Kiai Leadership and Islamic Boarding School Cultural Strategies in Strengthening Religious Moderation in Indonesia

Siti Aimah; Eko Budiywoni; Hasan Baharun; Fathiyah Mohd Fakruddin

doi:10.28918/jei.v11i1.2604

Authors

Siti Aimah KH. Mukhtar Syafaat University
Eko Budiywoni KH. Mukhtar Syafaat University
Hasan Baharun University of Nurul Jadid
Fathiyah Mohd Fakruddin Universiti Putra Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28918/jei.v11i1.2604

Abstract

The present study aims to showcase in depth the unique role of Kiai (Islamic scholars) leadership in institutionalizing and disseminating the narrative of religious moderation in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), and to explore the cultural strategies these schools use as effective bulwarks in deradicalization efforts. This study was designed with a qualitative, interpretive case study of several traditional and modern pesantren that played a central role in promoting tolerance in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with Kiai and senior santri (pesantren students), participant observation of teaching and learning activities, and documentation of Islamic boarding school records. Study findings demonstrate that the Kiai leadership in Blokagung was uniquely charismatic and collegial, successfully institutionalizing religious moderation through the integration of the Salaf and the modern era and the establishment of UIMSYA. His primary cultural strategy was to instill the values of Aswaja (tawazun, tasammuh) as an ideological inoculation. The Kiai/Nyai became actors who built social resilience grounded in concern and guided the politics of akhlaqi. This made the Islamic boarding school an effective bastion of deradicalization, disseminating moderate narratives in a structured and legitimate manner. The study provides a theoretical framework that contextualizes traditional Kiai leadership as a model of indigenous leadership in counter-extremism, offering valuable insights for global public policy on the use of community-based educational institutions to foster social cohesion and counter-radicalism.

Keywords:

Kepemimpinan Kiai, Moderasi Beragama, Pesantren, Strategi Budaya

References

Aimah, S., Nasih, M., Wafiroh, N., & Fakhruddin, F. M. (2024). Management of pesantren in improving nationalism and addressing social problems in disruption era. Edukasia Islamika, 9(1), 112–131. https://doi.org/10.28918/jei.v9i1.6981

Alhaib, E., & Alsandi, A. K. (2022). The concept of morals and education in Imam Al-Ghazali's thought. Science, 3(1), 48–55. http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/sf

Anzaikhan, M. (2022). The history of moderate Islam in Indonesia and its influence on the content of national education. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 17(2), 213–226. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol17no2.17

Arifin, M. Z. (2022). The traditionalism of the Islamic boarding school education system in the era of modernization. Scaffolding: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam dan Multikulturalisme, 4(1), 286–396. https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v4i1.1367

Arrohmatan, A., Warisno, A., Ansori, A., Andari, A. A., & Nelson, N. (2022). The yellow book learning methodology at Islamic boarding schools. Scaffolding: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam dan Multikulturalisme, 4(3), 646–656. https://doi.org/10.37680/scaffolding.v4i3.2316

Ashoumi, H., Hidayatulloh, M. K. Y., Hasanah, S. D., & Umami, F. N. (2023). Student tolerance through religious moderation values in Aswaja courses. Al-Tadzkiyyah: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 14(1), 15–31. https://doi.org/10.24042/atjpi.v14i1.13593

Badrun, B. (2024). Enhancing Islamic education: The role of madrasah-based management in Islamic boarding schools. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(2), 2772–2780. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v16i2.5153

Burga, M. A., & Damopolii, M. (2022). Reinforcing religious moderation through local culture-based Pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v8i2.19879

Dian, D., Hidayatulloh, R., Riyanti, T., & Aripin, J. (2024). The role of Kiai leadership in developing students' character at an Islamic boarding school. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(1), 234–246. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v16i1.4378

Faisal, A., Pabbajah, M., Abdullah, I., Muhammad, N. E., & Rusli, M. (2022). Strengthening religious moderatism through the traditional authority of kiai in Indonesia. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 2150450. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2150450

Fitria, N. (2025). The leadership of the kiai as a conservative instrument of the Islamic boarding school (A case study at Pondok Pesantren Hidayatul Qur’an Banjarrejo). Nizham Journal of Islamic Studies, 13(01), 100–115. https://doi.org/10.32332/nizham.v13i01.10846

Gazali, H., Anggraeni, D., & Ahmed, M. E. (2023). Salafi-jihadist movements and ideology in educational institutions: Exploring the nexus with religious moderation. Edukasia Islamika, 8(1), 127–146. https://doi.org/10.28918/jei.v8i1.365

Hamdanah, H., Baharun, H., Najiburrohman, N., Thohir, P. F. D. M., & Sanjani, M. A. F. (2025). The role of kiai leadership and service quality in shaping the reputation of pesantren. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(4), 695–709. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v6i4.1785

Hastasari, C., Setiawan, B., & Aw, S. (2022). Students' communication patterns in Islamic boarding schools: The case of students at Muallimin Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. Heliyon, 8(1). https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(22)00112-8

Hemay, I., Muradi, M., Paskarina, C., & Solihah, R. (2025). Breaking barriers: Religious orientation and feminist values in Muslim women's politics through social media; Case study of Madura. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1), 2558080. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2025.2558080

Huda, M. (2024). Strengthening religious moderation through the core values of Islamic boarding school education. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(1), 59–71. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v8i1.458

Husnaini, M., & Fuady, A. S. (2023). Techniques for implementing the iktisyaf method in teaching the yellow book at Pesantren Puncak Darussalam, East Java, Indonesia. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 20(1), 83–97. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.v20i1.6798

Ibrahim, R., Rifa’i, A. A., Supriyanto, Zaenuri, M., Fuadi, M. A., & Mujiburrohman. (2024). The caliphate in learning resources of Indonesian Islamic boarding school: A view of Kiai and santri Pesantren Lirboyo Kediri. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2426968. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2426968

Idris, M., Willya, E., Mokodenseho, S., & Musthan, Z. (2023). Child-friendly Islamic boarding school (CFIBS): Realizing humanistic goals of Islamic education. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 7(1), 112–130. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v7i1.382

Jaenullah, J., Utama, F., & Setiawan, D. (2022). Resilience model of the traditional Islamic boarding school education system in shaping the morals of students in the midst of modernizing education. Jurnal Kependidikan: Jurnal Hasil Penelitian dan Kajian Kepustakaan di Bidang Pendidikan, Pengajaran, dan Pembelajaran, 8(4), 931–942. https://doi.org/10.33394/jk.v8i4.6013

Karim, A., Fathurohman, O., Sulaiman, S., Marliani, L., Muhammadun, M., & Firmansyah, B. (2025). How do principals act as leaders and managers in boarding and public schools in Indonesia? Cogent Education, 12(1), 2445354. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2445354

Karim, A., Fathurrohman, O., Muhammadun, Saripudin, W., Rahmat, D., & Mansir, F. (2023). Altruistic works, religion, and corruption: Kiai’s leadership to shape anti-corruption values in pesantren. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(1), 2238968. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2238968

Khoirunnisa, T. A., & Effendi, Y. (2025). Rearticulating Islamic signifiers: Counter-narratives from pesantren for peace. Dialog, 48(2), 164–187. https://doi.org/10.47655/dialog.v48i2.1091

Kurdi, M. S. (2024). Gender responsive values in fiqh subjects: Concepts and practices in madrasah ibtidaiyah levels. Journal of Gender and Millennium Development Studies, 1(1), 12–23. https://doi.org/10.64420/jgmds.v1i1.65

Latif, A. (2023). Embedding aswaja values in strengthening religious moderation in students. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 4(3), 601–609. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v4i3.521

Muhammad, C. L. M. (2024). The concept of Islam Nusantara as viewed by indonesian muslim intellectuals: proponents and opponents [Doctoral dissertation, Griffith University]. Griffith University. https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/5762

Mariyono, D. (2025). Forming multicultural entrepreneurs' attitudes (MEA): Insights from Islamic boarding school. The Bottom Line. https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-03-2024-0030

Mau, F. A. (2024). Integrating character education in Al-Syifa Islamic boarding schools: A case study approach. Edu Spectrum: Journal of Multidimensional Education, 1(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.70063/eduspectrum.v1i1.30

Mu’awanah, U., Mahfud, M., & Syahbudin, M. (2025). Integration of Sundanese, Javanese, and Bantenese in learning yellow books at Islamic boarding schools. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(1), 280–290. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v17i1.5005

Muhammad, M., Syukri, A., & Hakim, L. (2024). Kiai’s leadership in developing Islamic boarding school education culture. Journal of Educational Research, 3(1), 407–424.

Muhtar, M. K., & Novita, A. (2023). Dekonstruksi filosofi pendidikan pesantren salafiyah: Studi analisis konsep sanad keilmuan di Pesantren Al-Haqiqi Sidosermo Surabaya [Deconstruction of education philosophy of the Salafiyah Islamic boarding school: An analytical study to the concept of Pesantren Al-Haqiqi Sidosermo Surabaya. Aqlania: Jurnal Filsafat dan Teologi Islam, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.32678/aqlania.v14i2.9652

Mujahid, M. (2021). Learning the yellow book in Al-Fitroh Jejeran Boarding School, Wonokromo Pleret Bantul: Study of learning materials in a philosophical perspective. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 18(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpai.2021.181-05

Mukarromah, L., Prasetiya, B., & Masuwd, M. (2024). The kiai langgar as an agent of Islamic education: A study on the transformation of roles in Ngepoh village. Halaqa: Islamic Education Journal, 8(2), 147–160. https://doi.org/10.21070/halaqa.v8i2.1696

Mulyana, M., Thohir, A., Truna, D. S., & Supiana, S. (2025). Integration of Islamic and local values in entrepreneurship education in West Java: An analysis of kiai’s role as a cultural transmitter. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 15(2), 381–400. https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.152.21

Muthoifin, M. (2024). The influence of Nashihatul Muluk Al-Ghazali on the theory and practice of government in the Islamic world. Abazi, E.(2023). Importing Religion into Post-Communist Albania: Between Rights and Obligations. Religions, 14(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14050658

Nasir, M., & Rijal, M. K. (2021). Keeping the middle path: Mainstreaming religious moderation through Islamic higher education institutions in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 11(2), 213–241. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.213-241

Nasith, A. (2024). The role of kiai’s charismatic leadership in mitigating religious intolerance and radicalism in pesantren. International Journal of Social Science and Religion (IJSSR), 203–230. https://doi.org/10.53639/ijssr.v5i2.238

Pratama, I. P. (2024). Symbolic meanings in the social interaction of santri in the pesantren environment. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(3), 1086–1102. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v8i3.698

Qizam, I., Berakon, I., & Ali, H. (2025). The role of halal value chain, Sharia financial inclusion, and digital economy in socio-economic transformation: a study of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 16(3), 810–840. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-03-2024-0108

Roqib, M. (2021). Increasing social class through Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 12(2), 305–329. http://jsser.org/index.php/jsser/article/view/3291

Saada, N. (2022). Balancing the communitarian, civic, and liberal aims of religious education: Islamic reflections. Religions, 13(12), 1198. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13121198

Sabila, A. M., Arifin, S., & Humaidi, M. N. (2024). Islamic boarding school in the trajectory of Indonesian history: Origins, characteristics, and policy dynamics. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(1), 45–58. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v8i1.440

Siddiqua, A. (2025). Educational leadership and management in the Arab world: A methodical review. American J Sci Edu Re: AJSER-275. Https://Doi. Org/10.71010//AJSER-2025-E275.

Subaidi, Tantowi, A., Cholid, N., Junaedi, M., Waluyo, & Nursikin, M. (2023). Eco-pesantren: Islamic education in forest conservation landscapes. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 16(4), 541–567. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40647-023-00386-w

Supriyanto, S., Amrin, A., & Rifa’i, A. A. (2022). Islamic education paradigm on religious understanding in indonesia (A case study at Islamic boarding school of Al-Muayyad Surakarta). Akademika: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, 27(1), 31–46. https://doi.org/10.32332/akademika.v27i1.4562

Suryani, A., & Muslim, A. B. (2024). Religious tolerance, intellectual humility, and democratic education. In Embracing diversity: Preparing future teachers to foster religious tolerance (pp. 13–34). Springer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-97-1616-6_2

Susanto, N. H., & Basid, A. (2024). Local religious values of Javanese-Sundanese religion: Resistance to modernity. Walisongo: Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan, 32(1), 93–120. https://doi.org/10.21580/ws.32.1.22494

Viinikka, K., Ubani, M., & Lipiäinen, T. (2022). Religious education as a 21st-century practice: A quantitative study of the perceptions of in-service and pre-service teachers concerning new learning skills. Religion & Education, 49(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15507394.2021.2009304

Wahab, W. A., & Umar, M. H. (2024). The leadership vision of charismatic kiai in the implementation of religious moderation values in Al-Baqiyatush Shalihat Islamic boarding school, Jambi province. International Journal of Islamic Education, Research and Multiculturalism (IJIERM), 6(2), 399–424. https://doi.org/10.47006/ijierm.v6i2.336

Warsah, I., & Istan, M. (2025). Islamic religious education learning approach based on religious moderation. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 9(1), 181–199. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v9i1.45

Widiastuty, H., Hilmy, M., & Erawati, D. (2025). Reconstructing rationalization in Islamic education: A systematic literature review of Max Weber’s bureaucracy theory. Edukasi Islami: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 14(02), 379–400. https://doi.org/10.30868/ei.v14i02.8278

Zainudin, A., Supandi, A. F., & Masruroh, A. (2025). Development of a character education model based on Aswaja an-Nahdliyah values and local wisdom in Islamic higher education. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education, 6(1), 226–244. https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v6i1.1230