Today\u2019s santri are expected not only to possess deep religious\nknowledge and spiritual maturity, but also to master science,\ntechnology, foreign languages and professional skills so they can\ncompete nationally and globally. While adapting to the times, they must\npreserve pesantren traditions, humility and good character as the\nfoundations of their identity.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Fahrur Rozi, head of the Indonesian Ulema Council\u2019s (MUI)\nPesantren Division, said today\u2019s santri need deep religious knowledge,\nbroad perspectives and the ability to respond to contemporary\nchallenges. They should be able to contribute across a range of fields,\nfrom education, science and technology to the economy and\nleadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cMastery of Arabic and English is very important so that santri can\nexplore the wealth of Islamic scholarship and connect with the\ninternational community. But being a santri is not simply a matter of\nhaving studied at a pesantren. A santri\u2019s identity should be reflected\nin wirid [devotional recitations], tirakat [spiritual discipline],\nhumility and good character,\u201d said Rozi, who is also the head of An-Nur\n1 Bululawang Islamic boarding school in Malang and is commonly known as\nGus Fahrur. He spoke to Republika on Wednesday (21 October 2026).<\/p>\n
He stressed that santri should be intellectually capable, spiritually\nstrong and committed to serving the community and the nation.<\/p>\n
Pesantren continue to develop by integrating religious and formal\neducation with science, technology, foreign languages and life skills,\nhe said. This development is important in preparing santri for future\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
However, Gus Fahrur warned that modernisation must not strip away the\nspirit of the pesantren. The study of classical Islamic texts, scholarly\ntraditions, wirid, tirakat, humility and the example set by kiai must\nremain the foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cA pesantren is not merely a place for producing clever people, but a\nplace for shaping people who are knowledgeable, ethical and spiritually\ndeep,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gus Fahrur said pesantren should open up more opportunities for\nstudents to learn science, digital technology, foreign languages,\nentrepreneurship and professional skills. Arabic is important for\ndeepening knowledge of Islamic scholarship, while English provides\naccess to scientific developments and international networks.<\/p>\n
He said santri should have equal opportunities to become scientists,\nprofessionals, entrepreneurs and leaders nationally and globally. But\nthe greater a person\u2019s knowledge and position, the stronger their\nhumility and moral responsibility should be. Intellectual progress must\ngo hand in hand with spiritual maturity.<\/p>\n
Gus Fahrur said pesantren are guided by the principle al-muhafazhah\n\u2019alal qadimish shalih wal akhdzu bil jadidil ashlah: preserving good\ntraditions of the past and adopting better new practices. Technology,\nlanguages and teaching methods may develop, but wirid, tirakat,\nhumility, respect for teachers and the example they set must not be\nabandoned. These are all important to shaping santri\u2019s character and\nspiritual depth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not want to produce a generation that excels academically but\nis spiritually hollow. Santri must advance in knowledge and be able to\ncommunicate with the international community, while remaining humble,\nstrong in their manners and steadfast in Islamic values,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said the santri of the future should have deep religious\nknowledge, spiritual maturity, critical-thinking skills, technological\nexpertise, proficiency in Arabic and English, and professional and\nentrepreneurial abilities. All of these must be underpinned by moral\nintegrity.<\/p>\n
Wirid sustains santri\u2019s relationship with God, tirakat trains\nperseverance and self-control, while humility prevents knowledge from\ngiving rise to arrogance. With these qualities, santri will not only be\nable to compete in the workplace, but also pursue further education and\nbuild international scholarly networks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want santri to master religious and modern knowledge, communicate\nwith the world and remain firmly rooted in pesantren traditions. Santri\nmust be able to go global without losing their identity, master\ntechnology without losing their manners, and achieve worldly progress\nwithout forgetting the hereafter,\u201d Gus Fahrur said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/santri-must-go-global-without-losing-their-identity-1792626645", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }