Reflection on Santri Day: Pillars of Islamic Modernization and Nation Building

Jakarta - As an alumnus of pesantren, the fundamental experience for me is the integration of basic religious education and general knowledge simultaneously.

The pesantren has prepared the students with various knowledge and skills as well as character education that lives in the daily lives of the students.

At first glance, activities such as scouts, sports, martial arts, arts, skills, and so on seem simple, but for character strengthening, these activities educate to be skilled, disciplined and communicate actively with each other. This is an education system that has combined thinking, feeling and skills.

This education model has proven that pesantren alumni become agents of change in society. Without Islamic boarding schools, Indonesia would not be as modern and advanced as it is today.

History records that many santri later became leaders in this country, namely KH Abdurrahman Wahid or Gusdur who became the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia. Then later KH Abdul Wahid Hasyim was the 4th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia. He was also the father of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), the 4th President of Indonesia. Another santri is KH. Ma'ruf Amin, the Vice President of Indonesia for the 2019-2024 period, is a great scholar from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and has a background as a santri. Adam Malik, although his pesantren background is not as strong as the other figures who became the 3rd Vice President of Indonesia (1978-1983), he also received education in pesantren during his youth.

Santri who receive education in pesantren are able to adapt to the times and modernization. So then, this santri is not only competent in the religious field, he is also able to adapt to changing times in responding to the challenges of modernization in a good way without losing his identity. Furthermore, he must be able to integrate the development of the times such as digitalization by applying Islamic values in responding to this disruption of innovation.

In the context of modernization of Indonesian Islam, pesantren have a significant role. Pesantren is not only a center of Islamic religious education, but also a center for the renewal of superior human resources that gave birth to national figures, intellectual figures, scholars, and leaders of the nation and state. In the political, economic, and social vortex, santri are also heavily involved in these public spaces. This shows that santri can be well accepted in the national arena and even become the driving force of change in Indonesia by not losing their religious spirit.

The moderate Islam campaigned by Indonesia in the international arena cannot be separated from the role of santri and pesantren. This tradition is inherent in the Indonesian Islamic tradition. The santri in the pesantren, in addition to learning the yellow book, they also learn about civilization, community service, mutual cooperation, and the values of inclusiveness. So then these students and pesantren can maintain diversity and diversity in Indonesia in harmony with Islamic values. Religious tolerance and harmonization in Indonesia is the main capital in the campaign of moderate Islam in the global arena.

In this era of digitalization, an instant culture is born. This culture also gave birth to a strawberry generation that looks cool on the outside but fragile on the inside. Mental health then becomes a serious issue among today's young generation. Pesantren as an Islamic educational institution instills solid Islamic values. So that later these students do not easily despair in their daily lives by applying Islamic values. Both physical and mental health aspects are part of the foundation of the resilience of the nation and state.

ife in pesantren is designed in such a way that santri are able and resilient in responding to a rapidly changing civilization. Life in the pesantren world applies a simple lifestyle with strong discipline. The students are accustomed to waking up early in the morning to perform night prayers, study, and other tasks in the pesantren. This pattern of life actually gives birth to young people with a tough physique and able to adapt to any situation. Furthermore, this pesantren not only provides a strong foundation for physical health but also for mental health.

As a santri, I invite all parties to maintain and develop the good traditions of pesantren. This tradition is very relevant in national development, and our vision to achieve Advanced Indonesia and Golden Indonesia 2045.

(Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, MA, Ph.D)

This article was published on Detik.com on October 22, 2024. Read the full article at the following