The Concept of Futuwwah in the Formation of Noble Character Pendekatan Konsep Futuwwah dalam Pembentukan Akhlak Mulia

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to show that the concept of futuwwah holds a significant place in the Ṣūfī intellectual tradition as a moral ideal grounded in the Qurʾān and the Sunnah. Futuwwah is treated as a praiseworthy virtue (ṣifah maḥmūdah) that gathers together qualities such as courage, sincerity, honesty, and the willingness to sacrifice in defence of the dignity and rights of others. The study traces the historical and etymological development of futuwwah from the prophetic accounts of Ibrāhīm, Yūsuf, and the Aṣḥāb al-Kahf, as well as its treatment in the works of Ṣūfī figures including al-Sulamī, al-Qushayrī, al-Ghazālī, and al-Kāshānī. The article argues that futuwwah functions as an ethical framework that unites three principal elements of the Islamic tradition, namely faith (ʿaqīdah), legal understanding (fiqh), and the practice of virtue (akhlāq). Through the balance between mujāhadat al-nafs and muʿāmalah, futuwwah nurtures values such as iḥsān, īthār, and makārim al-akhlāq, which form the foundation of noble character. It is therefore not only a spiritual ideal but also a comprehensive principle within the Islamic worldview that guides self-purification, strengthens faith, and supports the formation of an ethical civilisation.