Khalifa: Journal of Islamic Education
Vol 10 No 2 (2026): September

Salafiyah Pesantren and Transmission of Islamic Knowledge in Indonesia

Qoni'ah Musallamah (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Eva Latipah (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Eni Hidayati (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Siti Sahra (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Evi Sulfaningsih (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Nur Saidah (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
28 Sep 2026

Abstract

Salafiyah pesantren as traditional Islamic educational institutions, have played a pivotal role in preserving the continuity of classical Islamic scholarship. However, studies on pesantren history and pedagogical practices are often treated separately, resulting in fragmented analyses of their epistemological identity. This article aims to examine the historical development of salafiyah pesantren education while simultaneously analyzing the mechanisms of classical Islamic knowledge transmission through a case study of one pesantren in Indonesia. The research employs a qualitative approach with an intrinsic case study design. Informants, consisting of kyai, ustadz, and santri, were selected using purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected through participatory observation, semi-structured in-depth interviews, and institutional document analysis, validated through source and method triangulation, and analyzed descriptively-interpretively with historical and pedagogical perspectives. The findings reveal that salafiyah pesantren consistently maintain an educational system centered on the study of classical texts (kitab kuning) and the Quran. Knowledge transmission occurs through a tiered educational system emphasizing mastery of linguistic sciences (nahwu and sharaf) and employing sorogan and bandongan methods. The central role of the kyai, the intensity of sorogan practice, and the internal cadre formation of senior santri significantly contribute to shaping scholarly character and reproducing salafiyah intellectual traditions. These findings affirm that salafiyah pesantren are not static institutions but dynamic entities capable of sustaining their epistemological identity amidst the transformations of modern education. The implications of this study provide valuable references for pesantren administrators in balancing tradition preservation with institutional adaptation, while also offering preliminary data for comparative research on pesantren with diverse characteristics.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

kjie

Publisher

Subject

Religion Education

Description

Khalifa: Journal of Islamic Education is openly invites scientists, researchers, and students to contributes in publishing their research under the subject of Islamic education, which includes textual research and field research with various perspectives. This journal encompasses original research ...