KITAB KUNING: SOROGAN AND BANDONGAN METHODS IN ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOLS

Abstract

The kitab kuning is a classical Arabic text written without harakat (vowel markings) and serves as the primary reference in Islamic learning within Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). These books encompass various Islamic disciplines, including fiqh, tauhid, tafsir, hadith, and tasawuf. Their existence reflects the long-standing tradition of Islamic scholarship transmitted from generation to generation. In pesantren, the learning methods for the kitab kuning possess distinctive characteristics, particularly the bandongan and sorogan methods. Each method applies an approach that emphasizes textual comprehension and the development of critical thinking toward classical Islamic sources. Furthermore, learning the kitab kuning also involves mastering Arabic grammar through the sciences of nahwu and sharaf. This study employs a qualitative descriptive methodology with a library research approach. This approach was selected because it is appropriate for comprehensively examining religious concepts, especially regarding the implementation of Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah An-Nahdliyah (Aswaja An-Nahdliyah) values in Islamic boarding school education. The study aims to explain the meaning of the kitab kuning and describe the learning methods applied in pesantren as an effort to preserve the intellectual heritage of classical Islam within the context of traditional education in Indonesia.