Santri, who studies in Pesantren, do not only struggle with religious lessons. In the Pesantren environment, directly or indirectly, students are also familiar with education and literacy development since many of their textbooks are part of literary works. Because of that, many writers are also born in the environment of Pesantren.
Many influential writers were born from the pesantrens, such as KH Mustofa Bisri (Gus Mus), D Zawawi Imron, Emha Ainun Nadjib, Acep Zamzam Noor, Jamal D Rahman, Ahmad Tohari, Abdul Hadi WM, Hamdi Salad, Nasruddin Anshory, Kuswaidi Syafi’ie, and others.
And in this millennial era, the novelist Habiburrahman El-Shirazy appears. They are writers who have studied in Pesantren. The results of this work are generally themed on the religious values of pesantren (Tabroni, 2019: 13).
The term literature is absorption from Sanskrit, namely shaastra, which means “text containing instructions” or “guidelines”. Shaastra comes from the root word ās- or shaas- which means directing, teaching, and giving instructions. Meanwhile, tra means tools or means. That is why many books studied in Pesantren can also be referred to as part of literary works.
Thus, as the oldest educational institution in Indonesia, the learning process in Pesantren also significantly contributes to the development of literature in Indonesia. As a result, there are many kinds of literary works born from the environment of Pesantren, such as novels, poetry, short stories, dramas, and others.
In the current era, this type of literary work is increasing with the rise of social media and technology that has experienced many developments. In addition to types based on form and content; literature can also be distinguished based on where the literary work develops and lives, such as pesantren literature.
Then, what is meant by pesantren literature? According to Abdurrahman Wahid in Sunyoto (2012), what is meant by pesantren literature can be explained in two definitions. First, pesantren literature is a literary work that explores the habits of pesantren. Second, pesantren literature is an academic work with a pesantren psychology pattern with a solid religious structure (religious colour).
The existence of literature in Pesantren began with the establishment of the first pesantren in the archipelago, namely the Tegalsari Pesantren, in 1742. Indeed, since the establishment of the Tegalsari Pesantren until now, there has been no academic curriculum in the pesantren. However, it is possible to teach literature in a pesantren environment.
Literature often used in Pesantren is usually in the form of poetry or poetry, such as poetry on Nadhom Alfiyah Ibn Maliki, Nadhom imrithi, Nadhom Aqidatul Awwam, and so on. The students are not only trained to read but to be memorized and submitted to the teacher or Ustaz. The teachers or Ustaz will also, of course, explain what the meaning of the nadhom is.
The literature used in pesantren is not only in the form of poetry or poetry. The book of Mahfudzat, or a book containing beautiful pearls of wisdom, is also studied. The book of Mahfudzat is often memorized by the students and practised to motivate themselves.
One example of these pearls of wisdom namely “Man Lam Yaskurinnasa Lam Yaskurillah” “Who is not grateful for humans, then he is not grateful to Allah”. This sentence will motivate the students to continue to be grateful for what they have.
Not only by studying and reciting, but literary activities in pesantren are also often used, such as Muhadhoroh, Musabaqoh, Porseni (Sports and Arts Week), Language Week, and Year-End Competition.
In the current millennial era, it is not only print media literature that is used in the dissemination of literature, and so is Pesantren literature. The development of technology today is certainly very supportive of the spread of literature easily. Likewise with literature in pesantren. Literature in pesantren can be found everywhere without entering the world of pesantren.
Therefore, learning literature in pesantren can also develop the students’ potential through many activities, such as monologue competitions, poetry reading, drama performances, and so on. With their potential, they can develop literature in Indonesia with Islamic values in the millennial era.
Note: translated by editor from https://www.duniasantri.co/sastra-pesantren-di-era-milenial/.