Connections between Religious Leaders and Communities: The Role of Tuan Guru in Mobilizing Community Participation in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25217/jf.v10i1.5617Keywords:
Community Participation, Islamic Education, Religious Leadership, Tuan GuruAbstract
This study explores the role of religious leadership in mobilizing community participation within the context of Islamic boarding schools ‘pondok pesantren’ in East Lombok, Indonesia. The focus is on understanding how the charisma and religious authority of tuan guru influence community engagement in the development and sustainability of these educational institutions. The significance of this research lies in addressing a gap in the literature regarding the interplay between religiosity and social participation in Islamic educational settings. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observations, and document analysis involving key stakeholders, including tuan guru, pesantren administrators, students, and local community members. This study is analyzed using Resource Mobilization Theory, which emphasizes both societal support and constraint of social movement phenomena. Findings show that tuan guru’s approach to leadership—grounded in Islamic values and humility—enabled him to navigate societal resistance, inspiring both material contributions such as land and building materials and non-material contributions such as voluntary labor and moral support. Furthermore, the deeply rooted tradition of gotong royong ‘mutual cooperation’ amplified collective efforts, sustaining the pesantren’s progress. This research contributes to the discourse on religious leadership by highlighting how charismatic and inclusive leadership can transform community dynamics and mobilize collective resources. These findings underscore the importance of integrating cultural and religious values in leadership practices for community development.
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