Internalizing Papuan Local Wisdom in Mosque-Based Islamic Education

A Qualitative Study in Sorong City

Abstract

This study examines how Papuan local wisdom is interpreted and internalized in mosque-based Islamic education in Sorong City, Southwest Papua. Conducted from January to May 2026, the study employed a qualitative multi-site case study involving ten mosques and 50 participants: 20 mosque administrators or religious educators, 20 learners, and 10 parents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and document analysis and were analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that the integration of local wisdom differs substantially across mosque communities. Mutual assistance was developed through communal service activities; Satu Tungku Tiga Batu was explored through interreligious dialogue; respect for elders was transmitted through oral history and storytelling; environmental responsibility was taught through religious-environmental projects; cultural identity was strengthened through local narratives and cultural documentation; and other mosques emphasized theological reflection, hospitality, family partnership, peer learning, and youth participation. These findings demonstrate that Papuan local wisdom is not a uniform cultural category but a multidimensional pedagogical resource requiring contextual interpretation. The study argues that effective Islamic education in Papua should integrate cultural identification, theological discernment, contextual pedagogy, community participation, and practical application. The proposed approach positions the mosque as a culturally responsive educational institution that can strengthen Islamic identity, cultural continuity, social harmony, and community responsibility among learners.