Vice President: Islamic Boarding Schools Become Strong Forts To Face Negative Modernization

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin gave directions in Haul Masyayikh, Graduation of Retired Students, and 28th Anniversary of Al-Anwar Islamic Boarding School in Bangkalan, Madura, East Java, Thursday (31/8/2023). (ANTARA/Indra Arief Pribadi)

BANGKALAN - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said pesantren must be a strong bulwark against negative modernization attacks.

"If we don't guard, this pesantren that becomes a bulwark could change. So pesantren must be a strong bulwark against negative modernization attacks that are disruptive, which make changes in the understanding of our children," said Vice President Ma'ruf in Haul Masyayikh, Retired Graduation, and 28th Anniversary of Al-Anwar Islamic Boarding School in Bangkalan, Madura, East Java. reported by ANTARA, Thursday, August 31.

Ma'ruf said that negative modernization was like a disruption from the changing times that disturbed people's understanding of religion.

"Globalization, technological advances are also in addition to bringing goodness, it also brings harm, disrupting his name, yes. There are many disruptions, many then leave their religion," said Ma'ruf.

Ma'ruf tells the phenomenon of changes that occur in Korea. The disruption in the country, said Ma'ruf, has made 52 percent of the people not religious.

"I see that in Korea, 99 percent were Buddhists, now there are only 20 percent, the others have other religions, the biggest is 52 percent were not religious, not religious because of the influence of modernization, the influence of progress," he said.

Therefore, said Ma'ruf, the role of pesantren is needed as a bulwark to ward off negative changes. The importance of the role of pesantren has also been felt since the colonial era.

"Pesantren juga merupakan bulwark yang kuat dalam menjaga umat. Buktinya apa ratusan tahun (Indonesia) dijajah tapi mayoritas keslamanya tidak berubah itu luar biasa," kata Ma'ruf.

On that occasion, Vice President Ma'ruf also inaugurated the Islamic Economic and Business College and the Al-Anwar Flats.