Sustainable environmental management in education: interpretation of khalifah verses and hadiths on sustainability

This study aims to analyze the concept of sustainable environmental management in education from an Islamic perspective through the interpretation of Qur’anic verses on khalifah (human stewardship) and Hadiths on environmental preservation. This research employs a qualitative approach with a library research design, utilizing primary sources such as the Qur’an and Hadith, as well as classical and contemporary tafsir and recent scholarly literature. Data were collected through documentation and analyzed using thematic interpretation (maudhu‘i) and qualitative thematic analysis. The findings reveal that the concept of khalifah in the Qur’an emphasizes human responsibility as stewards of the earth, grounded in justice and sustainability. The Hadiths provide practical guidelines for environmental care, including tree planting, maintaining cleanliness, and avoiding environmental damage. The integration of these values results in a value-based model of environmental management in education, encompassing principles such as trust (amanah), justice (‘adl), moderation (wasatiyyah), and benevolence (ihsan). Furthermore, the study finds that this model aligns with the framework of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), while offering an additional theological dimension that strengthens intrinsic and spiritual motivation for environmental responsibility. This study contributes to the development of an Islamic-based sustainable education management model that is both conceptually robust and relevant to contemporary environmental challenges.