Alkhairaat: A study on its Hadhrami background and roles in educational reform in Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

This thesis explores the roles of Alkhairaat in Palu Central Sulawesi as a modern Islamic boarding school and one of the most remarkable educational institutions in the development of Islam in eastern Indonesia. Established on June 30, 1930 by Al Habib Idrus ibn Salim Aljufri (1889-1969), locally known as Guru Tua, the institution has developed its own unique and distinctive reputation due to its leader as Hadhrami Sayyid, a man who is originally from Hadhramaut, Yemen and claims himself as a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Like many pesantren in Java, Alkhairaat with its network in 13 provinces that consists of 1,550 schools and 49 pesantren, is shaped by local culture and moulded by values and tradition that are consistently nurtured by the founder. I argue that Alkhairaat is one of the leading Islamic educational institutions in eastern Indonesia, bringing about a significant reform into the local educational system and becoming a major recognised religious authority in the region. Guru Tua created an educational system not only to address the educational needs of the rural community but also to appropriate the materials, views, and attitudes of modernity in the society. This thesis further claims that Guru Tua has been a significant figure in the formation, transmission and reproduction of Islamic knowledge and authority in the region. The way Guru Tua has expanded the network of his school shows that his charisma was not only transferable through kinship ties (hereditary) to his progeny for subsequent leadership roles, but also via a scholarly connection expressed through the teacher-student relationship. Through his teachings and religious programs in his institution, he has nurtured many young Muslims with religious knowledge as they accumulate cultural capital essential for the establishment of their religious authority in their respective villages. Analysing Alkhairaat and its network, I reflect Bourdieu's concept; capital, field and habitus as a means of understanding the way in which Alkhairaat and its networks with all components intertwined. This study also draws on the Weberian notion of charisma to illuminate the leadership of Guru Tua. The use of Bourdieu's capital permits us to develop charisma as religious capital as an object of struggle as a valued resource. Therefore, by the combination of Weber and Bourdieu, we can see charisma to be a more secular power rather than God's grace and blessings or divine gift. Based on 12-month multi-sited research in Palu, Central Sulawesi and three other provinces: Gorontalo, North Maluku, and North Sulawesi, the study utilised participant observation methods, staying in the Alkhairaat pesantren for some time as well as engaging with local people. I interviewed prominent local figures, students, former students and dignitaries who were graduates of this institution. In sum, the thesis demonstrates that the school network offers a locally affordable but more reliable religious tutoring, making up a vibrant web of an educational institution with the support of local patronage. It is like a family network in which a sense of identity and a similar religious orientation has been produced and reproduced. The unchallenged Guru Tua's religious competence and teachings have become a tick of approval, providing peace of mind and a favourable point of consideration for local people to send their children joining this network.