Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Usul al-Fiqh in the Islamic Syariah Education Subject (KSSM) in Malaysia: A Literature Review

This study aims to address the key question regarding the critical components of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) that enhance the effectiveness of teaching Usul al-Fiqh in Islamic Religious Stream Classes (KAA) at the secondary school level in Malaysia. The identified issue is a significant gap in teachers’ mastery of PCK, particularly in integrating Usul al-Fiqh content knowledge with effective pedagogical strategies aligned with the demands of the Malaysian Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM) and 21st-century learning needs. This study employs a qualitative approach through a descriptive literature review, analyzing books, journal articles, and relevant conference proceedings. The data were processed systematically to identify previously discussed components of PCK by synthesizing the findings to propose a suitable PCK framework for the context of Usul al-Fiqh instruction. The main findings highlight four critical PCK components in the teaching of Usul al-Fiqh: comprehensive content mastery, effective pedagogical strategies, curriculum knowledge aligned with national standards, and the ability to apply Usul al-Fiqh principles to contemporary issues. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the enhancement of teaching and learning quality in Islamic Syariah Education and to produce students who are competent in critical and applied Islamic legal reasoning.