Rembang, NU Online
Deputy General Chairman of the Advisory Board (Rais Aam) of Nahdlatul Ulama, KH A Mustofa Bisri (Gus Mus) said that clerics (kiai) and Muslim scholars (ulema) in Indonesia were essentially the same for devoting themselves to the ummah (people), in teaching and guiding their students (santri) and followers.<>

According to him, NU has two prominent ulema, KH Wahab Chasbullah and KH Bisri Syansuri capable of 'translating' the statement made by Hadrat Ali which reads "a well organized lie defeats a disorganized truth", saying both could brilliantly organize all ulema and kiai.

Gus Mus said, if a lie could be well organized, a truth must also be well organized. At this point, Gus Mus said all of the ulema and kiai could be accomodated through an organization (Jam'iyyah). 

Oh the sidelines of the Regional Meeting of NU Male and Female Students Association (IPNU/IPPNU) held at the Rembang's Raudlatut Thalibin Islamic boarding school, Gus Mus said that in the body of NU, there were two entities, namely the followers (jama'ah) and organization (jam'iyyah). The jama'ah is such a content, and Jam'iyah is a container. The jama'ah is supposed to be melting when  Jam'iyah. 

According to Gus Mus, those who could bridge between the traditional followers and modern Jam'iyah were KH Mahfud Sidiqand KH Wahid Hasyim, the father of KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) until 1955. Following the NU involvement in the national political area, there was no their successors.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq