Since Indonesian reformation era, west sumateran society (Minang) echoed the emergence of slogan ‘back to the surau’ to bring back Islamic educational institution. Surau is the mosques dubbed by west sumateran society that has the function not only as the worshipping place but also as the center of community education. Law Number 22 of 1999 on Regional Autonomy and Regional Regulation No. 9 of 2000 on the nagari, west sumateran system of society are the cornerstone of the initial desire. Although there is no direct
connection between the surau and those regulation, but those affect the attention of people who want return the missing old tradition revived. In addition, it is also very closely related to the community creed adaik basandi Syarak, Syarak basandi Kitabullah, customs based on syariah, and syariah based on the book of Allah. This paper tries to offer the process to modernize the Surau as the integration of Islamic traditional society with the modern education system in Indonesia. The surau education models that can be offered in the
present era, among others, are at least the surau has to build Islamic center, boarding school or something, a mosque itself, dormitories, classrooms, seminar rooms, a wellness area, a consultation room, a library, means of sports, laboratories, and park. It has to cultivate integrative science both Islam and modern, broad and high insight, adequate skills, and noble character. On the other hand, the role of the surau seems to preserve its original function; as the initial and basic institutions for minang children at least to learn the Koran. And,
If possible, surau can be functioned as the place to revitalize the Minang traditions.
Source: Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture
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