Business Development of Pesantren  

By; Abu Michael

On November 23, 2009, International Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP) conducted a regular activity to monitor Open Distance and Electronic Learning (ODEL) program to pesantren Nurul Jadid, Paiton-Probolinggo, East Java.

 After about three (3) hours on the way from pesantren Nurul Islam, Jember, East-Java, finally I and the regional coordinator of ODEL East-Java (Mr. Samak Asmo) arrived at Pesantren Nurul Jadid. Directly after getting enter to the pesantren area and passed on its portal, I felt surprised and amazed on the greatness of pesantren which is physically very modern, even if we observe seriously, the knowledge and thought which is developing in this pesantren is, aside of maintaining the traditionalistic method (the teaching of the classical Islamic Scholar), also combining it with the modern method.    

At the time, we have welcomed warmly by the organizer of ODEL at this pesantren. While sometimes joke and enjoy the snacks and drinks, the organizer teams telling the story about the progress of program clearly. They cited that the program has properly going on and successful in making people in the pesantren’s surrounding were well educated through non-formal education system conducted by the program.

Further, the organizer teams also explained about the business units of pesantren. Unpredicted before that pesantren Nurul Jadid has developed some unit of businesses which are very amazing and good in its prospect. They called their central business with “Nurja Mu’amalah”. Nurja Mu’amalah has various business sectors, as such, Printing Company, Mini-Market, Building Store, Credit Union, Crispy and so forth. These business sectors are ruled with the “Sharia System” based.  And at the time, I have chanced to visit each business unit offices and talk with the each representative officer.

One of the business units of Nurja Mu’amalah is “enje Mart” (Nurul Jadid-Market). It has very ‘unique’ motto which is used to motivate people to always come and doing shopping. The motto is “belanja sambil berinfaq” (shopping while donating).

According to the pesantren leader who is responsible to the pesantren’s business sectors (Gus Faiz) that all of the unit sectors are still needed serious concern to be better developed. And for this development, pesantren is very welcome and thankful if there is people/agency who wants to help in supporting the development of these business sectors in order that pesantren will also be more developed in the future.