Nilai-Nilai Neurosains Dalam Hadits Tentang Pengasuhan Anak Usia Dini

Abstract

The development of neuroscience has provided new insights into the importance of stimulation, experience, and environment in shaping the structure and function of the brain during early childhood. At the same time, Islam, through the traditions (hadiths) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), has long promoted various parenting principles that emphasize affection, role modeling, positive communication, habituation of worship, appreciation of children's play activities, and the development of fitrah as the innate human potential. This study aims to analyze the neuroscience values embedded in the hadiths concerning early childhood parenting and to examine their relevance to contemporary neuroscience findings. This study employed a qualitative approach using a library research method. Primary data were obtained from the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) related to child-rearing and education, while secondary data were collected from books, scientific journals, and previous studies discussing neuroscience, child brain development, developmental psychology, and Islamic education. Data were collected through documentation techniques and analyzed using content analysis and thematic analysis to identify the relationship between parenting values in the hadiths and concepts in neuroscience. The findings reveal that the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) contain various neuroscience-related values that are highly relevant to early childhood development. The value of affection in the hadiths is closely associated with the formation of secure attachment, which supports children's emotional development and mental well-being. Parental role modeling in the hadiths aligns with the mirror neuron theory, which explains learning through observation and imitation. The Prophet’s positive communication style is related to the development of emotional regulation through the optimization of prefrontal cortex functions. Furthermore, the concept of play in the hadiths contributes to brain stimulation by strengthening neural connections and enhancing cognitive functions. The habituation of worship practices taught by the Prophet is associated with the concept of neuroplasticity, which supports character formation and self-regulation. In addition, the concept of fitrah in the hadiths corresponds to the theory of children’s neurological potential, emphasizing the significant role of the environment in optimizing innate abilities. This study concludes that there is a strong integration between the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and modern neuroscience findings in the field of early childhood parenting. These findings indicate that Islamic parenting principles possess not only spiritual and moral dimensions but also scientific relevance in supporting brain development and character formation in children. Therefore, the integration of hadith and neuroscience can serve as a foundation for developing an Islamic parenting model that is aligned with the developmental needs of children in the contemporary era.