<![CDATA[Compensation for educators in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) often presents a tension between spiritual devotion (khidmah) and professional economic rights. This study investigates the practice of teacher remuneration at Pondok Pesantren Al-Hasanah from the perspective of the ijarah 'ala al-'amal (lease of services) contract. Using a qualitative empirical approach with a case study design, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis of financial records. The findings reveal a significant gap between formal contractual compliance and operational reality. Although the initial agreement meets the essential legal conditions (rukun) of ijarah, the practice is compromised by unilateral wage reductions, recurrent payment delays, and a lack of financial transparency regarding institutional budget deficits. This study highlights the phenomenon of ikrah ma’nawi (psychological and structural coercion), wherein educators’ passive acceptance of wage cuts does not signify genuine mutual consent (an-taradhin), but rather a defect of consent driven by economic vulnerability and religious devotion narratives. From a Maqasid al-Shariah perspective, this institutional risk-shifting violates the protection of wealth (hifz al-mal) and well-being (hifz al-nafs). Constructing a fair compensation model requires institutionalizing financial transparency, separating spiritual altruism from commercial contractual obligations, and adopting equitable wage benchmarks (ajr al-mitsl).]]>
