Jakarta, NU Online
The commemoration of the 88th anniversary of NU held in Jakarta on Friday was littered fully with deep emotions following the death of the supreme leader (Rais Aam) of the organization, KH Sahal Mahfudz (Mbah Sahal).<>

General Chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization KH Said Aqil Siroj (Kang Said) started praying for the late Mbah Sahal, calling on Nahdliyin (NU followers) to always remember the late for his contribution to NU and the nation.

"We are grateful and grieving. (We are grateful for NU has now gotten older, it is already 88 years old. We are grieving for just losing the Rais Aam  KH Muhammad Ahmad Sahal Mahfudz," he said.

Mbah Sahal passed away early on Friday at about 1:15 a.m. at his residence in the Maslakul Huda Islamic boarding school in Kajen, Margoyoso in Pati regency, Central Java.

He was buried at 9 a.m. at the Waliyullah Ahmad Mutamakkin graveyard in Kajen.

Born in Pati on Dec. 17, 1937, Mbah Sahal was also chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

He took over Maslakal Huda in 1967 from his father, Mahfudz Salam.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq