Gontor lodge was established on 10 April 1926 in Ponorogo, East Java by three brothers son Kyai Santoso Anom Besari. These are the three brothers Ahmad Sahal KH, KH Zainuddin Fananie, and KH Imam Zarkasy later known as the Trimurti.
At that time the schools are placed outside the line of modernization, the students are considered public schools by clever about religion but blind to common knowledge. Trimurti then apply the new format and set up a cottage Gontor to retain some of the salaf pesantren tradition and change schools using teaching methods watonan system (bulk) and sorogan (individual) is replaced with classics such as the public school system. At first hut has just Gontor Tarbiyatul Atfhfal (kindergarten level) and then increased with the establishment of Al-Islamiah Kulliyatul Mu’alimin (KMI) is equivalent to high school graduates. Maisonette in 1963 founded the Institute of Islamic Studies Gontor Darussalam (ISID).
Gontor boarding school run by the Waqf Board consisting of leaders and prominent alumni of schools who care about Islam as a determinant of boarding school policies and for implementation was undertaken by the three leaders Pondok (Kyai) is KH Hasan Abdullah Sahal (Son KH Ahmad Sahal). Dr. KH Abdullah Shukri Zarkasy (son of Imam Zarkasy KH) and KH Abdan Syamsul Hadi, S.Ag. Management tradition by three caretakers, continuing the pattern of Trimurti (Founder).At the Madison event in 1948 when Muso has ruled the residency of Madiun (Madiun, Ponorogo Magetan, Pacitan and Ngawi) and killed many religious leaders, at which time TNI has been disabled by the PKI, Gontor boarding school closed and students and to move away ustadnya Muso troops from the pursuit. KH Ahmad Sahal (late) survived in hiding in a cave in the mountain area Mlarak. The cave is now called the Cave of Ahmad Sahal. Islamic School of Education activities resumed after a normal condition.Modern views KH Ahmad Sahal, as the founder of the Trinity and the second oldest brother is Zainudin Fanani KH and KH Imam Zarkasy also manifested in sending their children other than in religious schools (pesantren) also in the public schools. Drs. H. Syaifullah Sahal Ali (late) Philosophy of GMU alumnus and a University in Australia, a lecturer in IKIP Malang; Dra. Hj. Sahal Rukayah Training College lecturer (UMJ) Jakarta, etc..
