The Role of Dhuha Prayer Habituation on Student Discipline at SMA Harapan Mekar Medan

Abstract

This study was conducted due to the importance of developing discipline as part of religious character education for students. Discipline here does not only mean obeying school rules, but also includes spiritual responsibility that arises through worship habits. One of the sunnah worship practices that is believed to help foster discipline is the dhuha prayer. The study aims to examine how performing the dhuha prayer affects student discipline at Harapan Mekar Private High School in Medan. The method used is qualitative with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data was collected through observation of the implementation of the dhuha prayer and students' daily activities at school from July to August 2025, then analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing stages. The results of the study show that students who are accustomed to performing the dhuha prayer have better discipline, such as managing time, obeying rules, and maintaining orderly behavior, compared to students who are less consistent. The dhuha prayer also helps to foster self-awareness, so that discipline does not only arise because of teacher supervision or school rules, but also becomes part of the students' personal character. However, several obstacles arise, such as laziness, low motivation, and environmental influences that cause some students to be inconsistent. Schools respond to this with a persuasive approach, regular guidance, and teacher role modeling. In conclusion, the individual practice of the dhuha prayer plays an important role in shaping student discipline, while also serving as an effective character education tool for instilling an attitude of awareness of order and responsibility in students.