Islamic Ethics in Student-Led Stingless Beekeeping

Abstract

This paper presents a faith-integrated, student-led stingless beekeeping initiative at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), illustrating how Islamic ethical principles can enrich sustainability education and entrepreneurship. Conducted under the Mahallah Ruqayyah Representatives Committee (MRC) with guidance from interdisciplinary mentors, the project has been successfully sustained for six years (2019-present), providing students with experiential learning in hive management, product innovation, and ethical entrepreneurship. Core Islamic values, ihsan (excellence), amanah (moral responsibility), barakah (multiplication of goodness), and khalifah (environmental stewardship) were embedded throughout the learning process. Data triangulated from project documentation, reflective journals, and mentor evaluations indicated that 85% (n = 34) of participants affirmed the project’s effectiveness in linking scientific knowledge with Islamic ethics. Mentor feedback identified five key challenges: inconsistent student motivation (M = 4.1), lack of technical competency (M = 4.0), and environmental variability (M = 3.8) were rated as the most significant, while limited training time (M = 3.0) and communication gaps (M = 2.6) were of moderate concern. Despite these constraints, the initiative demonstrated that integrating Qur’anic principles into experiential learning fosters holistic character development, sustainability awareness, and ethical entrepreneurship among students.