Kyai

A Kyai (key-eye) is an expert in islam. The word is of Javanese origin, and is sometimes spelled kiai. Traditionally, students of Islam in Indonesia would study in a boarding school known as a pesantren. The leader of the school was called kyai, as a form of respect. The traditional word for a teacher in Islam is ustad, which is an Arabic word. There are many ustads in Indonesia who teach the religion, but most of them do not have a boarding school.