process as a representation of constructivist principles in education. Classical and contemporary exegetes such as ath-Thabari, al-Maraghi, and Ali ash-Shabuni are analyzed to explore the deeper meanings of the story. The findings reveal that Ibrahim did not experience doubt in his faith but rather applied a rational and reflective approach as a strategy for preaching and educating his people. Constructivist values such as active learning, empirical observation, critical reflection, and independent search for meaning are evident in this process. The implications of these findings point to the urgency of applying a constructivist approach in Islamic education, especially in the digital age, which is full of information and intellectual challenges. Contemporary education must encourage students to think critically, develop contextual Islamic reasoning, and strengthen their faith identity through active and meaningful learning experiences. Therefore, the story of Prophet Ibrahim can serve as an educational paradigm in designing Islamic learning models that are relevant to the times while remaining rooted in revelatory values