Ecological Tafsir Studies in Islamic Higher Education: A Bibliometric Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33511/alfanar.v7n2.107-123Keywords:
Ecological tafsir, environmental ethics, quranic ecology, eco-theologyAbstract
The growing global environmental crisis has intensified scholarly interest in ecological tafsir as a Qur'anic response to contemporary environmental challenges. However, the development of ecological tafsir scholarship within Islamic higher education remains insufficiently mapped, leaving its intellectual trends and research dynamics underexplored. This article aims to analyze the development of ecological tafsir studies in Islamic higher education by identifying publication trends, dominant research themes, citation patterns, author collaboration networks, and institutional partnerships. Employing a mixed-methods design, the study combines quantitative bibliometric analysis with qualitative narrative interpretation. Data were collected from journal articles, undergraduate theses, master's theses, doctoral dissertations, and conference proceedings indexed in Google Scholar, Scopus, and institutional repositories. The data were retrieved using Publish or Perish and visualized through VOSviewer. The findings reveal a significant increase in ecological tafsir publications, comprising 512 journal articles and 55 theses and dissertations. Six major thematic clusters were identified, covering normative-theological foundations, applied environmental issues, ecological education, and the contributions of prominent Muslim eco-theological thinkers. Nevertheless, collaboration networks among authors and institutions remain relatively limited. These findings highlight the substantial potential of Islamic higher education institutions to advance ecological tafsir scholarship through interdisciplinary collaboration, research networking, and the development of eco-theology research initiatives.
References
Abidin, H., Mukhlis, I., & Zagladi, A. N. (2023). Multi-method Approach for Qualitative Research: Literature Review with NVivo 12 PRo Mapping. Kalam Cendekia: Jurnal Ilmiah Kependidikan, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.20961/jkc.v11i3.80748
Arauf, M. A. (2021). Ecological View From The Perspective of Quranic Verses. International Journal of Social Science and Religion (IJSSR), 105–116. https://doi.org/10.53639/ijssr.v2i2.45
Batchelor, D. (2024). Mitigating Environmental Degradation: The Strategic Roles of Muslims for Human Well-Being and Planetary Stability. TAFHIM: IKIM Journal of Islam and the Contemporary World, 17(2), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.56389/tafhim.vol17no2.1
Bellè, S.-L., Riotte, J., Backhaus, N., Sekhar, M., Jouquet, P., & Abiven, S. (2022). Tailor-made biochar systems: Interdisciplinary evaluations of ecosystem services and farmer livelihoods in tropical agro-ecosystems. PLoS ONE, 17(1 January). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263302
Breen, C., El Safadi, C., Huigens, H., Tews, S., Westley, K., Anderou, G., Vazquez, R. O., Nikolaus, J., & Blue, L. (2021). Integrating cultural and natural heritage approaches to Marine Protected Areas in the MENA region. Marine Policy, 132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104676
Cholidi, M. F., & Masuwd, M. A. (2025). Evaluating Tafsir Maqāṣidī As A Framework For Ecological Crisis Moderation. ZAD Al-Mufassirin, 7(1), 54–74. https://doi.org/10.55759/zam.v7i1.261
Dessouky, N., & Wheeler, S. M. (2022). Popular press framing of sustainable communities: vibrant, innovative, ecological, and resilient. Journal of Urbanism. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2022.2137685
Engkizar, E., Jaafar, A., Masuwd, M. A., Rahman, I., Datres, D., Taufan, M., Akmal, F., Dasrizal, D., Oktavia, G., Yusrial, Y., & Febriani, A. (2025). Challenges and Steps in Living Quran and Hadith Research: An Introduction. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research of Higher Education (IJMURHICA, 8(3), 426–435. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24036/ijmurhica.v8i3.396
Engkizar, Engkizar, Jaafar, A., Hamzah, M. I., Langputeh, S., Rahman, I., & Febriani, A. (2025). Analysis Problems of Quranic Education Teachers in Indonesia: Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Islamic Studies Higher Education, 4(2), 92–108. https://insight.ppj.unp.ac.id/index.php/insight
Engkizar, Engkizar, Jaafar, A., Hamzah, M. I., Syafril, S., Oktavia, G., Febriani, A., & Albizar, A. (2026). Tartil Method as an Effective Strategy for Transforming Students’ Positive Attitudes in Learning the Qur’an. Journal of Quranic Teaching and Learning, 2(1), 50–63.
Engkizar, Engkizar, Muslim, H., Mulyadi, I., & Putra, Y. A. (2025). Ten Criteria for an Ideal Teacher to Memorize the Quran. Journal of Theory and Research Memorization Quran, 1(1), 26–39. https://joqer.intischolar.id/index.php/joqer
Goodell, J. W., Kumar, S., Lahmar, O., & Pandey, N. (2023). A bibliometric analysis of cultural finance. International Review of Financial Analysis, 85, 102442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102442
Hassan, W., & Duarte, A. E. (2024). Bibliometric analysis: A few suggestions. Current Problems in Cardiology, 49(8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102640
Judijanto, L., & Arwen, D. (2025). A Bibliometric Review of Islamic Pedagogy in Modern Educational Systems. The Eastasouth Journal of Learning and Educations, 3(01), 28–41. https://doi.org/10.58812/esle.v3i01.498
Kaema, M. T., & Ulwi, K. (2025). Exploration Solutions to the Problem of Quranic Education in Muslim Minorities. Journal of Quranic Teaching and Learning, 1(3), 93–107. https://joqer.intischolar.id/index.php/joqer/article/view/12
Kalkman, S., Mostert, M., Gerlinger, C., van Delden, J. J. M., & van Thiel, G. J. M. W. (2019). Responsible data sharing in international health research: a systematic review of principles and norms. BMC Medical Ethics, 20(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-019-0359-9
Kholis, N., & Aulassyahied, Q. (2022). Understanding Ecological Hadiths With Interconnective Approaches in Responding to Ecological Problems. IJISH (International Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities), 5(1), 25–41. https://doi.org/10.26555/ijish.v5i1.5853
Lê, J. K., & Schmid, T. (2022). The Practice of Innovating Research Methods. Organizational Research Methods, 25(2), 308–336. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428120935498
Lyu, Y., Liu, Y., Guo, Y., Sang, J., Tian, J., & Chen, L. (2022). Review of green development of Chinese industrial parks. Energy Strategy Reviews, 42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2022.100867
Miftahuddin, M. (2020). Declaring Tafseer for Humanity: Tafseer Methodology of Hassan Hanafi. Millati: Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities, 5(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.18326/mlt.v5i1.1-15
Millah, D. A., Nisa’, K., & Albshkar, H. A. (2024). Interpretation of Verses on the “Parable of the Deeds of Disbelievers”: Embodied Islamic Knowledge in Ibn ’Ashur’s Maqasid-Based Exegesis. Al-Karim: International Journal of Quranic and Islamic Studies, 2(1), 93–114. https://doi.org/10.33367/al-karim.v2i1.3473
Mufid, M. (2020). Green Fatwas in Bahtsul Masail: Nahdlatul Ulamas Response to the Discourse of Environmental Crisis in Indonesia. Al-Ihkam: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pranata Sosial, 15(2), 173–200. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-lhkam.v15i2.3956
Muhamad, A., Syihab, A. H., & Ibrahim, A. H. (2020). Preserving Human–Nature’s Interaction for Sustainability: Quran and Sunnah Perspective. Science and Engineering Ethics, 26(2), 1053–1066. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-020-00192-7
Mulyana, R. (2023). Religious moderation in Islamic religious educatiotextbook and implementation in Indonesia. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 79(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/HTS.V79I1.8592
Mustafa, A., Khoirunisa, N., Giling, M., & Parta, M. H. (2026). Toward an Integrative Ethical Governance Model: Quranic and Hadith Perspectives in the 21st Century. Multidisciplinary Journal of Thought and Research, 2(1), 14–24. https://doi.org/10.67055/wnp99r40
Nafisah, M. (2019). Tafsir Ekologi Menimbang Hifẓ al-Bīah sebagai Uṣul ash-Sharī’ah dalam Al-Qur’an. Jurnal Al-Fanar, 2(1), 93–112. https://doi.org/10.33511/alfanar.v2n1.93-112
Najib, M., Saefullah, U., Haryanti, E., Haetami, E., & Maryati, D. S. (2020). Environmental conservation paradigm in islamic ecological perspective. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(4), 5440–5447. https://doi.org/10.37200/IJPR/V24I4/PR201640
Pandya, C., Prajapati, S., & Gupta, R. (2022). Sustainable Energy Efficient Green Campuses: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1084(1), 12016. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1084/1/012016
Pohontsch, N. J. (2019). Die Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. Die Rehabilitation, 58(06), 413–418. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0801-5465
Ragadhita, R., & Nandiyanto, A. B. D. (2021). Computational Bibliometric Analysis on Publication of Techno-Economic Education. Indonesian Journal of Multidiciplinary Research, 2(1), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijomr.v2i1.43180
Ramadhan, A., & Haedar, H. (2023). Analisis Bibliometrik: Tingkat Penelitian Akad MMQ Berdasarkan Publikasi. Journal of Economic, Management, Accounting and Technology, 6(1), 96–102. https://doi.org/10.32500/jematech.v6i1.3950
Rohman, A., Kurniawan, E., Syifauddin, M., Muhtamiroh, S., & Muthohar, A. (2024). Religious Education For The Environment: Integrating Eco-Theology In The Curriculum of Islamic Religious And Character Education To Enhance Environmental Education In Indonesia. Nadwa: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 18(2), 201–226. https://doi.org/10.21580/nw.2024.18.2.21094
Rohman, A., Mubaroka, B., & Butlam, Q. (2023). Methodology of Tafseer Al-Qurtubi: Sources, Styles and Manhaj. QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies, 2(2), 180–202. https://doi.org/10.23917/qist.v2i2.1451
Sari, P. I., Tita, E. I., & Albizar, . A. (2025). Eight Concepts and Practices: Buying and Selling in Islam. Multidisciplinary Journal of Thought and Research, 1(2), 38–54. https://mujoter.intischolar.id/index.php/mujoter/article/view/1
Soraya, S. M., Kurjono, K., & Muhammad, I. (2023). Analisis Bibliometrik : Penelitian Literasi Digital dan Hasil Belajar pada Database Scopus (2009-2023). EDUKASIA: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 4(1), 387–398. https://doi.org/10.62775/edukasia.v4i1.270
Syaifudin, M., Adam, M., & Affandi, A. (2025). Qur’anic Edu-Theology as a Framework for Holistic Education: A Critical Examination of Pedagogical Values in Surah al-Fātiḥah. QOF, 9(2), 261–278. https://doi.org/10.30762/qof.v9i2.3282
Thomas, K., Hardy, R. D., Lazrus, H., Mendez, M., Orlove, B., Rivera‐Collazo, I., Roberts, J. T., Rockman, M., Warner, B. P., & Winthrop, R. (2019). Explaining differential vulnerability to climate change: A social science review. WIREs Climate Change, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.565
Thuwaiba, T., & Salaeh, I. M. Y. (2025). Challenges in Quranic Memorization for Learners with Disabilities. Journal of Theory and Research Memorization Quran, 1(2), 104–117.
Vrbin, C. M. (2022). Parametric or nonparametric statistical tests: Considerations when choosing the most appropriate option for your data. Cytopathology, 33(6), 663–667. https://doi.org/10.1111/cyt.13174
Wahid, S. H. (2024). Exploring the intersection of Islam and digital technology: A bibliometric analysis. Social Sciences and Humanities Open, 10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101085
Wang, J.-J., & Tsai, N.-Y. (2022). Contemporary integrated community planning: mixed-age, sustainability and disaster-resilient approaches. Natural Hazards, 112(3), 2133–2166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-022-05259-1
Zeballos-Velarde, C. (2022). A Methodological Framework for the Conservation and Planning of Urban Spaces in Historical Centers Around Riverfronts. The Case of Arequipa, Peru. In Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation (pp. 153–162). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74482-3_13
Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Shrestha, A., Zhou, X., Teng, M., Wang, P., & Wang, G. (2023). Exploring the Main Determinants of National Park Community Management: Evidence from Bibliometric Analysis. Forests, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091850
