Religious Leadership and Personal Branding of 'Kyai' in Islamic Education Management: Pathways to Promoting Moderation and Preventing Radicalism

Misdah; Asep Iwa Soemantri; Sumin Sumin; Muh Barid Nizarudin Wajdi; Muhamad Imam Pamungkas

doi:10.31538/munaddhomah.v6i1.1510

Authors

Misdah Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak, Indonesia
Asep Iwa Soemantri Universitas Pertahanan, Indonesia
Sumin Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak, Indonesia
Muh Barid Nizarudin Wajdi STAI Miftahul Ula Nganjuk Indonesia
Muhamad Imam Pamungkas Coventry University, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v6i1.1510

Keywords:

Leadership, Personal Branding, Moderation, Radicalism, Pesantren

Abstract

Religious leaders are crucial in fostering moderate attitudes and behaviours, particularly among students of Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools). However, empirical studies examining the relationship between Kyai leadership and efforts to counter radicalism still need to be explored. This study investigates the impact of religious leadership and personal branding of the Kyai on religious moderation and the prevention of radicalism in Pesantren. A quantitative approach with a correlational survey design was employed, involving 340 respondents, including administrators, students, and alums from Pesantren. Data were collected via a five-point Likert scale questionnaire administered online and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that religious leadership and personal branding of the Kyai positively influence religious moderation, which plays a vital role in countering radicalism. Additionally, religious moderation was found to mediate the relationship between Kyai leadership and personal branding with radicalism prevention. The restricted sample coverage due to the online survey format is a study limitation. The findings suggest that enhancing Kyai's religious leadership and personal branding can be a valuable strategy for combating Pesantren's radicalism.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adeoye, M. A., Baharun, H., & Munawwaroh, I. (2025). Transformational Leadership in Education: Harmonising Accountability, Innovation and Global Citizenship. Kharisma: Jurnal Administrasi Dan Manajemen Pendidikan, 4(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.59373/kharisma.v4i1.68

Afwadzi, B., & Miski, M. (2021). Religious moderation in Indonesian higher educations: Literature review. Ulul Albab: Jurnal Studi Islam, 22(2), 203–231.

Afwadzi, B., Sumbulah, U., Ali, N., & Qudsy, S. Z. (2024). Religious moderation of Islamic university students in Indonesia: Reception of religious texts. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 80(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v80i1.9369

Albert, A., & Sesmiarni, Z. (2022). Strategi Peningkatan Kualitas Pendidikan Pesantren Melalui Pengembangan Program Pesantren Ramah Anak. Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia, 3(11), 966–983. https://doi.org/10.59141/japendi.v3i11.1223

Ali, N., Afwadzi, B., Abdullah, I., & Mukmin, M. I. (2021). Interreligious Literacy Learning as a Counter-Radicalization Method: A New Trend among Institutions of Islamic Higher Education in Indonesia. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 32(4), 383–405. https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410.2021.1996978

Arar, K., Sawalhi, R., & Yilmaz, M. (2022). The Research on Islamic-Based Educational Leadership since 1990: An International Review of Empirical Evidence and a Future Research Agenda. Religions, 13(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13010042

Arifin, M., & Kartiko, A. (2022). Strategi Pendidikan Agama Islam Berbasis Multikultural Di Madrasah Bertaraf Internasional. Attadrib: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 5(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.54069/attadrib.v5i2.396

Baso, R. S., & Alwy, M. A. (2023). Higher Education Leadership Transformation in East Kalimantan: Challenges and Opportunities. Nidhomul Haq : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 8(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.31538/ndh.v8i3.4326

Chin, W. W. (1998). The partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling. In Marcoulides G. A. (Ed.). Modern Methods for Business Research, JANUARY 1998.

Cholil, S. (2022). First Essay Freedom of Religion amid Polarization and Religious Moderation Policy. Interreligious Studies and Intercultural Theology, 6(2), 196–204. https://doi.org/10.1558/isit.24603

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches—John W. Creswell, J. David Creswell—Google Books. In SAGE Publications, Inc.

Djamaluddin, B., Bahri, S., Halim, A., Nurlailah, & Chabibi, M. (2024). Deradicalization Through Multicultural Islamic Religious Education at The Islamic University. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i3.34

Faisal, A., Pabbajah, M., Abdullah, I., Muhammad, N. E., & Rusli, Muh. (2022). Strengthening religious moderatism through the traditional authority of kiai in Indonesia. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2150450

Fornell, & Larcker. (1981). Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50.

Ghifarie, I. F. (2016). Teologi Hakimiyah: Benih Radikalisme Islam. Islam Realitas: Journal of Islamic & Social Studies, 2(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.30983/islam_realitas.v2i1.96

Habsi, M. (2022). Peran Kepemimpinan Kyai Dalam Membentuk Karakter Santri Di Pondok Pesantren Al-Mashduqiah Patokan Kraksaan Probolinggo. Leadership:Jurnal Mahasiswa Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 3(2), 167–180. https://doi.org/10.32478/leadership.v3i2.941

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R. In Classroom Companion: Business. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7

Hariyadi, A. (2020). Kepemimpinan Karismatik Kiai Dalam Membangun Budaya Organisasi Pesantren. Equity In Education Journal, 2(2), 96–104. https://doi.org/10.37304/eej.v2i2.1694

Hasan, M. S., Mujahidin, Azizah, M., & Solechan. (2024). Fostering A Moderate Attitude in Sufi-Based Pesantren Culture. At-Tadzkir: Islamic Education Journal, 3(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.59373/attadzkir.v3i2.66

Hidayat, A., & Sugiarto, L. (2020). Strategi Penangkalan &Amp; Penanggulangan Radikalisme Melalui Cultural Reinforcement Masyarakat Jawa Tengah. Jurnal Usm Law Review, 3(1), 135. https://doi.org/10.26623/julr.v3i1.2203

Hifza, H., Antoni, A., Syakhrani, A. W., & Hartati, Z. (2020). The Multicultural Islamic Education Development Strategy on Educational Institutions. Jurnal Iqra’: Kajian Ilmu Pendidikan, 5(1), 158–170.

Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118

Hudaa, S., Fahmi, M., Diah Haryanti, N., Barid Nizarudin Wajdi, M., hudaa, syihaabul, & diah haryanti, N. (2024). Achieving excellence: The role of digital transformation in madrasah management and Islamic culture. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1), 2304407. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2304407

Idris, T., Rijal, F., Irwandi, Hanum, R., & Mardhiah, A. (2024). A Multicultural Approach in Islamic Education Learning to Strengthen the Islamic Identity of Moderate Students in PTKIN Aceh. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education, 5(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v5i3.1138

Ifendi, M. (2020). Pesantren dan Kepemimpinan Kiai Studi Kasus di Pondok Pesantren Mambaus Sholihin Gresik (1980-2020). Mudir : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 2(2), 77–94. https://doi.org/10.55352/mudir.v2i2.99

Indra, H. (2015). Islamic Religious Education in the Era of Afta. TARBIYA: Journal of Education in Muslim Society, 2(2), 204–221. https://doi.org/10.15408/tjems.v2i2.2208

Karim, A., Purnomo, H., Fikriyah, F., & Kardiyati, E. N. (2020). A Charismatic Relationship: How a Kyai’s Charismatic Leadership and Society’s Compliance are Constructed? Journal of Indonesian Economy and Business, 35(2), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.22146/jieb.54705

Karim, A. R. (2020). Reafirmasi Pendidikan Agama Islam Melalui Sistem Boarding School di Sekolah Umum. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam Al-Thariqah, 5(1), 38–49.

Lafrarchi, N. (2020). Assessing islamic religious education curriculum in flemish public secondary schools. Religions. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11030110

Liriwati, F. Y., Ilyas, M., Mulyadi, M., Syahid, A., & Kafrawi, K. (2024). Manajemen Pemasaran Jasa Pendidikan Islam di Pondok Pesantren: Harmonisasi Nilai-Nilai Keislaman dengan Strategi Pemasaran Berkualitas. Islamic Management: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(01).

Ma`arif, M. A., Rofiq, M. H., Kausar, S., Sirojuddin, A., Kartiko, A., & Hasan, M. S. (2024). Shaping Students’ Moderate Islamic Character at Madrasah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v10i2.34029

Ma`arif, M. A., Rokhman, M., Fatikh, M. A., Kartiko, A., Ahmadi, A., & Hasan, M. S. (2025). Kiai’s Leadership Strategies in Strengthening Religious Moderation in Islamic Boarding Schools. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 13(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v13i1.1168

Ma’arif, S., Sebastian, L. C., & Sholihan, S. (2020). A Soft Approach to Counter Radicalism: The Role of Traditional Islamic Education. Walisongo: Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan. https://doi.org/10.21580/ws.28.1.6294

Mahsusi, Hudaa, S., Fahmi, M., Kusen, Haryanti, N. D., & Wajdi, M. B. N. (2024). Achieving excellence: The role of digital transformation in madrasah management and Islamic culture. Cogent Arts and Humanities. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2304407

Muid, A., Shohib, M., & Askarullah, A. (2024). Character Development Strategy for Tolerance in Islamic Boarding Schools. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education, 5(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v5i2.833

Rahayu, S., Ulfatin, N., Wiyono, B. B., Imron, A., & Wajdi, M. B. N. (2018). The Professional Competency Teachers Mediate the Influence of Teacher Innovation and Emotional Intelligence on School Security. Journal of Social Studies Education ResearchResearch, 9(2), 210–227.

Reyhan Fachrizal, M., Aulya Safitri, N., Fitriani, R., & Syarifudin, H. E. (2023). Management in pesantren education institutions. Educenter : Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan, 2(2), 209–217. https://doi.org/10.55904/EDUCENTER.V2I2.767

Rintoul, H., & Normore, A. H. (2020). Values-Based Leadership and the Quest for Inclusive Organizational Practices. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.623

Rozaq, A. K., Basri, B., & Indah, I. (2022). Kiai’s Leadership in Strengthening Santri’s Moderation Attitude in Islamic Boarding Schools. Nidhomul Haq : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.31538/ndh.v7i2.2322

Salim, N. A., Zaini, M., Wahib, A., Fauzi, I., & Asnawan, A. (2024). Fostering Moderate Character of Santri: Effective Hidden Curriculum Strategy in Islamic Boarding Schools. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i2.4676

Sutisna, & Khori, A. (2024). Communication Management in Diversity Tolerance to Maintain The Unity of The People. Kharisma: Jurnal Administrasi Dan Manajemen Pendidikan, 3(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.59373/kharisma.v3i1.46

Syahid, N. (2021). Transformation Islamic Education In Indonesia. Journal Intellectual Sufism Research (JISR). https://doi.org/10.52032/jisr.v3i2.99

Syaifuddin, M., Hadi, M. F. Z., & Rahman, R. (2024). Lecturers’ Resistance to Religious Moderation Policy in Handling Radicalism: Evidence from State Islamic University of Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau, Indonesia. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(2), 3314–3329. https://doi.org/10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.00244

Taherdoost, H. (2023). Change Management. In EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39626-7_13

Umar, M., Ismail, F., Rahmi, S., & Arifin, Z. (2024). Transforming of Moderate Character Education in Islamic Educational Institutions. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i1.4168

W, S., Lubis, K., Baihaqi, M., Musriaparto, M., Marhaban, M., & Nur, M. (2024). Aceh Government Policy in Preventing Radicalism Through the Existence of Dayah Islamic Education. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i2.4118

Wardani, Y., Siti Sajaroh, W., & Suprapto. (2022). Developing Religious Moderation In State Islamic Religious College Indonesia: Text And Context-Based Understanding Of Islam. Jurnal Adabiyah, 22(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.24252/jad.v22i1a1

Wasehudin, Rohman, A., Wajdi, Muh. B. N., & Marwan. (2023). Transforming Islamic Education through Merdeka Curriculum in Pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 9(2), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.15575/JPI.V9I2.28918

Watung, S. R., Sunarno, S., Fitriyah, A. W., Saputra, N., & Abas, Y. (2023). School Principals as Leaders in Fostering Attitudes of Religious Tolerance in Schools. Nidhomul Haq : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 8(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.31538/ndh.v8i3.4078

Wijaya Mulya, T., & Aditomo, A. (2019). Researching religious tolerance education using discourse analysis: A case study from Indonesia. British Journal of Religious Education, 41(4), 446–457. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2018.1556602

Zuhdi, M. (2018). Challenging Moderate Muslims: Indonesia’s Muslim Schools in the Midst of Religious Conservatism. Religions, 9(10), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9100310