Morning Music at Al-Zaytun: Stepping Together with the Tune, Building the Soul of the Nation
(Series Getting to Know Traditions at Al Zaytun)
By Ali Aminulloh
Contributor to Jaya-News.com
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of morning activities at Mahad Al-Zaytun, Friday, June 27, 2025, when the entire academic community rushed to their respective places of activity, a timeless tradition continued to echo: Morning Songs.
For a full 30 minutes, exactly at 06.00 WIB to 06.30 WIB, a beautiful melody flowed, marking the start of the day at Mahad Al Zaytun. Syaykh Al-Zaytun did not just make it entertainment, but a program that was fully integrated with the education system, a genius strategy to “smoothe the souls of students”.
Evolution of Melody, Transformation of the Soul
Since the founding of Mahad Al-Zaytun until around 2019, the campus rooms were filled with classical symphonies from the legendary Egyptian diva, Umm Kulthum. The rhythm of classical Arabic gambus that touched the heart and stirred the soul, such as “Hadzihi Lailati,” “Anta Umri,” “Amal Hayati,” “Lana Al Ard (Rub Al Jamal),” “Hayat Qalby Maak,” “Fakarouny,” and “Awad Ainy,” became the accompanying morning melodies. These songs were not just voices, but beautiful memories engraved in the memories of the students, a cultural heritage that they will remember forever.
However, entering the 2020s, Al-Zaytun shifted to a more national arrangement. The strains of morning songs are now dominated by works created by Syaykh Al-Zaytun himself. The calls for a tolerant and peaceful life such as “Pesantren Damai,” “Mars Al-Zaytun,” and “Mars and Hymn Masyarakat Indonesia Membangun” began to echo. Not to be missed, the nuances of keroncong also enriched the morning music treasury, with songs such as “Keroncong Samudera Biru,” “Langgam Pelabuhan Samudera Biru,” and “Pelaut Petani”.
In addition, proud national songs such as “Tanah Air” were also routinely played, instilling a sense of love for the homeland from an early age. This shift shows Al-Zaytun’s adaptation in enriching the cultural treasury while still strengthening national values.
The Science Behind the Tune: The Power of Music for Mental Health
From a psychological perspective, the selection of music as an integral part of education at Al-Zaytun is not without scientific basis. Various studies have proven that music has a significant positive influence in building peace of mind, increasing positive moods, increasing concentration, and even reducing stress levels.
A study by Asima Sinta Maria (2024) on the relationship between music, emotions, and mental health, concluded that music can indeed positively influence a person’s emotional state, thereby improving mental health.
This finding encouraged the birth of clinical music therapy as an effective intervention to overcome emotional disorders, depression, and various other mental illnesses.
Other studies, such as those conducted by Riggle (2012) on Music Therapy for Mental Health and Juslin and Sloboda (2010) in The Impact of Music on Mood and Emotion, consistently show that the influence of music on a person’s mental health is very real and profound.
The power of music to influence the human soul is not a new phenomenon.
History records that during the time of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, when he arrived in Medina, the Anshar people welcomed his arrival with traditional music accompanying the song “Thala’al Badru ‘Alayna”. This moment confirms that music has long been an expression of happiness, gratitude, and abundance.
So it is not surprising that music in Al-Zaytun goes beyond the realm of art. It is an inseparable part of character building, a bridge to convey noble values. The lyrics presented in the morning song are not only pleasant to listen to, but are full of messages of moral education, mental formation, and fostering a deep love for the country. Through the harmony of tone and meaning, Al-Zaytun sows the seeds of goodness, forming a generation with morals, a strong soul, and loves its nation.
Epilogue: Music the Soul Builder.
Al-Zaytun’s initiative to integrate music into the morning routine is real evidence of an understanding of the holistic power of education. Not just filling the void, but consciously forming character, calming the soul, and instilling national values through a universal and powerful medium: music. A morning symphony that continues to echo, producing a superior generation that is ready to face the future with harmony in heart and soul.**
Indramayu, June 27, 2025
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