The designation of October 22nd as National Santri Day by President Joko Widodo through Presidential Decree (Keppres) RI Number 22 of 2015 brought a breath of fresh air to all the santri across the archipelago. This decision distinctly conveys recognition and affirmation that the santri, throughout the long history of Indonesia’s struggle for independence, are an entity that cannot be forgotten.
The decision to mark it on October 22nd is also inseparable from the fervent resolution of jihad championed by KH Hasyim Asy’ari at that time. Through this resolution, the contributions of santri in defending the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) can be traced through the numerous lives sacrificed during the events of November 10, 1945 in Surabaya. On that day, the santri community valiantly stood at the forefront to defend the homeland and safeguard independence following the issuance of the jihad resolution on October 22, 1945.
After 78 years of independence, we all can reflect upon that valiant struggle, thanks to the establishment of National Santri Day on October 22 by President Joko Widodo in 2015. This year, in commemoration of National Santri Day (Hari Santri Nasional or HSN), the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kementerian Agama or Kemenag) of the Republic of Indonesia has chosen the theme “Santri’s Jihad Enriches the Nation.” This captivating theme aptly portrays the figure of the santri, closely associated with the concept of jihad.
Literacy and Intellectual Jihad
It would be a grave error if this momentous occasion were reduced to mere ceremonial significance, devoid of any substantial impact on the nation. Whether consciously or otherwise, the paradigm of confining National Santri Day to a mere formality must be cast aside. Otherwise, it would signify the end of an era for the santri community.
However, it appears that the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has sensed the need for innovative breakthroughs before this paradigm becomes ingrained. This implies that innovative breakthroughs are necessary to restore the santri’s honor as an entity inseparable from the progress and civilization of the Indonesian nation. This can be discerned, at least in part, from the theme chosen to commemorate National Santri Day this year, “Santri’s Jihad Enriches the Nation.” This theme will undoubtedly give rise to diverse interpretations, with the common aim of awakening the santri community and encouraging them to collectively engage in the struggle to enrich the nation.
In Islam, jihad, regardless of its nature, invariably demands earnest and virtuous action. Likewise, in the context of National Santri Day, jihad must be contextualized with the contemporary era. This means that the santri’s jihad, in this case, should not be interpreted as the exact form of jihad waged by the santri to expel colonial powers in the past. So, the question arises: what kind of struggle is appropriate for the present era? The answer lies in reviving and promoting the tradition of reading and writing from Pesantren.
Admittedly, in the midst of rapidly advancing technology and digital media usage, society is inundated with information related to propaganda, hate speech, hoaxes, and the like. These issues undoubtedly exacerbate the array of problems in our country and cannot be left unattended like murky waters flowing to the river mouth. Therefore, the educated santri, who fully grasp the dangers of such phenomena, must lead the charge in rectifying the circulating information by imparting comprehensive understanding through the literacy movement of pesantren.
Santri must not forget that one of the triumphs and advancements of Islamic civilization in the past was largely rooted in the world of extensive literacy. Under the Abbasid Empire, Islam served as a global hub for knowledge, producing a plethora of books in various fields of study. Santri must be attuned to the opportunity to rekindle that glory through a genuine literacy movement from pesantren.
Undoubtedly, this is no small feat. It requires exceptional collaboration from all elements of Indonesian pesantren, with the santri community as the key actors. With such a breakthrough, santri, albeit indirectly, fulfill their duty through “intellectual jihad” in accordance with the needs of their time.
On this National Santri Day in 2023, let us, as santri, maximize our efforts in carrying out the trust of addressing the nation’s challenges, ultimately striving for intellectual jihad that befits the demands of our time. Borrowing from the wisdom of KH Maimoen Zubair (Mbah Moen), “ala al-‘aqili an yakuna ‘arifan bi zamanihi,” which means that for those who possess intelligence, knowledge, and scholarship, they must be astute in understanding the issues of their time. Happy National Santri Day, let us all jihad together to enrich our nation!