Constructing a Tazkiyatun Nafs-Based Model for Developing Students' Spiritual Intelligence through Riyadhoh Amaliah Practices in an Islamic Boarding School

Abstract

Spiritual education in Islamic boarding schools often draws on established devotional practices, yet their relationship to students' spiritual development is not always articulated in an educational model. This study developed and refined a tazkiyatun nafs-based model grounded in the local tradition of performing 100 rak'ahs of voluntary prayer at Al-Lathifiyah 1 Female Pesantren, Tambakberas Jombang. A qualitative Design-Based Research approach involved contextual investigation, model design, expert validation, limited field implementation, and refinement. Participants included three pesantren caregivers, six teachers, and 15 female students. Data were collected through interviews, observation, document analysis, and focus group discussions, and examined through thematic analysis and triangulation. The resulting model relates riyadhoh amaliah to three interconnected processes: takhalli (purification of negative traits), tahalli (cultivation of virtues), and tajalli (deepening of spiritual awareness), supported by sustained habituation and educator mentoring. Expert validation yielded a mean rating of 4.40 out of 5 and informed revisions to the stage boundaries and supporting mechanisms. Field observations and participant accounts indicated the model's contextual relevance for organizing devotional education and understanding reported changes in self-discipline, emotional regulation, and moral behavior. These findings do not establish causal effectiveness. The model offers a context-specific framework for planning, mentoring, and evaluating spiritual education; further evaluation in other settings is required.