<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze the implementation of spiritual leadership by the principal in strengthening religious moderation at SMP Mambaus Sholihin 7 Bintan, a pesantren-based boarding school in Kepulauan Riau. The school faces a real challenge of student violence cases, indicating a gap between spiritual values and students' daily behavior. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method with a single case study design. Data were collected through passive participatory observation, in-depth interviews with the principal, Islamic education teachers, and students, as well as documentation of curriculum and school policies. Data analysis used the Miles and Huberman interactive model with source, technique, and time triangulation. The study is grounded in Louis W. Fry's spiritual leadership theory (Vision, Hope/Faith, and Altruistic Love) and four religious moderation indicators from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia. The findings show that the principal embodies spiritual leadership through a vision-oriented mission culture, personal moral exemplification, faith-based motivation, and altruistic care. These dimensions are manifested through an integrated pesantren curriculum, daily religious habituation programs, anti-bullying policies, and a child-friendly school approach. This study identifies a new mechanism termed the "spiritual moderation spiral," wherein authentic principal leadership generates a conducive climate that facilitates the internalization of religious moderation values. This study contributes to Islamic education management discourse, particularly regarding the strategic role of principal leadership in institutionalizing religious moderation within pesantren-based formal schools. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis implementasi kepemimpinan spiritual kepala sekolah dalam penguatan moderasi beragama di SMP Mambaus Sholihin 7 Bintan, sebuah sekolah berbasis pesantren di Kepulauan Riau. Sekolah ini menghadapi tantangan nyata berupa kasus kekerasan antarsiswa yang menandakan kesenjangan antara nilai-nilai spiritual yang ditanamkan dan realitas perilaku keseharian peserta didik. Penelitian menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif dengan desain studi kasus tunggal. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi partisipasi pasif, wawancara mendalam dengan kepala sekolah, guru PAI, dan peserta didik, serta dokumentasi kurikulum dan kebijakan sekolah. Analisis data menggunakan model interaktif Miles dan Huberman dengan triangulasi sumber, teknik, dan waktu. Penelitian berlandaskan teori kepemimpinan spiritual Louis W. Fry (Vision, Hope/Faith, dan Altruistic Love) dan empat indikator moderasi beragama Kementerian Agama RI (komitmen kebangsaan, toleransi, anti-kekerasan, dan akomodasi budaya lokal). Temuan menunjukkan bahwa kepala sekolah mewujudkan kepemimpinan spiritual melalui budaya misi berorientasi visi, keteladanan moral personal, motivasi berbasis iman, dan kepedulian altruistik. Dimensi-dimensi ini terwujud melalui kurikulum pesantren terpadu, program pembiasaan keagamaan harian, kebijakan anti-perundungan, dan pendekatan sekolah ramah anak. Penelitian ini mengidentifikasi mekanisme baru berupa "spiral moderasi spiritual" di mana kepemimpinan autentik kepala sekolah menghasilkan iklim kondusif yang memfasilitasi internalisasi nilai moderasi beragama secara berkelanjutan. Penelitian ini berkontribusi pada wacana manajemen pendidikan Islam, khususnya terkait peran strategis kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dalam melembagakan moderasi beragama di sekolah formal berbasis pesantren. ]]>
