Journal of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Societies
Vol 10, No 1 (2026)

PESANTREN TRADITIONS CONTINUED AND TRANSFORMED: Evidence from North Sumatra, Indonesia

Faisal Musa (Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Negeri Mandailing Natal)
Saidatul Khairiyah (Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara)



Article Info

Publish Date
16 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study examines the continuity and transformation of pesantren traditions through the alumni network of Pesantren Musthafawiyah through a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected through document analysis, interviews, and field observations in several pesantrens established by Musthafawiyah alumni. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns of transmission, reproduction, and adaptation of pesantren traditions within the alumni network. The findings reveal that the alumni network plays a crucial role in sustaining the Musthafawiyah educational traditions. Through the establishment of new pesantrens, alumni reproduce key elements of Musthafawiyah’s educational system, including the study of classical Islamic texts, the authority of the kiai, and the moral formation of santri. At the same time, alumni-founded pesantrens make adaptations, such as the integration of formal schooling systems, curriculum development, and organizational modernization. As such, the continuity of pesantren traditions is embedded in the role of alumni networks as agents of social and educational reproductions. The findings contribute to the broader scholarship on Islamic education by highlighting how pesantren traditions persist and evolve beyond the Javanese context.Keywords: Continuity, transformation, pesantren tradition, alumni network, musthafawiyah, Southern Tapanuli.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JCIMS

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Societies (JCIMS) is a peer reviewed academic journal, established in 2016 as part of the Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sumatera Utara, Medan, dedicated to the publication of scholarly articles in various branches of contemporary Islam and Muslim societies ...