Beyond Instant Knowledge through Students’ Reason and Science Based Epistemic Verification Practices According to Al-Kindi

Abstract

This study aims to describe students’ epistemic verification practices when engaging with digital information and to analyze the culture of instant knowledge through Al-Kindi’s concepts of intellect and knowledge. Employing a qualitative approach, this field study used a case study design and was conducted at MISS Ar Rohman Jombang, from February to May 2026. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation involving the school principal, a classroom teacher, an Islamic Religious Education teacher, and three students. The data were analyzed through data condensation, coding, thematic categorization, data display, interpretation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that students were accustomed to using the internet to search for information, yet they were not consistently able to evaluate sources, distinguish facts from opinions, compare information, or formulate conclusions in their own words. The culture of instant knowledge was reflected in their tendency to rely on summaries, choose quick answers, copy information without understanding it, and readily trust popular content. Al-Kindi’s concept of intellect highlights the importance of critically weighing and verifying information, while his concept of knowledge emphasizes the need for systematic, profound, and responsible understanding.