Transformation of Students’ Religious Character Through Daily Habituation Programs A Case Study at Pesantren Anak Sholeh Baitul Qur’an

Abstrak

Although daily habituation has been widely recognized as an effective approach to character education, limited research has explained how continuous habituation within a 24-hour pesantren environment transforms students’ religious character from externally regulated behavior into internally grounded religious consciousness. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the role of daily habituation practices in transforming students’ religious character at MI Pesantren Anak Sholeh Baitul Qur’an. Methods: A qualitative case study was conducted through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis involving school leaders, teachers, caregivers, and students. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis based on the interactive model of Miles and Huberman. Findings: The findings reveal that daily habituation functions as a holistic pedagogical mechanism integrating worship, religious learning, moral practice, discipline, and independence within the pesantren’s continuous educational environment. Religious character develops gradually through repeated practices, role modelling, hidden curriculum, and communal life, transforming students from rule-based compliance into sincere religious awareness accompanied by responsibility, self-discipline, independence, and social morality. Implications: These findings offer a practical framework for sustainable religious character education in Islamic schools, although the study is limited to a single pesantren-based elementary institution. Originality: This study conceptualizes daily habituation as a transformative pedagogical model that integrates cognitive, affective, behavioral, and spiritual dimensions within a holistic 24-hour pesantren ecosystem.