Islamic education as acculturation : Lombok's pesantren Darul Falah

Education in Islamic boarding schools or pesantren on the eastern Indonesian island of Lombok is not merely about imparting religious, academic and vocational knowledge. These religious institutions are also focused on creating and reinforcing disciplined religious communities that support local Muslim religious leaders, Tuan Guru. To fully understand the role of these figures and their communities on Lombok, it is necessary to understand the operation and objectives of Islamic boarding schools. This chapter examines an influential Islamic boarding school, Darul Falah, on the outskirts of Mataram, the largest city on the island. It uses Darul Falah as an exemplar of how these educational institutions are pivotal to an acculturation process that creates bonds of loyalty and provides the social infrastructure necessary to construct the networks that underpin the island's local governance arrangements.