This study examines the negotiation of religious authority through the dynamics of charismatic communication practiced by nyai (female Islamic leaders) within the public space of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). It responds to the persistent dominance of male-centered religious authority structures and the limited scholarly attention to women’s communicative roles in constructing religious legitimacy. Employing a qualitative case study approach, this research involved 12–15 informants, including a nyai, religious teachers, students, and members of the surrounding community. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis, and were analyzed using thematic analysis.
The findings reveal that the religious authority of nyai is not solely derived from formal or structural positions, but is socially constructed through ongoing practices of charismatic communication embedded in everyday interactions. Religious knowledge serves as the foundation of legitimacy, which is further strengthened through contextual, persuasive, and relational communication strategies. In addition, symbolic representation and moral exemplarity function as key elements in fostering emotional engagement and trust within the community. The pesantren itself operates as a religious public sphere where authority is continuously negotiated through communicative practices and social participation. The study also finds that gender negotiation plays a crucial role, as nyai navigate and transform patriarchal structures through adaptive and performative communication.
Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature by positioning charismatic communication as a central mechanism in the construction of women’s religious authority. It also advances interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of religion, gender, and communication, particularly within the context of contemporary Muslim societies.
Keywords: Charismatic Communication, Religious Authority Nyai, Pesantren, Gender
