Fiqh and Gender Equality in Islamic Boarding Schools: A Study on the Teaching of Fiqh Texts and Its Impact on Female Students' Perspectives

Abstract

This study aims to examine how the teaching of fiqh texts influences female students’ (santriwati) perspectives on gender equality in three Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in Mandailing Natal: Ma’had Darul Ikhlas, Pesantren Roihanul Jannah, and Ma’had Darul Ulum Muara Mais. This research employed a qualitative approach using a case study method. The research subjects consisted of 45 santriwati, with 15 students selected from each pesantren, as well as fiqh teachers and pesantren leaders. Data were collected through participant observation of fiqh learning activities, in-depth interviews, and document analysis of fiqh texts, including Fath al-Mu’in, I’anah al-Thalibin, and al-Bajuri. The data were analyzed thematically using a content analysis approach through coding, identification of key themes, and interpretation of emerging patterns, supported by an Islamic feminist theoretical framework. The findings indicate that the teaching of fiqh texts tends to reinforce patriarchal understandings of gender relations, although the extent and forms of internalization vary across the three pesantren. At Ma’had Darul Ikhlas, attempts to reinterpret classical fiqh texts remain constrained by traditional norms, while at Pesantren Roihanul Jannah, a predominantly textual approach contributes to a conservative understanding of gender roles. At Ma’had Darul Ulum Muara Mais, efforts to integrate modern values into fiqh education remain constrained by the persistence of patriarchal ideology. Many santriwati tend to accept gender-unequal practices as part of religious teachings, while some demonstrate forms of negotiation and resistance toward gender-biased interpretations. Local cultural factors, particularly Mandailing Batak traditions, further contribute to the internalization of these gender narratives. These findings highlight the need to reform fiqh education in pesantren through contextual and gender-sensitive approaches to religious interpretation, enabling pesantren to contribute to the development of a more inclusive and equitable understanding of gender relations.