Gontor's Centenary Inspires Kiai Abdul Dalil in Developing Darul Aman Islamic Boarding School
The 100th anniversary of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor has become a special momentum for the Founder of Darul Aman Islamic Boarding School (Yayasan Buq’atun Mubarakah), Kiai Haji Abdul Dalil Thahir. Alongside the Secretary of the Foundation, Ahmad Sahal, he returned to the boarding school environment that played a vital role in his educational journey and personal development.
For Kiai Abdul Dalil, attending the centenary of Gontor was more than just a ceremony. The moment served as a journey back to his time studying at Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor during the 1970s. Gontor left a significant mark on his path of education and service; the knowledge, experience, discipline, Islamic values, and insights gained as a student became the foundation for his missionary work and community service.
This educational background also provided the inspiration for Kiai Abdul Dalil to establish and develop Pondok Pesantren Darul Aman in Gombara, Makassar, South Sulawesi. The boarding school’s educational values, which emphasise character building, mastery of knowledge, linguistic proficiency, and independence, continue to be developed to meet contemporary needs.
His return to Gontor also facilitated reunions with old classmates. These meetings provided a space for nostalgia and an opportunity to reflect on the long journey undertaken since leaving the institution. Kiai Abdul Dalil also met with the leadership of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor and the extended family of Universitas Darussalam (UNIDA) Gontor, further strengthening the significance of his visit.
According to Kiai Abdul Dalil, Gontor’s long history demonstrates that the sustainability of an educational institution requires a strong vision, consistency in maintaining values, and continuous regeneration from one generation to the next. One hundred years serves as proof that education must be prepared not only to meet today’s needs but also to endure through the ages.
Returning to Gontor also provided a momentum for Kiai Abdul Dalil to reaffirm the educational direction of Darul Aman Islamic Boarding School. He believes Darul Aman possesses great potential to continue growing and contributing more broadly in the future. Consequently, student education is directed towards forming individuals capable of memorising the 30 juz of the Al-Qur’an, understanding religious sciences holistically, mastering languages, and acquiring life skills. These abilities must grow in tandem so that students are prepared for changing times without losing their Islamic foundations.
Kiai Abdul Dalil believes this combination is essential to produce a generation with both spiritual and intellectual strength, alongside communication skills and relevant expertise. Students must not only possess depth of knowledge but also the capacity to apply that knowledge within society. “God willing, Darul Aman also has equally great potential to advance and develop over time. Therefore, we must prepare our students with a strong foundation: the Al-Qur’an, Arabic and English languages, and life skills,” said Kiai Haji Abdul Dalil.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Buq’atun Mubarakah Foundation, Ahmad Sahal, expressed appreciation for the century-long journey of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor. He noted that this journey is part of the long history of pesantren (Islamic boarding school) education in Indonesia.
He stated that pesantren have contributed to human resource development, the advancement of science, the formation of noble character (akhlak al-karimah), and the creation of generations that benefit the nation and state. Therefore, Gontor’s centenary can be viewed as part of the long-standing contribution of pesantren to Indonesia.
Ahmad Sahal encouraged students across Indonesia to take pride and gratitude in the opportunity to receive an education in a pesantren. He remarked that the identity of a ‘santri’ (student) should be translated into a spirit of providing wider benefits to society. “All students in Indonesia should always be proud and grateful to be destined as santri. Santri play an important role in Indonesia’s development journey, contributing to science, the improvement of noble character, and the creation of superior generations for today and the future,” he stated.