Jombang, NU Online
General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Said Aqil Siroj encouraged young people to become entrepreneurs and build a strong middle class economy.<>

"Let's become entrepreneurs, engage in trade in addressing economic needs. Because if a nation in which its people could afford their basic needs, God willing the people are also safe," he said at a meeting in Bahrul Ulum Islamic boarding school (pesantren), Tambakberas Jombang, East Java on Wednesday (25/6).

The man popularly known as Kang Said Said asserted that the trade was not a new thing in the NU and Islam, saying that the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization initiated the so-called Nahdlatul Tujjar in the 1918s.

In the meeting opened by Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Syarif Hasan, Kang Said also gave an example related to the spirit of trade of the Quraysh tribe in which Prophet Muhammad PBUH was born and even his 11th grandfather was known as a successful trader.

"God chose the last prophet of the Quraysh tribe. So there there was no one insulting him for being born of descent which is known to be successful in the field of trade," he said.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq