SEJARAH DAN DINAMIKA LEMBAGA PENDIDIKAN ISLAM DAYAH DAN SURAU

Abstract

This study examines the history, dynamics, and institutional transformations of the dayah in Aceh and the surau in Minangkabau as representations of traditional Islamic education facing the currents of modernization. Employing a literature-based analysis through historical and sociological lenses, the study investigates the roots of Islamic dissemination, socio-religious dynamics, and the resilience strategies of both institutions. Both the dayah and the surau emerged from the organic process of Islamization in the Malay Archipelago, a process integrated with local cultures and trade networks. The dayah developed within Aceh’s hierarchical culture centered on the authority of ulama (religious scholars) demonstrating a modernization pattern that consistently preserves tradition. In contrast, the surau evolved within the collegial, matrilineal adat culture of Minangkabau; it responded more rapidly to Islamic reform movements, transforming into a modern madrasah system driven by intellectual discourse. Both institutions demonstrate the remarkable resilience of Islamic education in Indonesia: the dayah excels in maintaining the continuity of its heritage, while the surau possesses an institutional elasticity that allows it to adapt effectively to social change.