MODERNISASI HIBRIDA PESANTREN (Studi Kasus di Pondok Pesantren Al-Amien Prenduan Sumenep Jawa Timur)

This study is motivated by the dynamics faced by some traditional pesantren, particularly the concentration of leadership authority in the kiai and the formulation of educational goals that are not yet fully systematic. In the context of an increasingly dynamic era, these conditions may pose risks to the institutional vitality of pesantren amid ongoing change. Pondok Pesantren Al-Amien Prenduan serves as a model of an institution that has consciously modernized to address these issues. This study examines the fundamental motivations, processes, forms, and impacts of pesantren modernization on Islamic Religious Education (IRE) at Pondok Pesantren Al-Amien Prenduan, Sumenep, East Java. This study adopts an interpretivist paradigm employing a qualitative single-case study design. Data were generated through open-ended interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, and analyzed using an interactive analytical model comprising data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. Research rigor was ensured through source and methodological triangulation, as well as member checking.
The findings indicate that modernization at Pondok Pesantren Al-Amien Prenduan constitutes an ideological and strategic agenda initiated by Djauhari, with Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor as its primary reference. This process occurs through selective adaptation in institutional structures, education, management, and cadre formation, reflecting voluntary and strategic mimetic isomorphism to enhance legitimacy and sustainability. It unfolds gradually and evolutionarily, representing selective modernization within the framework of multiple pesantren modernities. This modernization takes the form of a hybrid model, manifested through the integration of religious and general curricula, strengthened governance and cadre systems, economic development, infrastructure improvement, and the organization of students’ lives based on Islamic and pesantren values. Substantively, it reinforces Islamic education through curriculum reform, improved pedagogical methods, and increased graduate competitiveness, while also posing challenges, including a potential decline in students’ interest in the study of classical Islamic texts (kitab kuning).
This study affirms that the modernization of pesantren proceeds gradually through cultural-religious pathways, resulting in multiple forms of modernity. It also highlights the importance of visionary leadership, cadre development, and strengthened governance in ensuring sustainability while preserving the pesantren’s identity.