Known as Pondok Gading, Miftahul Huda Islamic Boarding School (Pesantren Miftahul Huda) in Malang, East Java, is considered as one of the oldest Islamic boarding schools (Pesantren) in Indonesia. This Pesantren has existed since 1768; one of the most famous heritage from legendary Pesantren is the Hisab method. It’s the method used to determine the beginning of the Islamic calendar based on astronomical calculation (the circulation of the month/qomariah)
The founder of Pondok Gading is KH Hasan Munadi. People used to call it Pondok Gading because it is located in an urban village called Gading Kasri, in Malang city. It’s already 90 years after he passed away; KH Hasan Munadi, as the founder, passed away when he was 125 years old. KH Hasan Munadi Hasan Munadi died, leaving four children, namely KH Ismail, KH Muhyini, KH Maksum, and Nyai Mujannah.
At that time, Pondok Gading, as the conservative pesantren, established the salaf education system. After KH Hasan Munadi died, Pondok Gading was handled by his first son, KH Ismail. To develop the Pesantren, he was assisted by his niece, KH Abdul Majid. Since he has no child, Kiai Ismail adopts the daughter of Kiai Abdul Majid, Nyai Siti Khadijah. Then, Siti Khodijah was married to one of the Miftahul Huda Islamic Boarding School alumni, Kediri, KH Yahya from Jetis, Malang. After that, the management of Pondok Gading was handed over to KH Moh Yahya.
KH Moh Yahya, who has led the pesantren since 1908, named this pesantren as “Pondok Pesantren Miftahul Huda”, he took th name from his previous pesantren. Not only gave the new name, but Kiai Yahya also made a revolutionary breakthrough in that era. The students (santri) were also permitted to study and learn from other formal institutions out of the Pesantren. Surprisingly, through this breakthrough, the pesantren grew fast. This is because so many santri want to study there.