IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP MODEL IN STRENGTHENING ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ERA AT GEDANGAN ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL

Abstract

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought significant changes to the field of education, including the process of deepening Islamic Religious Education within Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). This development requires Islamic educational institutions to utilize technology wisely while preserving the spiritual values, ethical conduct (adab), and scholarly traditions that constitute the fundamental foundations of pesantren education. This study aims to analyze the implementation of a spiritual leadership model in deepening Islamic Religious Education in the era of Artificial Intelligence and to describe how spiritual values are integrated with the use of technology at Gedangan Islamic Boarding School. This study employs a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with pesantren leaders, educational administrators, and teachers, as well as through observation and document analysis. The data were analyzed thematically through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that the spiritual leadership model in deepening Islamic Religious Education is implemented by positioning Artificial Intelligence as a supporting tool for learning rather than as a substitute for the roles of teachers, kiai, or established Islamic scholarly authority. This spiritual leadership model is manifested through four key principles: integrity in the use of Artificial Intelligence for academic purposes, selectivity in receiving and filtering digital information, exemplary conduct in the ethical and responsible use of technology, and the strengthening of Islamic religious knowledge through the proportional use of Artificial Intelligence. These findings demonstrate that spiritual leadership plays a crucial role in maintaining a balance between technological innovation and the reinforcement of Islamic Religious Education values, thereby fostering an educational process that is adaptive, ethical, and firmly rooted in the scholarly traditions of pesantren.