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!