The Authority of Ulama towards Politics: The Role of Teungku, Tuan Guru and Kiai in Nation Below the Wind

Abstract

This article discussed the relationship between ulama and politics in three types of elite Islamic leadership in Indonesia: Teungku in Aceh, Tuan guru in Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, and Kiai in Java. The research was organized based on the central questions; what was the political role of Teungku, Tuan guru, and Kiai, and what was their authority in the dynamics of local and national politics? This research used qualitative methods with an ethnographic approach. Data was collected through direct observation, interviews, review of written sources, and documentation data. This article found that Teungku, Tuan guru, and Kiai, in addition to being religious elites, also played the role of political elites. With the capital of religious authority at their disposal, they were confident to engage in practical politics. Teungku in Aceh was actively involved in redefining the narrative of the Acehnese nation by promoting the formalization of Islamic Sharia through a policy of special autonomy. With this policy, Teungku's position became more substantial and strategic politically and religiously. While in Lombok, Tuan guru became a local strongman who seized legislative and executive power in Nusa Tenggara Barat. They succeeded in seizing local power from the Sasak aristocratic circles. Meanwhile, Kiai in Java appeared to color Indonesia's discourse and political system from the beginning. Nevertheless, they managed to become part of the power in national leadership history. The relationship of the three religious elites to politics was ultimately in line with the strengthening of authority, religious traditions, and religious institutions.

Interaction Patterns of Students at the Cipasung Tasikmalaya Islamic Boarding School

“…Pesantren as an educational institution is not only a place to transfer religious knowledge, but as a place for regeneration of formidable scholar and fighter, so that pesantren or Islamic boarding school must Open Access: https://ejournal.unma.ac.id/index.php/educatio carry our various functions such as exercising social control over various phenomena that occur in society (Syafe'i, 2017). The progress of pesantren is not only fokus on religious activities, but also extends to the struggle for independence, especially during the colonial period in Indonesia in the 18 th and 19 th centuries, demonstration and resistance movements were carried out by santri and kyai so that the character of the struggle had been formed very strongly in the pattern of education and interaction in pesantren (Alkaf et al, 2022). Some student will initially feel uncomfortable with the condition of the pesantren, it's called Culture Shock, but sooner they can adapt, they can have good relation with other, several activities that can be carried out such as "Patrol" namely activities to maintain the pesantren environment, inspect the entire kobong/dormitory to prevent violations of pesantren rules.…”