Instilling Santri Values in the First Semester, New Students of UNU Jogja Attend Kitab Kuning Class

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – The Directorate of Pesantren Affairs in collaboration with the Directorate of Academic Affairs at Nahdlatul Ulama University (UNU) Jogja held the Kitab Kuning (Classical Islamic Texts) Study Class for first-year students of the 2025 academic year. This activity is part of a mandatory course in the first and second semesters.

This year, students study two classical Islamic books: Adab al-‘Alim wal-Muta’allim by KH. Hasyim Asy’ari and Khulasoh Nurul Yaqin by Sheikh Umar Abdul Jabbar. The classes are guided by KH. Edy Musoffa, Head of the UNU Jogja Student Pesantren, and KH. Muhammad Taufiq Ridho, Head of the PPTQ Al-Hamra Islamic Boarding School, Krapyak, Yogyakarta.

Ahmad Hujaj Nurohim, Director of Internal Pesantren Affairs at UNU Jogja, explained that these two books are fundamental texts that every santri (Islamic boarding school student) must understand. Adab al-‘Alim wal-Muta’allim teaches the ethics and manners of a knowledge seeker—both for santri and university students—while Khulasoh Nurul Yaqin contains historical values and stories of the struggles of the prophets and messengers of Allah.

“Through this course, we hope that students who have previously studied in Islamic boarding schools can uphold santri values within the academic environment. For those who haven’t, this class is a way to get to know and learn the pesantren tradition, which emphasizes manners and respect,” he said on Thursday, October 23.

In line with this, Harisna Hikmah, Director of Academic Affairs at UNU Jogja, added that the Kitab Kuning study is part of the General Basic Courses (MKDU), specifically under the Islamic Studies subject. She noted that this course serves as an important foundation for shaping students’ character from the beginning of their university journey.

“The Kitab Kuning class is part of the Islamic Studies course, where pesantren and Ahlussunnah wal Jama’ah (Aswaja) values are instilled in all new UNU Jogja students,” she explained.

Through this program, UNU Jogja aims to bring the pesantren tradition of scholarship into the academic atmosphere. The Kitab Kuning classes are designed with simple and practical learning methods, making them accessible for all students, including those unfamiliar with the pesantren world. In this way, pesantren values—such as manners, politeness, and love of knowledge—can grow alongside the academic spirit of UNU Jogja students. [Latifah]