By Dr. KH. Sofwan Manaf Mukhayyar
The scouting movement is one of the most important educational activities that contribute to building the character of young people and developing their leadership and social skills. Muslim educators recognised decades ago the importance of integrating this movement into the Islamic educational system, as it carries values that align with the principles of Islam in nurturing the young generation with responsibility, discipline, and community service.
Darunnajah Islamic Institutes in Indonesia present a pioneering model of integrating the scouting movement within the curriculum of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), where scouting is considered a compulsory extracurricular activity for all students, making it an integral part of the comprehensive educational experience.
About Darunnajah Islamic Institutes
Founded in 1961 in Jakarta, Indonesia, by Sheikh Abdul Manaf Mukhayyar, Darunnajah Islamic Institutes trace their roots back to 1938. The institutes adopted the curriculum of Gontor Modern Islamic Education Institute, combining Islamic authenticity with modern sciences.
Today, Darunnajah is one of the largest networks of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, comprising 23 campuses across the archipelago, educating more than 10,000 students, employing over 1,000 teachers, and managing endowment (waqf) land exceeding 1,000 hectares.
Scouting as a Compulsory Activity at Darunnajah
Darunnajah’s system is distinguished by making scouting a compulsory extracurricular activity for all students — a comprehensive educational methodology that contributes to forming the well-rounded Muslim student character.
International Scouting Participations
Darunnajah Institutes boast an outstanding record of international scouting participations spanning more than thirty years, with scouts representing Indonesia on the world stage and visiting more than 15 countries.
| Event | Year |
| World Scout Jamboree, the Netherlands | 1995 |
| Scout Jamboree, Tampin, Malaysia | 1999 |
| Youth Scout Gathering, Cairo, Egypt | 2002 |
| World Scout Jamboree, Thailand | 2003 |
| Messengers of Peace Scout, Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia | 2006 |
| 26th Asia-Pacific Jamboree, Manila & Netherlands Jamboree | 2009 |
| World Scout Jamboree, Japan & Singapore National Jamboree | 2015 |
| National Youth Scout Gathering, Chonburi, Thailand | 2019 |
| World Scout Jamboree, Saemangeum, South Korea | 2023 |
| ASEAN Scouttour 5 — 5-Country Tour | 2024 |
| ASEAN Scouttour 6 & World Islamic Scout Camp, Jakarta | 2025 |
Scouting Values and Islamic Education
The essence of Darunnajah’s success lies in the profound harmony between scouting principles and Islamic teachings. Both systems strive to build a righteous, responsible individual capable of serving their community.
| Islamic Teachings | Scouting Principles |
| Trustworthiness (Amanah) | Trustworthiness and Loyalty |
| Cooperation (Ta’awun) | Helpfulness and Friendliness |
| Commitment (Iltizam) | Obedience and Discipline |
| Contentment (Qana’ah) | Cheerfulness and Thrift |
| Courage (Shaja’ah) | Courage and Clarity of Mind |
| Stewardship of the Earth (Khalifah) | Love of Nature |
The 2025 World Islamic Scout Camp
Jakarta hosted the World Islamic Scout Camp in 2025 at the Cibubur Campsite, marking the centenary of Darussalam Gontor Modern Islamic Education Institute. This event represented the largest scouting gathering in Darunnajah’s history, with 435 students participating as active members alongside teachers serving as volunteers.
The Scouting Journey of Dr. Sofwan Manaf Mukhayyar
Dr. Haji Sofwan Manaf Mukhayyar, Director of Darunnajah Islamic Institutes and Chancellor of Darunnajah University, represents a living example of dedication to the scouting movement over more than four decades, beginning with his scouting activities at Gontor Institute in 1980.
He has obtained numerous distinguished scouting qualifications, including accreditation as a National Scout Trainer, the Dharma Bakti Medal in 2010 from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the Melati Medal in 2015 — the highest scouting honour — presented by President Joko Widodo.
Conclusion
Darunnajah Islamic Institutes present a distinguished and inspiring model of integrating the scouting movement with Islamic education. This experience, spanning decades, has proven that scouting and Islamic education can effectively complement one another in building the balanced character of young Muslims.
The fundamental recommendation is a call to Islamic institutes and educational institutions across Arab and Muslim countries to benefit from this pioneering experience, and to work towards integrating the scouting movement into their educational curricula as a compulsory activity.
“Education is the bridge between tradition and modernity, between local wisdom and global understanding. Scouting builds that bridge through action, adventure, and the spirit of brotherhood.” — Dr. H. Sofwan Manaf Mukhayyar
Contact:
sofwanmanaf@darunnajah.ac.id | +62 811-805-905
Website:
www.darunnajah.com | www.darunnajah.ac.id