The Trilogy of the Gontor Boarding School Ethos: The Transformation of K.H. Imam Zarkasyi’s Thought within the Landscape of Modern Islamic Educational Philosophy

Abstract

This study examines the transformation of K.H. Imam Zarkasyi's educational thought through the concept of Trilogi Jiwa (sincerity, simplicity, and self-reliance) as the philosophical foundation of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor within the landscape of modern Islamic education in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative philosophical analysis approach, this research uncovers the epistemological, ontological, and axiological foundations underpinning K.H. Imam Zarkasyi's educational philosophy. Findings reveal that Trilogi Jiwa represents a unique synthesis between classical pesantren tradition and educational modernity, subsequently evolving into Panca Jiwa as a comprehensive value system addressing 21st-century educational challenges). The transformation manifests in an integrated curriculum structure harmonizing intellectual, spiritual, and social dimensions, creating a prototype of modern Islamic education capable of responding to digitalization and globalization while preserving Islamic identity.From an educational philosophy perspective, K.H. Imam Zarkasyi's Trilogi Jiwa demonstrates convergence with idealism, reconstructionism, progressivism, and humanistic philosophy. This study contributes to contemporary discourse on Islamic education modernization by offering an indigenous Indonesian framework that bridges tradition and modernity, with implications for pesantren transformation in the digital era.