Internalizing the Values of Togetherness and Simplicity Among Santri Through the Tradition of Communal Eating at As'adiyah Sengkang Islamic Boarding School

Abstract

Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in Indonesia constitute living laboratories of character formation, where daily rituals serve as primary conduits for value transmission. This community service study examines the internalization of togetherness (kebersamaan) and simplicity (kesederhanaan) among santri through the tradition of communal eating (makan berjamaah) at Pondok Pesantren As'adiyah Sengkang, Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach with participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentary analysis, the study engaged 48 santri, 12 ustadz, and 6 senior institutional figures across a six-week fieldwork period. Findings reveal that communal eating operates as a three-phase ritual space—pre-meal, during-meal, and post-meal—through which values are transmitted via habituation, role modeling, and structured reflection. The tradition dismantles socioeconomic distinctions, reinforces collective identity rooted in Islamic brotherhood (ukhuwwah), and cultivates an ascetic orientation toward material sufficiency. These findings contribute to the literature on values education within pesantren culture and offer practical recommendations for character education policy at the national level.