Pesantrens and mosques are now being encouraged to undergo a strategic transformation by integrating science, digital technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations. This transformation aims to turn these religious institutions into social laboratories that are adaptive to modern challenges, while remaining firmly rooted in the tradition of tafaqquh fi al-din as their main foundation.
This idea emerged during a panel discussion at the Supporting Session of the IV Science Conference (Muktamar Ilmu Pengetahuan IV) held at UIN Sunan Kudus on Friday (26/6/2026). The forum brought together experts, academics from ITB, representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and pesantren education practitioners to examine the potential for collaboration between Islamic values and technological innovation.
The Head of the Sub-directorate of Ma’had Aly Education, Machrus El Mawa, emphasized that the role of santri (students) and kiai (clerics) must no longer be limited to merely preserving tradition. He stressed the need for pesantrens to generate relevant innovations without sacrificing noble Islamic values. A similar sentiment was shared by KH Fadhlullah Turmudzi, who reminded that any form of renewal must be built upon an established scientific lineage (sanad) and morality (akhlak) to ensure strong sustainability.
From a community development perspective, ITB academic Agus Suharjono Ekomadyo proposed the concept of srawung, or the culture of social interaction, as social capital. According to him, pesantren traditions and modern science are not two opposing entities, but can instead enrich each other to bring real benefits to the community. This integration is expected to drive pesantrens and mosques to become collaborative spaces encompassing social entrepreneurship, applied research, and digital-based public services.
The speakers agreed that the future progress of Islamic civilization depends on cross-sector synergy. By combining deep Islamic education with technological sophistication, pesantrens and mosques are expected to transform into epicenters for the birth of an innovative generation capable of addressing the needs of the wider community while preserving the sustainability of human values and justice.
