<![CDATA[This article aims to examine the role of Islamic scholars (ulama) in the spread and development of Islam in the Indonesian archipelago and their impact on the development of Islamic society. Ulama hold a crucial position in the history of Islam in the Indonesian archipelago as they serve as disseminators of religious teachings, educators, social leaders, and agents of cultural change. This study employs a literature review method by collecting and analyzing various sources, including books, scientific journals, research articles, and historical documents relevant to the research topic. The results indicate that the spread of Islam in the Indonesian archipelago occurred peacefully through a da'wah approach carried out by ulama, utilizing trade, education, marriage, art, and local culture. Furthermore, ulama also played a role in establishing Islamic educational institutions such as Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), surau (Islamic boarding schools), and dayah (Islamic boarding schools), which became centers for the development of Islamic knowledge. The impact of the ulama's role is seen in the formation of a religious Islamic society, the development of Islamic scholarly traditions, and the increasing social and political awareness of Muslims in facing the various challenges of the times. The novelty of this article lies in its discussion, which integrates the role of ulama in the fields of da'wah, education, social, cultural, and political aspects as the main factors in the development of Islamic society in the Indonesian archipelago.]]>
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