The Relationship Between Kiai and Santri from the Perspective of Symbolic Interactionism in Madura
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32806/jspai.v2i1.1733Abstract
The relationship between kiai and santri at Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in Madura represents a strategically significant social phenomenon for academic inquiry, given the profound influence of the kiai in shaping the character, values, and identity of santri with broad implications for Madurese social order. Nevertheless, the dynamics of this relationship have not been fully explored through adequate theoretical frameworks, particularly from a symbolic interactionism perspective. This study aims to identify interactional symbols in the kiai-santri relationship, describe the internalization of pesantren values through symbolic media and examine the construction of santri identity as a product of meaning negotiation in interaction with the kiai. This research employs a qualitative approach with an ethnographic design, conducted at three pesantren in Pamekasan and Sumenep Regencies, Madura, through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and documentary study. The findings reveal three key outcomes: first, kiai charisma is socially constructed through material, linguistic, and ritualistic symbols; second, pesantren values are internalized through symbolic pedagogy encompassing ngaji practice, collective obedience rituals, and body language; and third, santri identity is formed through three phases adoption, negotiation, and consolidation resulting in a hybrid identity. This research contributes to the development of pesantren sociology grounded in Mead and Blumer's symbolic interactionism theory.
References
Arifin, S. (2019). Otoritas Kiai dan Reproduksi Sosial di Pesantren Jawa Timur. Jurnal Sosiologi Islam, 9(2), 148.
Blumer, H. (2021). Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. Dalam Berkeley: University of California Press, (Vol. 2).
Bourdieu, P. (2020). The Logic of Practice, terj. Richard Nice. Dalam Stanford: Stanford University Press,.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage publications.
Fithriyah, I., Sayyi, A., Alenesi, A. S. H. G., Agustina, L., & Al-Manduriy, S. M. (2025). Application of Sigmund Freud Psychoanalytic Theory in Overcoming Anxiety and Learning Difficulties of Students. Al-Ihath: Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling Islam, 5(2), 91–109. https://doi.org/10.53915/jbki.v5i2.580
Goffman, E. (2023). The presentation of self in everyday life. Dalam Social theory re-wired (hlm. 450–459). Routledge.
Ismail, I. (2025). THE CONCEPT OF EDUCATOR PATIENCE IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION PSYCHOLOGY: ACTIVE AND PASSIVE PATIENCE. AT-TA’DIB: JURNAL ILMIAH PRODI PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM, 198–211.
Ismail, I., Takwil, M., Sayuti, A. F., Ridho, A., Sayyi, A., & Fauzi, A. (2025). THE SYNTHESIS OF TURATH AND MODERN INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN: ENHANCING FIQH AL-MAWARITH MASTERY AT MAKTAB NUBDZAT AL-BAYAN. EDURELIGIA: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 9(3), 243–257. https://doi.org/10.33650/edureligia.v9i3.11625
Ismail, I., & Wardi, M. W. M. (2025). Transforming Elementary School Students’ Science Literacy through Scratch-Based E-Modules Integrated with Islamic Value. International Journal of Elementary Education, 9(2), 237–247.
Luckmann, P. L. B. dan T. (2020). The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. Dalam New York: Anchor Books,.
Mas’ud, A. (2021). Konstruksi Identitas Santri dalam Era Digital. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(3), 215.
Matthew B. Miles, A. Michael Huberman, dan J. S. (2020). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook.
Mead, G. H. (2015). Mind, self & society. University of Chicago press.
Najmi, A., & Fattah, A. (2025). IMPLEMENTASI PEMANFAATAN TEKNOLOGI DALAM PENDIKAN FORMAL DI PESANTREN (STUDY KASUS DI SMP MATHLAUL ULUM TAMBUKO SUMENEP). As-Sulthan Journal of Education, 1(4), 816–822.
Najmi, A., & Ismail, I. (2025). Eksplorasi Makna Hidup Anak Gen Z di Era Digital. Abdurrauf Journal of Education and Islamic Studies, 2(1), 25–35.
Nofi, R. N., & Fithriyah, I. (2025). Pendekatan spiritual Islam sebagai upaya preventif gangguan mental santri era society 5.0 di Madrasah Diniyyah Tanwirul Qulub Pamekasan. Jurnal Studi Pendidikan Agama Islam, 1(1), 35–51.
Rofiqi, Muin, A., Bahri, R., Rosyid, Moh. Z., Rahman, H., & Sayyi, Ach. (2026). Islamic feminism in global context: Negotiating gender justice and religious authority in Indonesian higher education institutions. Journal of Gender Studies, 0(0), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2026.2655827
Sa’edi, M., Dannur, M., Sayyi, A., & Al-Islam, M. (2025). Integrating Ecological Awareness Through Islamic Religious Education: A Case Study At An-Nidhamiyah Islamic Boarding School, Pamekasan. Fikroh: Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Pendidikan Islam, 18(2), 172–187. https://doi.org/10.37812/fikroh.v18i2.1804
Sayyi, A., Asmuki, W. J., Alimin, M., & Fithriyah, I. (2025). Bridging Tradition and Multiculturalism in Islamic Jurisprudence Education. https://ejournal.insuriponorogo.ac.id/index.php/scaffolding/article/view/8002
Sayyi, A., Muslimin, A. A., Afandi, Fithriyah, I., Al-Manduriy, S. M., & Alanesi, A. S. H. G. (2025). Child-Friendly Education Model for Violence Prevention in Islamic Boarding Schools. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 9(4), 800–820. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v9i4.187
Tualeka, W. N. (2020). Pola Komunikasi Kiai-Santri di Pesantren Salaf Madura. Jurnal Komunikasi Islam, 10(1), 82.
Wardi, M., Fithriyyah, M. U., Fathorrahman, Z., Hidayat, T., Ismail, I., & Supandi, S. (2023). Implementation of Religious Moderation Values through Strengthening Diversity Tolerance in Madrasah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 9(2), 241–254.
Wardi, M., & Ismail, I. (2018). Following The Prophet Muhammad Character Through Ngabuleh Tradition in Pondok Pesantren Darul Ulum Banyuanyar Pamekasan. El Harakah, 20(1), 49.
Wardi, M., Sari, L. C., Kamal, M. Z., & Irawati, S. (2024). Digital Transformation of Islamic Boarding School Financial System; Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(4), 461–482.
Weber, M. (2019). Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretive Sociology, ed. Guenther Roth dan Claus Wittich. Dalam Berkeley: University of California Press,.
Zulkarnain, I. (2021). Pesantren dan Reproduksi Modal Sosial di Masyarakat Madura. Jurnal Masyarakat dan Budaya, 23(2), 198.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Hanun Asrohah, Ismail Ismail
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
JSPAI: Jurnal Studi Pendidikan Agama Islam, JSPAI © 2025 is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. CC BY-SA includes the following elements:
BY: credit must be given to the creator.
SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same terms
