This thesis is a study of the traditional Islamic educational institution (ipondok) in Malaysia. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the existing pondok educational system and to suggest changes which need to be introduced in order to make it relevant to the modern needs without thereby compromising the traditional values. The study starts with a brief discussion about the nature of knowledge in Islam. This is followed by a discussion about the origins of the methodology of teaching with an analysis of the terms used in Islamic education, the methodologies of Gabriel and the Prophet. In Chapter Two, discussion pertaining to the theories and practices of the methodology of teaching is presented through examining the various aspects of teaching which could be discerned from the Qur'an and relating them to the practical and customary spheres. Chapter Three presents the influence of traditional Islamic education on the Malays, giving considerable attention to the manners in which the Malays pursued their religious study. Chapter Four attempts to examine the pondok system by studying the daily and educational life of the institution. In Chapter Five a critical analysis of the methodology of the teaching at the pondok is presented along with the recommended changes of which the pondok system as a whole stands in need for its future survival. This is followed by a conclusion, a bibliography and appendices.