The Lived Meaning of Islamic Spirituality in Students' Emotional Recovery After Bullying: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

This study explores the role of Islamic spirituality in the emotional recovery of students who experienced bullying in an Islamic educational setting. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and document analysis involving students at an Islamic junior secondary school (MTs) in Lamongan, Indonesia. The findings identify four interconnected themes: self-acceptance through prayer and dhikr; spiritual reflection (tafakkur) and sincere acceptance (ikhlas) in reinterpreting trauma; the role of the pesantren environment and religious teachers in rebuilding positive self-identity; and emotional transformation through sustained worship. These findings demonstrate that Islamic spirituality serves as a positive religious coping strategy, fostering emotional regulation, resilience, and meaning reconstruction. The study underscores the importance of integrating Islamic spirituality into holistic emotional recovery within Islamic educational contexts.