STRATEGI PENERAPAN BUDAYA RELIGIUS DALAM MEMBENTUK KARAKTER KEPEMIMPINAN SISWA DI MADRASAH ALIYAH UNGGULAN DARUL ULUM REJOSO PETERONGAN JOMBANG

Abstract

This study addresses the urgent issue of declining morality, weakened leadership character, and insufficient spiritual awareness among students in the era of globalization. Positioned within the field of Islamic education, this research focuses on the strategy of implementing religious culture to develop leadership character at MA Unggulan Darul Ulum Rejoso Peterongan Jombang. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation involving the principal, Islamic education teachers, religious mentors, and students. Data analysis employed the Miles and Huberman interactive model, supported by triangulation to ensure validity. The findings reveal that the madrasah formalizes its strategy through structured daily, weekly, and annual programs such as dhuha prayer, collective istighosah and tahlil, Friday caravans, Qur’anic teaching caravans, and Ramadan activities. The implementation is carried out consistently and collaboratively by teachers, students, and school staff through habituation and exemplary practices. The main implications are the development of students’ honesty, responsibility, trustworthiness, discipline, respect, and social care, which collectively cultivate their leadership character. These results demonstrate that religious culture, when systematically applied, effectively strengthens students’ religiosity and contributes to leadership character building in contemporary Islamic education.