Religious Moderation at Sunan Drajat Islamic Boarding School: Strategies for Implementing Tarbiah Through the Application of Islamic Values in Fostering Harmony

Abstract

Indonesia faces significant challenges in maintaining religious harmony amid its diverse religious landscape, with Islam as the majority religion, and Islamic boarding schools play a crucial role in fostering religious moderation. This community service article aims to analyze the strategies implemented by Pondok Pesantren Sunan Drajat in Lamongan, East Java, in implementing religious moderation through the application of Islamic values. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach with data collection techniques including observation, in-depth interviews with kyai, teachers, and students, as well as documentation studies conducted from January to June 2026. The findings reveal three main strategies: institutional modernization through infrastructure development and student-centered learning methodologies; value internalization through the study of classical Sufism texts and habituation practices such as ro'an, halaqah, and bahtsul masa'il; and implementation of inclusive public ethics based on the Catur Piwulang philosophy. Pondok Pesantren Sunan Drajat successfully demonstrates that Islamic boarding schools can serve as effective agents of religious moderation through adaptive institutional transformation, integrated value systems, and inclusive public ethics.