Leading Digital Transformation in Salaf Islamic Education: Negotiating Technology and Tradition

Abstract

Digital transformation in Salafi Islamic education presents leadership challenges, as the use of technology must be aligned with the traditions and institutional identity of the pesantren. This study aims to analyse how leaders navigate digital transformation within the context of Salafi Islamic education. The research employs a qualitative approach using a case study design at the Al-Anshoriyah Islamic Boarding School. Data were collected through interviews with three key informants the pesantren director, the chair of the board of trustees, and the headteacher as well as through observation and documentation. The data were analysed thematically by comparing information from the three data collection methods. The research findings identified three interrelated leadership practices: the selective adoption of technology, the gradual management of organisational change, and the negotiation between the utilisation of technology and the continuity of Salaf traditions. Key findings indicate that the continuity of traditional practices does not necessarily signify resistance to digitalisation, but can form part of leadership considerations in determining the scope of technological change. This study offers a perspective on ‘tradition-sensitive digital leadership’, which emphasises the role of leaders in aligning the use of technology with the identity and educational commitments of Islamic boarding schools. This perspective provides a contextual foundation for understanding digital transformation in Islamic educational institutions that uphold their institutional traditions.