Transformasi Tradisi Intelektual Pesantren dalam Era Digital: Kajian Historis Atas Perubahan Otoritas Keilmuan Islam di Indonesia

Abstract

The development of digital technology has transformed the production, distribution, and consumption of Islamic knowledge in Indonesia. This shift has also affected the intellectual tradition of pesantren, which has long served as the primary center for the transmission of Islamic knowledge and the formation of religious authority through sanad (chains of scholarly transmission), the study of classical Islamic texts (kitab kuning), and the relationship between kiai and students (santri). This study aims to analyze the transformation of the pesantren intellectual tradition in the digital era and explain changes in Islamic scholarly authority from the perspective of intellectual history. The research employs a qualitative library research method with an intellectual history approach. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources concerning pesantren, Islamic intellectual traditions, the digitalization of Islamic education, and the development of religious authority in Indonesia. Data were analyzed through heuristic, source criticism, interpretation, and historiographical stages. The findings indicate that pesantren scholarly authority has historically been established through sanad, networks of scholars, and recognition by the scholarly community. Digital technology has encouraged the decentralization of religious authority by expanding access to Islamic knowledge and enabling the emergence of new religious actors in digital spaces. Nevertheless, digitalization has not diminished the role of pesantren as a center of Islamic scholarly authority; instead, it has promoted adaptation and the reconstruction of religious legitimacy. Islamic scholarly authority has evolved into a hybrid model, integrating traditional legitimacy with digital legitimacy based on media visibility and network connectivity.