Elements of Inter-Religious Understanding in Islamic and Moral Education Curriculum

Inter-religious understanding involves understanding the religious values, practices or actions of a believer of another faith, whether in relation to God, man or nature in every aspect of life. Inter-religious understanding is highlighted as seeking common ground in good values, while respecting religious differences. The purpose of this article is to examine elements of inter-religious understanding applied in the Islamic and Moral Education Curriculum, Ministry of Education of Malaysia as a guide for teachers to implement in teaching and learning in schools. This qualitativeresearch uses content analysis and document analysis involving data collection, and data analysis is applied to examine and observe the application of inter-religious understanding. Research findings show that Islamic and Moral education emphasizes very much on the aspects of religious tolerance, affection, humaneness and moderation, human honour and dignity, and practice of an understanding approach towards creating inter-religious understanding. This understandingmay be achieved through a suitable approach or practice such as dialogue, education, religious studies, seminars and religious conferences, role of mass and electronic media, and the role of all parties, whether government or nongovernmental organization (NGO). Mutual understanding between believers of different faiths should be implemented to achieve national unity, peace and harmony, particularly in pluralistic societies such as in Malaysia. This research also finds that Islamic and Moral Education is a Ministry of Education subject which succeeds in applying aspects of inter-religious understanding between adherents of different faiths, particularly within the students themselves.