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| Nurul Iman, Author at Al Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Islamic Boarding School Bogor, Indonesia |
The Qur'an and Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) extensively emphasize the importance of seeking knowledge and teaching it. One Hadith, for instance, states that someone who travels to gain knowledge will find the way to paradise made easy. Furthermore, learning the Qur'an and teaching it is considered the best act among all actions.
From these Hadiths, past scholars were motivated to seek and teach knowledge, even if it meant going on long and arduous journeys. Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School) emerged everywhere, even in remote areas, because of this foundation.
The journey of seeking knowledge undertaken by past scholars required not only effort but also significant financial investment, with some even requiring large sums of money.
A wise piece of advice states that knowledge does not come easily, and one must put forth a total commitment of wealth, age, and intellect.
A scholar must strive to obtain knowledge and approach the ulama. If someone is stingy in seeking knowledge, they will not gain any knowledge.
Spending Wealth to Seek Knowledge: The Travels of Past Scholars
In seeking knowledge, wealth is an important factor that can aid someone in achieving their goals. The salaf ulama understood this and were willing to spend most of their wealth to gain, produce, and spread knowledge.
They often had to travel long distances, sometimes tens or hundreds of kilometers, to meet with a teacher or obtain a Hadith. The journey was not easy, sometimes through land or even sea routes.
The meeting story between Katsir ibn Qays and Abu Darda' at the Damascus Mosque is an example of the travels of past scholars in seeking knowledge.
Katsir came from afar, even from Medina, to meet with Abu Darda' because he wanted to hear a Hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). When Abu Darda' asked if Katsir came for any other purpose such as trading, Katsir firmly replied that he came solely to seek knowledge, as the Prophet said that whoever travels to seek knowledge, Allah will make his way to paradise easier.
Santri Kelana: The Life Story of Famous Scholars in Pesantren
The phenomenon of students from various regions of Indonesia coming to pesantren to study religion is not surprising. Many of them leave their hometowns and travel far to study at different pesantren.
In their journey to seek knowledge, there are wandering students who eventually become famous scholars in Indonesia. Mbah Hasyim Asy'ari and Mbah Wahab Chasbullah are examples of famous scholars who were once wandering students.
The term santri kelana refers to scholars who travel long distances from one pesantren to another to seek knowledge.
The success story of wandering students who later become famous scholars in Indonesia is very inspiring. Mbah Hasyim Asy'ari and Mbah Wahab Chasbullah, for example, became role models for future wandering students. They taught the importance of dedication and strong determination in seeking religious knowledge.
From stories like these, we can understand the importance of learning ethos and sacrifice in seeking knowledge. Past scholars not only spent their wealth, but also their time and energy to obtain knowledge.
Therefore, as the next generation, we must continue to cultivate enthusiasm and strengthen our determination to learn and develop knowledge for the progress and welfare of humanity.
Is Expensive Islamic Boarding School Worth the Quality?
Islamic boarding schools, or commonly known as Pondok Pesantren in Indonesia, are often associated with modest facilities such as small rooms with only mats or carpets as bedding. However, this assumption is not entirely true as there are some Pondok Pesantren that have adequate and even luxurious facilities.
Some Islamic boarding schools are equipped with comfortable study rooms, air-conditioned dormitories, libraries, and even swimming pools for the students to exercise. Therefore, it is not always true that Islamic boarding schools only have simple facilities.
On the other hand, the existence of luxurious Islamic boarding schools changes the perception of some people who underestimate this traditional institution and can be an alternative for parents with sufficient economic ability to send their children to more modern Islamic boarding schools.
Of course, the hope is that the luxurious facilities owned by expensive Islamic boarding schools can be worth the quality of education delivered to the students. Expensive Islamic boarding schools must be able to produce graduates who can compete with other education institutions in terms of knowledge, skills, and morals.
The term expensive Islamic boarding school is often associated with conservative and modest educational institutions. However, if viewed from the service aspect, expensive Islamic boarding schools have standards equivalent to other educational institutions outside of Islamic boarding schools.
The use of the expensive label on Islamic boarding schools should also be understood as an effort to meet the needs of the middle-class society who want quality education without losing religious values. They are looking for Islamic boarding schools that can offer modern education and strong Islamic values, so that their children can become intelligent and morally upright students.
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