Santri Must Go Global Without Losing Their Identity
Today’s santri are expected not only to possess deep religious knowledge and spiritual maturity, but also to master science, technology, foreign languages and professional skills so they can compete nationally and globally. While adapting to the times, they must preserve pesantren traditions, humility and good character as the foundations of their identity.
Ahmad Fahrur Rozi, head of the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) Pesantren Division, said today’s santri need deep religious knowledge, broad perspectives and the ability to respond to contemporary challenges. They should be able to contribute across a range of fields, from education, science and technology to the economy and leadership.
“Mastery of Arabic and English is very important so that santri can explore the wealth of Islamic scholarship and connect with the international community. But being a santri is not simply a matter of having studied at a pesantren. A santri’s identity should be reflected in wirid [devotional recitations], tirakat [spiritual discipline], humility and good character,” said Rozi, who is also the head of An-Nur 1 Bululawang Islamic boarding school in Malang and is commonly known as Gus Fahrur. He spoke to Republika on Wednesday (21 October 2026).
He stressed that santri should be intellectually capable, spiritually strong and committed to serving the community and the nation.
Pesantren continue to develop by integrating religious and formal education with science, technology, foreign languages and life skills, he said. This development is important in preparing santri for future challenges.
However, Gus Fahrur warned that modernisation must not strip away the spirit of the pesantren. The study of classical Islamic texts, scholarly traditions, wirid, tirakat, humility and the example set by kiai must remain the foundation.
“A pesantren is not merely a place for producing clever people, but a place for shaping people who are knowledgeable, ethical and spiritually deep,” he said.
Gus Fahrur said pesantren should open up more opportunities for students to learn science, digital technology, foreign languages, entrepreneurship and professional skills. Arabic is important for deepening knowledge of Islamic scholarship, while English provides access to scientific developments and international networks.
He said santri should have equal opportunities to become scientists, professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders nationally and globally. But the greater a person’s knowledge and position, the stronger their humility and moral responsibility should be. Intellectual progress must go hand in hand with spiritual maturity.
Gus Fahrur said pesantren are guided by the principle al-muhafazhah ’alal qadimish shalih wal akhdzu bil jadidil ashlah: preserving good traditions of the past and adopting better new practices. Technology, languages and teaching methods may develop, but wirid, tirakat, humility, respect for teachers and the example they set must not be abandoned. These are all important to shaping santri’s character and spiritual depth.
“We do not want to produce a generation that excels academically but is spiritually hollow. Santri must advance in knowledge and be able to communicate with the international community, while remaining humble, strong in their manners and steadfast in Islamic values,” he said.
He said the santri of the future should have deep religious knowledge, spiritual maturity, critical-thinking skills, technological expertise, proficiency in Arabic and English, and professional and entrepreneurial abilities. All of these must be underpinned by moral integrity.
Wirid sustains santri’s relationship with God, tirakat trains perseverance and self-control, while humility prevents knowledge from giving rise to arrogance. With these qualities, santri will not only be able to compete in the workplace, but also pursue further education and build international scholarly networks.
“We want santri to master religious and modern knowledge, communicate with the world and remain firmly rooted in pesantren traditions. Santri must be able to go global without losing their identity, master technology without losing their manners, and achieve worldly progress without forgetting the hereafter,” Gus Fahrur said.