The Relevance of Pesantren Traditional Values in the Thought of Zamakhsyari Dhofier and Zarkasyi for Santri Character Formation in the Modern Era
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51468/jpi.v8i2.1702Keywords:
Pesantren, Character Education, Zamakhsyari Dhofier, Imam Zarkasyi , Modern SantriAbstract
Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) have long played a strategic role in shaping students’ moral and spiritual character in Indonesia. However, modernization, digitalization, and globalization have posed significant challenges, including moral degradation, weakening of scholarly ethics, and identity fragmentation among santri. This article aims to analyze the relevance of pesantren traditional values in the thoughts of Zamakhsyari Dhofier and KH. Imam Zarkasyi as a conceptual foundation for santri character formation in the modern era. This study employs a qualitative library research approach using content analysis and philosophical-hermeneutic interpretation of the primary works of both figures and relevant contemporary literature. The findings reveal that Dhofier conceptualizes pesantren as a value system and worldview emphasizing sincerity, simplicity, moral obedience, and the kyai santri relationship as the core medium of character transmission. Meanwhile, Imam Zarkasyi introduces an integral education model that reconstructs pesantren traditions by integrating religious knowledge, general sciences, and systematic character education. The synthesis of these perspectives demonstrates that pesantren values are not static but adaptive and remain relevant in shaping santri with strong religiosity, critical awareness, and global competitiveness. This article contributes to strengthening a tradition-based yet contextual paradigm of character education in pesantren.
References
Abrori, Z. A., Noviani, N., Mulyana, A., & Hidayat, T. (2026). Pesantren , Madrasah , dan Sekolah Islam : Sebuah Analisis Sosiologi Pendidikan Islam di Indonesia. Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business (RIGGS), 4(4), 8179–8185. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31004/riggs.v4i4.4746
Achmadin, B. Z., Kawakip, A. N., Nafis, M. M., Rahman, A., Sayed, E., & Ghaffar, A. (2024). Reorienting Pesantren Education In East Java: A Critical Analysis Of The Thought Of Zamakhsyari Dhofier And Abdurrahman Mas’ud. Al-Fikru: Jurnal Ilmiah, 18(1), 41–63. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.51672/alfikru.v18i1.415
Al Asyari, A. H. (2022). Tantangan Sistem Pendidikan Pesantren di Era Modern. Risalatuna Journal of Pesantren Studies, 2(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54471/rjps.v2i1.1572
Arifin, A., . F., & Hajja Ristianti, D. (2022). Metode Sorogan Dalam Meningkatkan Minat dan Keterampilan Membaca Kitab Kuning Santri Al-Afiyah Bogor Jawa Barat. Inspiratif Pendidikan, 11(1), 24–36. https://doi.org/10.24252/ip.v11i1.29195
Arpinal, Jamrizal, & Musli. (2023). Budaya Organisasi Dalam Pengembangan Kemandirian Santri Di Pesantren Ashqaf Jambi. AL MIKRAJ: Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Humaniora, 4(1), 99–111. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.37680/almikraj.v4i1.3405
Asa, B. W. (2023). Perspektif KH . Imam Zarkasyi Terhadap Modernisasi Pesantren. Tasamuh: Jurnal Studi Islam Volume, 15(April), 172–196. https://e-jurnal.iainsorong.ac.id/index.php/Tasamuh/article/download/809/782/2686
Aulia, R. S., & Husin. (2022). Strategi Pondok Pesantren dalam Menghadapi Era Society 5.0. Jurnal Basicedu, 6(2), 1829–1836. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v6i2.2371
Azhar, K. (2022). Strategi Pendidikan Pesantren Menjawab Tantangan Sosial di Era Digital. Jurnal Basicedu, 6(3), 4967–4978. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v6i3.2811
Baidawi, I. (2025). Rekontekstualisasi Kitab Kuning dalam Bingkai Budaya Lokal : Studi Fenomenologis. IslamicEdu Management Journal, 02(01), 47–60. https://gerbangjurnal.alfalah.id/index.php/iemj/%0ARekontekstualisasi
Dhofier, Z. (2011). Tradisi pesantren: studi pandangan hidup kyai dan visinya mengenai masa depan Indonesia. LP3ES. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=0wZKtwAACAAJ
Fatmawati, D., & Suhardini, A. D. (2023). Islamisasi Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Strategi Pengembangan Pendidikan Islam dalam Mengembangkan Kurikulum PAI Menurut Prof . Dr . Bandung Conference Series: Islamic Education, 336–343. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.29313/bcsied.v3i2.7617
Firmansyah, Romli, & Munir. (2024). The Urgency of Social Ethics in Santri Tradition at Muhammadiyah ’ s Pesantren. Tafkir: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Education, 5(1), 153–170. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31538/tijie.v5i1.991
Fitria, N. (2025). The Leadership of the Kyai as a Conservative Instrument of the Islamic Boarding School (A Case Study at Pondok Pesantren Hidayatul Qur’an Banjarrejo). Nizham: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 13(01), 100–115. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32332/nizham.v13i01.10846
Fitriyah, A. W. N., Rahmatullah, A. S., & Othman, M. S. (2023). Internalization of “Panca Jiwa Pondok” in Pesantren: An Ethnomethodological Study. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 12(1), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2023.121.57-71
Hadi, M. S., & Muhid, A. (2022). Nilai-Nilai Pendidikan Karakter Dalam Pembelajaran Kitab Balaghah Di Pesantren: Literature Review. Risalah: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Studi Islam, 8(1), 35–51. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31943/jurnal_risalah.v8i1.215
Hafizallah, Y. (2024). The Relevance of Thomas Lickona ’ s Character Education Concept and its Implication for Islamic Education in Schools. Indonesian Journal of Character Education Studies, 1(1), 50–63. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.64420/ijces.v1i1.73
Harahap, A. T. (2022). Hidden Curriculum di Pesantren Sebagai Solusi Pembentukan Karakter Anak Masa Kini. Attanwir : Jurnal Keislaman Dan Pendidikan, 13(2), 120–132. https://doi.org/10.53915/jurnalkeislamandanpendidikan.v13i2.225
Haris, M. A. (2023). Urgensi Digitalisasi Pendidikan Pesantren Di Era Society 5.0 (Peluang Dan Tantangannya Di Pondok Pesantren Al-Amin Indramayu). Islamic Management: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(1), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.30868/im.v4i02.3616
Haryanto, S. (2022). Internalization of Islamic Boarding School Values in an Indonesian Islamic Educational Institution. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(4), 6371–6380. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i4.2099
Helmi, Affan, M., Somad, A., Basuni, A., & Sahidah, A. (2026). Epistemologi Pesantren sebagai Tradisi Pengetahuan Praksis: Otoritas, Habitus, dan Produksi Ilmu. Al Yasini: Jurnal Keislaman, Sosisal, Hukum Dan Pendidikan, 11(1), 81–104. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55102/alyasini.v11i01.7219
Hidayatullah, R., Andrianto, Sumiarti, & Nofitayanti. (2022). Pembentukan Karakter Berbasis Pendidikan Pesantren : Studi Tentang Ragam Nilai Dan Metode Pembelajaran. Fitrah: Journal of Islamic Education, 3(2), 176–190. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.53802/fitrah.v3i2.156
Hijazi, A. (2025). Manajemen Strategik Modernisasi Pondok Pesantren Di Era Society 5.0 (Kajian Pondok Pesantren Khairul Ummah) (Vol. 0). https://repository.uin-suska.ac.id/87586/2/DISERTASI AHMAD HIJAZI.pdf
Husna, A. A., & Hamid, A. R. N. A. (2025). Integrasi Hidden Kurikulum Dalam Nilai Kedisiplinan Santri Di Pondok Pesantren Putri Salafiyah. Istifkar: Media Trasformasi Pendidikan, Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): Istifkar: Media Transformasi Pendidikan. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.62509/ji.v5i1.155
Istiqomah, N., Nadhiroh, W., Zulaichah, S., & Amnesti, S. K. W. (2025). Transforming Kitab Kuning Recitation Through Digitalization in Pesantren. Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 23(1), 342–373. https://doi.org/10.31291/jlka.v23i1.1358
Izzulloh, A. S. H., & Moebin, A. A. (2022). Digitalisasi Dakwah Pondok Pesantren Saat Pandemi Covid 19. Ta’allum: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(1), 20–42. https://doi.org/10.21274/taalum.2022.10.1.20-42
Kahfi, M. A. (2025). Dialektika Tradisi dan Inovasi dalam Filsafat Pendidikan Ahmad Dahlan : Relevansinya terhadap Reformasi Nilai Pesantren. Pendidikan Islam IHSAN : Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 989–999. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61104/ihsan.v3i4.2333
Khoirunnisa, Sari, H. P., Husna, S., & Siregar, R. (2025). Peran Pendidikan Islam dalam Mengatasi Dampak Negatif Globalisasi terhadap Karakter Generasi Z. Jurnal QOSIM Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial & Humaniora, 3(2), 790–800. https://doi.org/10.61104/jq.v3i2.1143
Kurniawan, A., Daeli, S. I., Asbari, M., & Santoso, G. (2023). Krisis Moral Remaja di Era Digital. Literaksi: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 1(02), 21–25. https://doi.org/10.70508/literaksi.v1i02.9
Maesak, C., Taupik, K. O., & Rusmana, D. (2025). Peran Pendidikan Islam Dalam Mengatasi Krisis Moral Generasi Z Di Era Globalisasi Digital. Reflection : Islamic Education Journal, 2(1), 01–09. https://doi.org/10.61132/reflection.v2i1.344
Maulida, A. Z., Pangestuti, S., Arsita, Y., & Zarkasyi, A. (2026). Nilai Pesantren Melalui Halaqah Pendidikan Di Gontor Putri 1 Etnografi. PIJAR: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran, 4(3), 1263–1280. https://doi.org/10.58540/pijar.v4i3.2109
Muslihun. (2017). Pesantren Sebagai Identitas Islam Nusantara. Al-Tsiqoh: Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Dakwah Islam, 1(01), 38–48. https://e-journal.uac.ac.id/index.php/altsiq/article/download/164/120
Muttaqien, D. (2020). Sistem Pendidikan Pondok Pesantren (Sebuah AlternatifMengatasi Kegagalan Sistem Pendidikan Barat). JPI FIAI Jurusan Tarbiyah, 5(1), 82–83. https://journal.uii.ac.id/index.php/Tarbawi/article/view/5967/5389
Muttaqin, K. M. I., Zulhannan, & Hijriyah, U. (2023). Implementasi Kedisiplinan Santri di Pondok Pesantren Al-Ishlah Sukadamai Natar Lampung Selatan. Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Konseling (JPDK), 5(1), 4815–4819. https://repository.radenintan.ac.id/23890/
Nasir, M., & Sunardi. (2025). Reorientasi Pendidikan Islam Dalam Era Digital : Telaah Teoritis Dan Studi Literatur. Al-Rabwah : Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 19(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55799/jalr.v19i1.688
Nurhayati, R., Nur, M. J., Suwito, A., Ningsih, D. A., Ramadani, N., & Jannah, M. (2025). Hidden Curriculum Sebagai Penguatan Budaya Kearifan Lokal dalam Pembelajaran PAI di SMPN 7 Sinjai. Al-Qalam: Jurnal Kajian Islam Dan Pendidikan, 17(1), 402–409. https://doi.org/10.47435/al-qalam.v17i1.3835
Nurhijjah, F., & Hariyanto, W. (2024). K . H . Imam Zarkasyi dan Transformasi. Muslim Heritage: Jurnal Dialog Islam Gengan Realitas, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.21154/muslimheritage.v9i1.8854
Nurholis, U. (2025). Paradoks Religiusitas Formal Dalam Pendidikan Agama Islam: Antara Ketaatan Simbolik Dan Kesadaran Moral. JURNAL PANALUNGTIK, 8(2), 141–154. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55981/panalungtik.2025.14537
Rahmawati, R., Khair, U., Rahman, M., Aswan, Ardilah, F., Anisa, N., & Mihrani. (2024). Perkembangan Pondok Pesantren: Warisan Dan Transformasi Pendidikan Islam. SENTRI: Jurnal Riset Ilmiah, 3(1), 380–386. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55681/sentri.v3i1.2188
Rochmania, D. D. (2022). Implementasi Pendidikan Karakter Berbasis Pondok Pesantren. Jurnal Basicedu, 6(3), 1687–1695. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v6i2.2293
Rofiq, A. (2018). “Sowan” dan Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter Pesantren Berkelanjutan. Ta’allum: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 6(2), 241–258. https://doi.org/10.21274/taalum.2018.6.2.241-258
Rofiq, A. C. (2018). Perspektif K.H. Imam Zarkasyi Mengenai Kesatuan Ilmu Pengetahuan. TA’ALLUM: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 06(November), 313–346. https://doi.org/10.21274/taalum.2018.6.2.313-346
Rohman, A., Muda, L., Posangi, S. S., Yahiji, K., & Munirah, M. (2021). Alternative approach techniques to support home islamic boarding schools using virtual learning technology. Linguistics and Culture Review, 5(S4), 1386–1399. https://doi.org/10.21744/lingcure.v5ns4.1846
Rohman, A., & Muhtamiroh, S. (2022). Shaping the Santri’s Inclusive Attitudes through Learning in Pesantren: A Case Study of Pesantren Al-Anwar Sarang Rembang Indonesia. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 12(2), 367–379. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2022-0058
Rohmana, V. (2026). Relasi Kiai dan Santri Perspektif Hukum dan Syariah Terhadap Isu Perbudakan di Pesantren. Al-Mada: Jurnal Agama, Sosial, Dan Budaya, 9(1), 78–102. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31538/almada.v9i1.9006
Sabrianti, R. (2026). Pemikiran KH . Imam Zarkasyi ( 1910 – 1985 ) Tentang Pendidikan Dan Relevansinya Dengan Dunia Pendidikan Islam Kontemporer. Jurnal Al-Abshor : Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 3(1), 109–121. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.71242/8cm92039
Sadikin, M. A., Jamaludin, & Muhsinin. (2024). Metode Sorogan: Implementasi Dalam Pembelajaran Kitab Kuning di Pondok Pesantren Al-Mannan Bagik Nyaka. Al-Riwayah : Jurnal Kependidikan, 16(1), 18–32. https://doi.org/10.47945/al-riwayah.v16i1.1310
Salsabila, K. Q. (2022). Penanaman Nilai-Nilai Spiritualdi Pondok Pesantren Roudlotul ‘Uluum Balong, Desa Karangsalamkidul, Kecamatan Kedungbanteng, Kabupaten Banyumas. Universitas Islam Negeri Prof. KH Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto, 6.
Sibromalisi, Cholid, N., & Hamzah, G. (2025). Ketegangan Antara Standar Kurikulum Nasional Dan Tradisi Pesantren Dalam Pendidikan Islam Formal Di Indonesia. Pendas : Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10(4), 269–288. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v10i04.39228
Supendi, P., Hasanah, A., & Mahmud, M. (2019). Transformational Leadership in Pesantren on as Sa’idah, Al Matuq, and Sunanul Huda Boarding School. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), 303–316. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2018.72.303-316
Suwendi, Gama, C. B., Farhan Farabi, M. F., Fuady, F., & Arman. (2024). Roles and Challenges of Pesantren Intellectual Networks. Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura, 24(2), 453–470. https://doi.org/10.22373/jiif.v24i2.23134
Sya’ban, W. K., Hilalludin, H., & Permadi, M. A. M. (2024). Challenges and strengths of traditional versus modern pesantren in Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura, 24(2). https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=7779562536366798705&hl=en&oi=scholarr
Syari, A. (2025). Mendidik dengan Jiwa : Telaah Pemikiran KH . Imam Zarkasyi tentang Pendidikan Islam Berkarakter. IJITh: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Thought, 2(2), 1–18. https://ojs.tunasinstitute.com/index.php/ijit/article/view/164
Taufiq, A. (2023). Representation of panca jiwa values based entrepreneurship in islamic boarding school. IJISH (International Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities), 6(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.26555/ijish.v6i1.7166
Triyono, B., Mediawati, E., Miftahul, Y., Dago, K., Indonesia, U. P., & Artikel, I. (2023). Transformasi Nilai-Nilai Islam melalui Pendidikan Pesantren : Implementasi dalam Pembentukan Karakter Santri. Journal of International Multidisciplinary Research. https://journal.banjaresepacific.com/index.php/jimr/article/view/403/368
Urifah, D., Z, S., & Mukhlishin. (2025). Kontinuitas dan Perubahan dalam Sistem Pendidikan Pesantren Salaf Modern di Indonesia. Sulawesi Tenggara Educational Journal, 5(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54297/seduj.v5i3.1360
Yakin, N., Jamaluddin, Mukhlis, & Suhaimi. (2025). Konsep Pendidikan Islam Menurut KH . Imam Zarkasyi dan Relevansinya terhadap Pendidikan Islam. JIIP (Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan), 8, 2294–2301. http://www.jiip.stkipyapisdompu.ac.id/jiip/index.php/JIIP/article/download/6839/5202/46273
Zulaika, S., Uzmi, M. F., & Iqbal, M. (2025). Tradisi Pesantren Sebagai Benteng Moral Dan Budaya Bangsa. Recoms: Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengabdian, 2(2), 166–178. https://doi.org/10.59548/rc.v2i2.586
