Basis Epistemologi dan Intelektual Islam Moderat di Indonesia

Analisis Internalisasi Nilai-Nilai Pesantren dan Kitab Kuning Perspektif Nurcholish Madjid

Abstract

This study seeks to fill a scholarly gap by investigating the role of the Kitab Kuning (classical Islamic texts) as an intellectual and epistemological foundation for nurturing religious moderation (Wasathiyyah) in Indonesian pesantren. Employing a qualitative library research methodology with content analysis and contextual hermeneutics, the study applies Nurcholish Madjid’s theory of Wasathiyyah to reinterpret this classical intellectual tradition. The analysis reveals that the Kitab Kuning is not merely a normative text, but an active epistemological framework that systematically instills the values of tawassuth (balance), tasamuh (tolerance), and i‘tidal (justice), in harmony with Madjid’s emphasis on tawhid as universal openness and contextual rationality. The main finding indicates that pesantren utilize these texts through unique traditions such as bahtsul masail (deliberative discussions), transforming them into processes of democratic and critical reasoning. This process empowers students (santri) to contextualize classical teachings and effectively counter radical and exclusivist ideologies in the modern era. The study concludes that the Kitab Kuning provides an authentic and deeply rooted intellectual foundation for Wasathiyyah, positioning pesantren as vital centers for reconstructing moderate Islamic thought essential for maintaining social harmony and national unity in Indonesia.