Thousands Attend Grand Tabligh Akbar to Commemorate 100 Years of Gontor

Ponorogo, East Java — Thousands of worshippers crowded the field of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor (PMDG) in Gontor Village, Mlarak District, Ponorogo Regency, East Java, on Monday evening (8/6) for a Grand Tabligh Akbar as part of the 100 Years of Gontor commemorations. The event, which featured several national preachers including Ustaz Abdul Somad, Ustaz Das’ad Latif, Ustaz Muhammad Fakhrurrazi Anshar, and Ustaz Luqmanulhakim, served as a moment to reflect on Gontor’s century-long journey and to strengthen the educational and missionary values passed down by the institution.

The leader of PMDG, KH Hasan Abdullah Sahal, stated that the 100 Years of Gontor commemoration is not merely a celebration, but a means to remember the struggles of the school’s founders and to express gratitude for the long journey of the educational institution. “At Gontor, everything is for education. Not a single second is not dedicated to teaching. One hundred years of Gontor is not a celebration, but a reminder for us to continue remembering the struggles and values inherited from the founders,” he said. According to Hasan, the various achievements attained by Gontor over the past century should serve as a foundation to continue the struggle for education and service to the community in the future. “Upholding and maintaining the inherited values must continue so that Gontor becomes increasingly beneficial for the community and the nation,” he added.

During the event, Ustaz Luqmanulhakim, an alumnus of Gontor, urged graduates to maintain their connection with the school and the Kyai (religious leaders) as sources of blessing in life. “Once you graduate, do not forget to return to the school and seek the blessings of the Kyai,” he said. Meanwhile, Ustaz Das’ad Latif noted that Gontor has successfully become an Islamic educational institution accepted by various groups and regions. “My hope is that Gontor remains a modern boarding school capable of being accepted anywhere and providing benefits to everyone,” he remarked.

In the closing session, Ustaz Abdul Somad invited the congregation to be grateful for the existence of Gontor, which for a century has produced many figures and human resources active in various fields. He assessed that Gontor’s success is inseparable from an educational system that integrates the strengthening of faith, language mastery, leadership, organisation, and character building. “May Allah multiply schools like Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor, which continues to produce good people for the community and the nation,” he said. The Grand Tabligh Akbar, which lasted until late at night, was attended by thousands of students, alumni, teachers, and members of the public from various regions. The event is one of the main agendas in the series of commemorations for the 100 Years of Gontor, which will culminate in September 2026.