The Philosophy of Qalb in Islamic Thought: Ethical Foundations for Multicultural Education

Abstract

Recent discussions on multiculturalism within Islamic contexts reveal a persistent philosophical problem: ethical engagement with difference is often approached procedurally, without a sufficiently grounded epistemological framework. This study addresses the lack of a philosophically robust account of ethical consciousness capable of mediating truth, morality, and plurality in Islamic thought. The study aims to examine the concept of qalb as articulated in Islamic philosophy and to articulate its role as a foundational ethical–epistemological principle for engaging with diversity. This research employs a qualitative philosophical–empirical design, combining conceptual analysis of classical Islamic philosophical texts with empirical data derived from semi-structured, in-depth interviews with scholars and practitioners of Islamic thought. Data were analyzed through thematic and hermeneutic interpretation, allowing normative philosophical concepts to be examined in dialogue with lived ethical experience. The findings demonstrate that qalb functions as a dynamic epistemological faculty through which moral discernment, ethical awareness, and openness to truth are integrated. Empirical insights reinforce classical philosophical claims that ethical failure stems not from cognitive deficiency but from the neglect of inner moral consciousness. The study implies that the philosophy of qalb offers a comprehensive ethical framework for engaging plurality as a moral and epistemic reality, contributing to contemporary Islamic philosophical discourse on ethics and human coexistence.