Masjid-Based Pesantren: Revitalizing the Role of Mosques as Centers of Islamic Education Rooted in Local Wisdom in Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the revitalization of the mosque’s role as a center for Islamic education integrated with local wisdom in Indonesia. Within Indonesia’s pluralistic society, mosques have served as vital institutions for shaping Islamic character and identity in harmony with local culture. Employing a library research method, this study aims to map various forms of mosque-based Islamic education that incorporate local wisdom, analyze institutional management models of mosques in the context of regionally distinctive Islamic education, identify educational practices in mosques that preserve local cultural values, and formulate a conceptual framework for mosque development as centers of Islamic education that reinforce both national and Islamic identity. The findings reveal diverse models of mosque-based Islamic education that adopt local wisdom, such as the surau in Minangkabau, langgar in Java, meunasah in Aceh, and tajug in Sunda. Effective mosque institutional management is characterized by the integration of religious, educational, social, and cultural functions. Educational practices include the contextual teaching of kitab kuning, the adaptation of halaqah traditions with local cultural elements, the development of Islamic arts and culture rooted in the archipelago, and community economic empowerment. The concept of “Pesantren Masjid” offers a new paradigm of Islamic education that integrates universal Islamic values with local wisdom, promotes religious moderation, and strengthens national identity. This study concludes that revitalizing the mosque’s role as a center of Islamic education grounded in local wisdom is a strategic effort to maintain Islamic identity while fostering social cohesion amid the challenges of globalization.