<![CDATA[This article examines the practice of religious moderation within the pesantren tradition through a descriptive-analytical literature review approach. Departing from the assumption that pesantren are not only traditional Islamic educational institutions but also key centers of religious discourse production and ethical formation, this study investigates how values such as tolerance, non-violence, and the acceptance of diversity are transmitted and institutionalized within the epistemic structure and social praxis of pesantren. The analysis focuses on three core aspects: the role of the kiai’s authority in shaping religious interpretive horizons; the dynamics of pedagogy that cultivate tolerance through dialogical methods and communal interaction; and the dialectics between the state’s narrative of religious moderation and the pesantren’s localized practices. The article argues that the success of religious moderation in pesantren largely depends on the kiai’s ability to exercise epistemic authority in a reflective and inclusive manner, as well as on the pesantren’s capacity to internalize tolerance through lived educational experiences and interpretive traditions. Meanwhile, state-driven narratives of moderation will only be effective if implemented through dialogical partnerships rather than top-down bureaucratic interventions. By positioning moderation as a living and adaptive interpretive culture, the article highlights the strategic potential of pesantren as agents of peaceful, context-sensitive, and socially relevant Islamic religiosity in plural societies.]]>
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