Bullying in Islamic Boarding Schools: Islamic and Criminal Law Perspectives

The Impact of Bullying in Islamic Boarding Schools

Bullying has a very negative impact on victims as it can harm them both physically and emotionally. Emotionally, victims will experience anxiety, restlessness, depression, sadness, discomfort, and loss of motivation. Repeated exposure to these conditions can affect self-confidence, self-esteem and learning achievement.

Students who are victims of bullying will not feel at home studying at the pesantren, have no enthusiasm for learning, and will try to leave the pesantren for various reasons.

In more detail, Carter and Spencer describe some of the effects of bullying on a person, namely:

1. Victims of bullying become stressed, depressed, hate the bully, seek revenge, drop out of school, feel lethargic, embarrassed, depressed, threatened, and self-harm.
2. The self-image of victims of bullying becomes more negative because they feel they are not accepted by their friends.
3. Aggression often leads to criminal behavior or actions.
4. Become the next bully.
5. Psychiatric disorders (such as anxiety and loneliness).
6. The victim feels useless or inferior.
7. Dislikes social environment.
8. Permanent physical disability and even death.
9. Emotional disturbance leading to personality disorder.
10. Suicidal thoughts arose.

Bullying Handling Efforts in Islamic Boarding Schools

There are several efforts that can be made by Islamic boarding schools in dealing with bullying cases, among others:

1. Equipping students with positive activities, namely activities that foster a sense of togetherness and cohesiveness between students.
2. Equipping students to be able to overcome uncomfortable situations that can arise in the pesantren environment.
3. Empower students to defend themselves, avoid becoming victims of violence,
   report the violence they witness, and seek help.
4. Reduce or eliminate the distance between old and new students by providing competitive team field activities.
5. Establish a supervisory committee to monitor the extent to which bullying can be prevented.
6. Provide counseling and mentoring services to protect against bullying.

Bullying in Islamic Law

Islam strictly prohibits bullying in the Qur'an Surah Al-Hujurat [49] verse 11.

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا يَسۡخَرۡ قَوۡمٌ مِّنۡ قَوۡمٍ عَسٰٓى اَنۡ يَّكُوۡنُوۡا خَيۡرًا مِّنۡهُمۡ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّنۡ نِّسَآءٍ عَسٰٓى اَنۡ يَّكُنَّ خَيۡرًا مِّنۡهُنَّ‌ۚ وَلَا تَلۡمِزُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَكُمۡ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوۡا بِالۡاَلۡقَابِ‌ؕ بِئۡسَ الِاسۡمُ الۡفُسُوۡقُ بَعۡدَ الۡاِيۡمَانِ‌ ۚ وَمَنۡ لَّمۡ يَتُبۡ فَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ

"O you who believe! Let not one people make fun of another people (for) they may be better than the one who makes fun of them, and let not women make fun of other women (for) they may be better than the one who makes fun of them). Do not insult one another and do not call one another by bad names. The worst of calls is that which is bad (ungodly) after believing. And whoever does not repent, then they are the wrongdoers." (Al-Hujurat [49]: 11).

Referring to the explanation of the book of Tafsir Al-Maraghi, the above verse was revealed regarding the reprimand for the ridicule and bullying carried out by the Banu Tamim to the poor companions of the prophet.

Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that humans have the same degree in the eyes of Allah SWT, so bullying is not allowed.