The Moral Example Of The Rasulullah As A Basis For Generational Character Development

Abstrak

Abstract: The moral crisis affecting The moral crisis affecting today’s younger generation has become a serious challenge to national development, as reflected in declining ethical standards, technology misuse, consumerist behavior, and weakening spirituality. Based on data from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the 2023 National Survey on Drug Abuse Prevalence indicated that approximately 312,000 drug abusers were children and adolescents/students (BNN, 2025). Meanwhile, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) recorded 329 complaints in the education, leisure, culture, and religious cluster throughout 2023, with bullying in educational institutions being one of the major concerns; furthermore, 20 bullying cases were reported to have had fatal consequences resulting in death (KPAI, 2024). This condition calls for effective and sustainable character education solutions. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as the primary exemplary figure (uswah hasanah) as stated in QS. Al-Ahzab [33]: 21, offers universal moral values that remain relevant to the development of the younger generation. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using a literature review method, examining the Qur’an, Hadith, Sirah literature, and previous studies. The study focuses on the internalization of values such as honesty, responsibility, intelligence, communication, patience, and compassion as foundations for character formation. The findings indicate that the exemplary conduct of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) not only provides an alternative solution to addressing the moral crisis but also strengthens the moral foundations of the younger generation in the modern era. The implementation of these values requires synergy among families, educational institutions, and communities to ensure that the internalization process takes place consistently and effectively. Therefore, the moral exemplary conduct of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) can serve as a paradigm for developing a generation characterized by integrity, strong character, and noble morality.