The Role of Murabbi in Developing the Intelligence of Santri: A Comparative Study of Traditional and Modern Pesantren
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v7i3.2985Keywords:
Murabbi, santri intelligence, holistic education, Islamic humanism, pesantren cultureAbstract
Amid rapid socio-technological shifts, Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) face increasing demands to cultivate graduates who are intellectually competent, emotionally resilient, and spiritually grounded. Addressing this need, this study examines the role of the murabbi in developing santri intelligence through a comparative analysis of traditional and modern pesantren in Indonesia. Utilizing a qualitative comparative case study design, data were collected via in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis involving murabbi, institutional leaders, and santri. Findings reveal that the murabbi acts as a central pedagogical agent in fostering holistic intelligence across intellectual, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. In traditional pesantren, this role is profoundly relational, prioritizing spiritual mentoring and moral exemplarity to nurture emotional and spiritual growth. Conversely, modern pesantren employ structured curricula, academic assessments, and organized character-building programs to systematically integrate all three intelligences. Despite these methodological distinctions, both models share a foundational philosophy anchored in Islamic humanistic values. This research emphasizes the murabbi’s pedagogical agency as a critical determinant of holistic santri development. Practically, it provides strategic recommendations for pesantren leaders to enhance murabbi professional development, institutionalize compassionate mentoring practices, and align academic programs with spiritual-emotional formation, thereby strengthening value-based Islamic education in contemporary contexts.
Downloads
References
Abas, Z., Tajudin, A., Nugroho, A., & Putra, H. R. (2025). Guardian of Faith: Comparative Insights of Teaching Islamic Theology in Indonesian and Malaysian Pesantren. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2), 382–399. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v8i2.235
Achmadin, B. Z., Kawakip, A. N., Nafis, M. M., Barizi, A., Asrori, M., & Amrullah, A. M. K. (2024). The Future of Pesantren: Reconciling Tradition with Global Educational Trends. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam (Journal of Islamic Education Studies), 12(2), 197–222. https://doi.org/10.15642/jpai.2024.12.2.197-222
Ahwan, Z., & Karfida, P. D. (2025). The Role of Parental Communication in Cultivating Children’s Mental Resilience with Islamic Values to Overcome Bullying. Communicator: Journal of Communication, 2(1), 12–26. https://doi.org/10.59373/comm.v2i1.48
Aisah, Asy’ari, H., & Rofiq, M. H. (2025). The Role of Islamic Religious Education Teachers in Fostering the Habit of Congregational Prayer for Students. Journal of Education and Learning Innovation, 2(1), 16–26. https://doi.org/10.59373/jelin.v2i1.94
Alhamuddin, A. (2025). Integrating the Moral Educational Thought of Classical Islamic Scholars Into the Contemporary Islamic Religious Education Curriculum. Lisan Al-Hal Jurnal Pengembangan Pemikiran Dan Kebudayaan, 19(2), 161–173. https://doi.org/10.35316/lisanalhal.v19i2.161-173
Asweni, D. F. N., Wabiser, Y. D., & Amsad, L. N. (2024). Analysis of the Needs for Developing Papua Context-Based Literacy Teaching Materials for ANBK Preparation: A Literature Review. Interdisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences, 1(2), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.59373/ijoss.v1i2.86
Aulia, S. R., Kusrini, N. A. R., & Daud, W. A. A. W. (2025). Digital Divides and Cultural Bridges: Generational Insights into Internet Slang, Identity, and Perceptions within Islamic Civilizational Discourse. Adiluhung: Journal of Islamic Values and Civilization, 1(2), 106–116. https://doi.org/10.59373/xstwfc64
Azra, A. (2020). Pendidikan Islam: Tradisi dan modernisasi menuju milenium baru. Kencana.
Fajri, N., Ardianto, A., & Sholihah, M. (2025). Menumbuhkan Budaya Religius: Pendekatan Guru PAI dalam Pendidikan Karakter. Attaqwa: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Islam, 21(2), 109–120. https://doi.org/10.54069/attaqwa.v21i2.972
Fatah, M., Khoiruddin, M. A., & Fakhruddin, F. M. (2025). Pesantren-Based Character Education: The Dzuriyah Strategy in Shaping the Character of Santri Ndalem. Interdisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 65–75. https://doi.org/10.59373/ijoss.v2i2.191
Firmansyah, ka, Irja Putra Pratama, & Munir, M. (2024). Symbolic Meanings in the Social Interaction of Santri in the Pesantren Environment. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(3), 1086–1102. https://doi.org/10.35723/AJIE.V8I3.698
Firmansyah, S. B., & Abidin, Z. (2024). Character Education Strategy in Pesantren: Integrating Morals and Spirituality. Ta’dib: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 29(2), 261–275. https://doi.org/10.19109/TD.V29I2.25112
Goleman, D. (2017). Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence. More Than Sound.
Hadrawi, M., Sherira, S., Bachrong, F., Agus, N., Yusuf, Y., Syamsuriah, S., & Jamal, D. H. binti D. (2025). Sacred Myths of The Cerekang Indigenous Community: Local Wisdom Strategies for Environmental Preservation. Al-Qalam, 31(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.31969/ALQ.V31I1.1635
Halim, A., Hanif Fahruddin, A., & Alfiyatin, Y. (2024). Emotional And Moral Development in Pesantren: A Case Study of Ma’had Baitul Qur’an Madura. Molang: Journal Islamic Education, 2(2), 50–61. https://doi.org/10.32806/JM.V2I02.816
Hassan, S., Ansari, N., Rehman, A., & Moazzam, A. (2022). Understanding public service motivation, workplace spirituality and employee well-being in the public sector. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 38(1), 147–172. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-06-2021-0135
Hidayatullah, I. (2024). Pencerapan Nilai Hiburan dan Dakwah Pada Anggota Pagar Nusa. Communicator: Journal of Communication, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.59373/comm.v1i1.32
Humaidi, A., Fadhliyah, N., & Sufirmansyah, S. (2024). The Centrality of Kyai in Establishing Moderate Understandings in Salafiyyah Pesantren. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(3), 554–569. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i3.3
Ibrahim, M. M., & Mukhsin, M. (2025). Integrasi Metode Tradisional dan Modern Dalam Pembelajaran Kitab Kuning di Pesantren Fatihul Ulum Al Mahfudz Manggisan Tanggul. IQRO: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(2), 512–529. https://doi.org/10.24256/IQRO.V8I2.7434
Islam, U., Syekh, N., Hasan, A., & Padangsidimpuan, A. A. (2026). Islamic Education in the Tarbiyatul Islamiyyah Perspective. Al-Murabbi Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 4(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.62086/AL-MURABBI.V4I1.1132
Ismail, Tobroni, & Faridi. (2024). Mengintegrasikan Konsep Rahmatan Lil Alamin Dalam Kurikulum Pendidikan Islam Dengan Pendekatan Holistik. Al-Muaddib Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Kependidikan, 6(1), 489–499. https://doi.org/10.46773/muaddib.v6i1.1223
Jahidin, A. (2023). Traditional Pesantren, Parental Involvement, and Santri Well-being: Insights from Pesantren Sunan Pandanaran of Yogyakarta. Jurnal Pemberdayaan Masyarakat: Media Pemikiran Dan Dakwah Pembangunan, 7(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.14421/JPM.2023.071-02
Jenuri, Faqihuddin, A., Suresman, E., Abdullah, M., & Fahrudin. (2025). Overcoming the spiritual emptiness of students in the modern era through the integration of Al-Ghazali’s human concepts in the Islamic religious education learning model. Cogent Education, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2497147
Kabir, M., Kabir, M. R., & Islam, R. (2025). Islamic Lifestyle Applications: Meeting the Spiritual Needs of Modern Muslims. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2025.2595545
Khikam, D., Asrori, A., Arifin, S., Mohamoud, M. E., & Azzakiyah, L. F. (2025). Implementation of Teachers’ Emotional, Moral, and Spiritual Competencies Through the Guru Penggerak Program. Thawalib: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 6(2), 275–286. https://doi.org/10.54150/thawalib.v6i2.546
Kusumawardani, Y., Rahmawati, I., & Muttaqin, M. A. (2024). Implementasi Literasi Dasar Untuk Menstimulasi Kemampuan Berbahasa Pada Anak Usia Dini Di TK Kusuma Bangsa 02 Tambakmas. Jurnal Dimensi Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 12(1), 122–130. https://doi.org/10.24269/dpp.v12i1.8826
Maa’uun, H. A., Muhammedi, S., Khoirunnisa, A., & Fauzi, M. (2025). Enhancing Holistic Student Development through the Integration of Tarbiyah and Riayah Education. At-Tadzkir: Islamic Education Journal, 4(2), 149–162. https://doi.org/10.59373/attadzkir.v4i2.151
Mardatillah, F., Gumilang, R. M., Wahyudi, M. A., Rawanita, M., & Muhammad, M. (2025). Epistemological Reconstruction of Islamic Education: Developing a Transformative Pedagogical Model to Foster Creativity. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 13(2), 1071–1094. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v13i2.2200
Maryam, S., Rosyidah, N. A., Faridah, I., & Nurhakim, M. S. (2024). Peran Kiai dalam Mengembangkan Kemandirian dan Kepribadian Santri di Pesantren Riyadhul Alfiyah Kadukaweng Pandeglang Banten. Ta’dibiya, 4(2), 132–143. https://doi.org/10.61624/JAPI.V4I2.163
Masuwd, M. A., Wasil, A., & Hidayatulloh, M. (2025). Islamic Boarding School Media as a Bridge of Communication for Multicultural Communities. Communicator: Journal of Communication, 2(1), 47–67. https://doi.org/10.59373/comm.v2i1.97
Miftahuddin, Aman, & Yuliantri, R. D. A. (2024). Islamic character education model: An in-depth analysis for Islamic boarding school. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 43(2), 370–380. https://doi.org/10.21831/cp.v43i2.66516
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative Data Analysis. Sage.
Moleong, L. J. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Remaja Rosda Karya.
Muali, C., Rofiki, M., Baharun, H., Zamroni, Z., & Sholeh, L. (2021). The Role of Sufistic-Based Kiai Leadership in Developing the Character of Santri in the Pesantren. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 13(3), 1705–1714. https://doi.org/10.35445/ALISHLAH.V13I3.1012
Mujahid, I. (2021a). Islamic orthodoxy-based character education: creating moderate Muslim in a modern pesantren in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 11(2), 185–212. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijims.v11i2.185-212
Mujahid, I. (2021b). Islamic orthodoxy-based character education: creating moderate Muslim in a modern pesantren in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islam and Muslim Societies, 11(2), 185–212. https://doi.org/10.18326/IJIMS.V11I2.185-212
Muksin, M., & Mudlofir, A. (2024). Urgensi penanaman nilai-nilai pendidikan islam bagi remaja lewat kisah-kisah Islami. Attaqwa: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Islam, 20(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.54069/attaqwa.v19i2.649
Muttaqin, A., Roibin, R., Barizi, A., Jamilah, J., & Asy’arie, B. F. (2024). Examining the Model for Forming Religious Character Education through Santri Behavior Traditions in Islamic Boarding Schools. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(4), 5369–5386. https://doi.org/10.35445/ALISHLAH.V16I4.6181
Muzaki, I. A., Mustofa, T., Ramdhani, K., Abidin, J., & Waluyo, K. E. (2025). Insan Kamil at the Crossroads of Time: Transformative Islamic Education Model to Face Global Challenges. Intelektual: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Studi Keislaman, 15(2), 219–252. https://doi.org/10.33367/JI.V15I2.7217
Muzaki, I. A., Nurhasan, Faizin, M., Saefullah, A. S., Hakim, A., & Ellias, Mohd. S. bin. (2025). Teachers as Murabbi: An Analysis of the Teacher’s Role in Character Formation from the Perspective of Islamic Educational Philosophy at SD Persatuan Islam Karawang. Jurnal Iqra’ : Kajian Ilmu Pendidikan, 10(2), 68–81. https://doi.org/10.25217/JI.V10I2.6402
Najib, M. I., & Khaudli, M. I. (2025a). Transformasi dari Tradisional Ke Modern: Pendekatan Strategis Manajemen Kurikulum Pesantren untuk Daya Saing Global. Journal of Islamic Religious Education , 1(3), 90–99. https://doi.org/10.70248/JOIRE.V1I3.2473
Najib, M. I., & Khaudli, M. I. (2025b). Transformasi Dari Tradisional Ke Modern: Pendekatan Strategis Manajemen Kurikulum Pesantren Untuk Daya Saing Global. Journal of Islamic Religious Education, 1(3), 90–99. https://doi.org/10.70248/joire.v1i3.2473
Nata, A. (2018). Islam & Ilmu Pengetahuan. Prenadamedia Group.
Pinto, C. T., Guedes, L., Pinto, S., & Nunes, R. (2024). Spiritual intelligence: a scoping review on the gateway to mental health. Global Health Action, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2362310
Pusvitasari, R., & Zarkasyi, A. (2024). Holistic Approaches to Bullying Prevention: The Mediating Role of School Well-Being, Self-Management, and Empathy. At-Tadzkir: Islamic Education Journal, 3(2), 104–119. https://doi.org/10.59373/attadzkir.v3i2.63
Ramayulis. (2019). Ilmu Pendidikan Islam. In Jurnal Common (Vol. 3, Number 1).
Ruhdiyanto, D., Sohim, B., Afif, S., Ardilah, N., & Ubaydillah, S. B. (2024). Peran Kiai dalam Pembinaan Akhlak Santri di Pondok Pesantren Pagelaran III. JIIP - Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan, 7(3), 2638–2644. https://doi.org/10.54371/JIIP.V7I3.4037
Saada, N. (2023). Educating for global citizenship in religious education: Islamic perspective. International Journal of Educational Development, 103, 102894. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJEDUDEV.2023.102894
Sarbini, S., Suhendi, S., Santora, P., Nurhayati, F., Rosulina, D., Muttaqien, Q. H., & Astuti, H. (2025). Internalizasi Akhlak Islam melalui Pendekatan Psikologi dalam Pembelajaran: Internalizing Islamic Morals through a Psychological Approach in Learning. Attadrib: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 8(3), 668–678. https://doi.org/10.54069/attadrib.v8i3.1034
Sintasari, B., Hasan, M. S., Maghfiroh, A., & Mastor, H. binti. (2026). Implementation of the Khidmah Program in Strengthening the Social Character of Islamic Boarding School Students. Attaqwa: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Islam, 22(1), 44–55. https://doi.org/10.54069/attaqwa.v22i1.1107
Sodikin, U., Jabar Idharudin, A., Nur Azizah, B., Maulida, A., Masuwd, M., Ibn Khaldun Bogor, U., Agama Islam Al-Hidayah Bogor, I., Tinggi Agama Islam Majene, S., & Agama Islam Sunan Giri Trenggalek, I. (2026). The Urgency of Psychology in Islamic Education: Building Cognitive, Affective, and Spiritual Balance in Education. Eduprof : Islamic Education Journal, 8(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.47453/EDUPROF.V8I1.324
Toprak, M., Karakuş, M., & Chen, J. (2023). Transformational School Leadership: A Systematic Review of Research in a Centralized Education System. Journal of Educational Administration, 61(5), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.1108/jea-10-2022-0185
Triyono, B., & Mediawati, E. (2023). Transformasi Nilai-Nilai Islam melalui Pendidikan Pesantren : Implementasi dalam Pembentukan Karakter Santri. Journal of International Multidisciplinary Research, 1(1), 147–158. https://doi.org/10.62504/jimr403
Tsani, B. A., & Ali, M. (2024). Transformasi Karakter Siswa: Peran Sekolah Sisan Ngaji dalam Pendidikan Berbasis Nilai. Attadrib: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 7(2), 215–228. https://doi.org/10.54069/attadrib.v7i2.858
Turrohma, B. M., Prasetiya, B., & Nuplord, A. (2025). Integrating Spiritual and Moral Development Through the Tahfidz Program: A Holistic Educational Model. Journal of Islamic Education Research, 6(4), 479–492. https://doi.org/10.35719/jier.v6i4.527
Vasconcelos, A. F. (2020). Spiritual intelligence: a theoretical synthesis and work-life potential linkages. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 28(1), 109–134. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-04-2019-1733
Wafa, A., Madani, M. T., & Subairi, S. (2024). Pendidikan Islam Berwawasan Nilai-nilai Toleransi di Pesantren Nazhatut Thullab. Academicus: Journal of Teaching and Learning, 3(1), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.59373/academicus.v3i1.36
Williams, R. (2024). “Spiritual intelligence” and the theology of the spirit. Perspectives on Spiritual Intelligence, 214–226. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032646244-19
Zamroni, M. A., Fatikh, M. A., & Sholihah, M. (2025). Membangun Karakter Islami Melalui Pendidikan Berbasis Iman: Perspektif Teologis. Adiluhung: Journal of Islamic Values and Civilization, 1(1), 64–79. https://doi.org/10.59373/adiluhung.v2i1.116
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Abdul Rosyad, Wawan Wahyudin, Endad Musaddad, Wasehuddin Wasehuddin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://pasca.jurnalikhac.ac.id/index.php/tijie/index.
