Predictors of Islamic Religiosity in Youth who have Early Madrassah Education

Abstract

The theory of lived religion proposes that people who are socialized by their early education system about religious beliefs have a stronger commitment to practice religion. At the same time, the integrative theory of peace argues that higher religiosity can play an instrumental role in peacebuilding within a nation. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between early Madrassah education and Islamic religiosity in university students, measured under five domains of (i) beliefs, (ii) commitment, (iii) intellectual experience, (iv) intrinsic values, and (v) practice. Using a quantitative methodology, a sample of 152 youth were sampled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. We found that that Pakistani youth show high Islamic religiosity in two sub-domains of beliefs and commitment, but that they show low Islamic religiosity in in three sub-domains of intellectual experience, intrinsic values, and practice. The results also suggest that females and youth from KPK have greater Islamic religiosity, and that youth with greater spiritual values make higher financial contributions to the religious organization. The study concludes with key recommendations, some of which include the need for Madrassah.