Otoritas Keagamaan Di Komunitas Muslim Pedesaan: Pendidikan Al-Qur'an Yang Terdesentralisasi Di Indonesia

Abstract

This article examines the dynamics of religious authority within decentralized non-formal Qur’anic education in rural Muslim communities in Indonesia. The central problem addressed concerns how community-based autonomy in Qur’anic educational institutions shapes the legitimacy of kyai and ustaz as local religious authorities while simultaneously producing institutional variation and fragmentation. The study aims to analyze how religious authority operates in the management of non-formal Qur’anic education and to explore the social implications of decentralization for institutional governance and quality. Employing a qualitative case study design conducted in a rural Muslim village in East Java, the research draws on participant observation, in-depth interviews with kyai, ustaz, educational administrators, parents, and village officials, as well as institutional document analysis. Data were analyzed interactively to identify patterns of authority relations, forms of social legitimacy, and variations in institutional practices. The findings reveal that non-formal Qur’anic education functions as a community-based religious institution that reinforces the authority of kyai through networks of trust, scholarly experience, and social recognition. At the same time, high levels of decentralization generate uneven educational standards, variations in quality, and weak inter-institutional coordination. The study concludes that religious authority in rural Muslim communities operates relationally and pragmatically through educational institutions, yet requires community-based coordination mechanisms to balance local autonomy with institutional quality. It recommends strengthening communication forums among Qur’anic educational institutions while preserving the autonomy that characterizes community-based religious life.