From Kliwonan to Awareness: Al-Zaytun Preserves Tradition, Cultivates the Rationality of Faith
By: Khoirun and Ali Aminulloh
At the Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin Al-Zaytun Mosque, Friday Kliwon night never appears as a mystical shadow. It grows as a meeting place between tradition and reason, between faith and knowledge, between the individual and togetherness. For the past fifteen years, Al-Zaytun has consistently maintained this ritual, not as a frozen legacy of the past, but as authentic urf: a positive community culture reinterpreted in a rational, educational, and enlightening way.
On Friday Kliwon night, December 18, 2025, approximately 50 participants again filled the magnificent mosque. They came from various educational institutions: tutors from the Al-Zaytun Community Service Center (PKBM), early childhood education (PAUD) teachers, and students from Packages A, B, and C. There were no offerings, no mystical symbols. What’s present instead is istighosah (recitation of the Quran), recitation of the Quran, and honest inner conversations with God (dhikr) as well as with oneself.
A Moving Ritual, a Permanent Meaning
Initially, this Kliwonan activity was held at Masikhah. However, since the Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin Mosque was operational, the venue has moved there. The system is rotating: each group consists of teachers from MI (Islamic Junior High School), MTs (Islamic Junior High School), and MA (Islamic Senior High School), lecturers and staff from IAI Al-Azis, as well as tutors from PKBM (Citizen Learning Center) and PAUD (Early Childhood Education) teachers. Each group takes turns twice a year. This pattern is not merely technical, but rather a symbol that the entire educational ecosystem at Al-Zaytun is positioned as equals, supporting each other in a single breath of culture and knowledge.
PKBM Al-Zaytun, as part of non-formal education, is not on the fringes. It is at the center of the pulse of activity, alongside other formal institutions. This is where Al-Zaytun demonstrates its educational identity: inclusive, equitable, and unified.
From Mystical Stigma to a Space for Friendship
In Javanese and Sundanese traditions, Friday Kliwon nights are often associated with mystical rituals. Al-Zaytun chose a different path. This stigma was dismantled and replaced with substance. What was previously considered “dark” was made clear; what was considered irrational was guided toward rational-religious meaning.
Istighosah and tadarus (religious recitation) were not only recited, but also contemplated. Participants were encouraged to understand the meaning of the readings, internalize their values, and relate them to real life. Kliwonan nights transformed into a means of social communication, fostering camaraderie among teachers, tutors, and students, as well as a platform for building togetherness across roles and ages.
Women, Faith, and Everyday Resilience
In her remarks, the Principal of Al-Zaytun Early Childhood Education School, Ustazah Maratu Sholihah, S.Pd.I., expressed her deep appreciation to the students, the majority of whom were housewives, who remained faithful in attending and learning. Some came from Haurgeulis District, Gantar, and even Subang Regency. Distance and domestic responsibilities did not hinder their progress.
He recalled the Prophet’s message about the dignity of mothers, which is mentioned three times before fathers. This respect, he said, is not a slogan, but rather an acknowledgment of women’s multi-faceted role: household managers, children’s educators, and lifelong learners. The mothers’ collective spirit was also evident in their mutual cooperation in preparing cleanliness, food, and ensuring the smooth running of events—a character education that is lived, not just taught.
Education as an Ecosystem
The next remarks were delivered by Khoerun, a tutor at the Al-Zaytun Community Learning Center (PKBM). He emphasized that Sheikh Al-Zaytun never differentiated between formal, non-formal, or early childhood education. They viewed all as one educational ecosystem. Therefore, PKBM, PAUD, and even universities are involved in every major event, including Friday Kliwonan (Kliwonan Friday) and scientific symposiums.
Khoerun also conveyed a message about the collaborative role of fathers and mothers in building a peaceful family, and encouraged students to actively participate in the symposium—both in person and online—to learn from competent professors and teachers. Education, in Al-Zaytun’s view, is an open dialogue between faith and knowledge.
Kliwonan as a Middle Way
The event concluded with a collective prayer of thanksgiving (hamdalah). It was simple, yet rich with meaning. At Al-Zaytun, ritual is not at odds with rationality, and tradition is not pitted against progress. Friday Kliwon night is maintained as a middle way: preserving cultural roots while fostering a healthy, rational, and down-to-earth religious awareness.
This is where Al-Zaytun asserts itself as more than just an educational institution, but a center for cultivating values—a place where tradition is refined, faith is enlightened, and togetherness is nurtured as the foundation of civilization.**
Indonesia, December 19, 2025
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