Hasyim: Indonesia loses its greatest son

Jakarta, NU Online
Former General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization KH Hasyim Muzadi said that Indonesia had lost its greatest son, a statesman, KH Sahal Mahfudz (kiai Sahal), Rais Aam (the Supreme Leader) of NU.<>

"The death of KH Sahal Mahfudz is a great loss for NU, the ummah (people), and Indonesia," Hasyim said here on Friday .

Hasyim who for 10 years led NU along with Kiai Sahal said as the supreme leader of NU, Kiai Sahal was a figure who consistently maintain the (1926) NU khittah (original principles).

"He always said that NU should be in high politics not low (practical) politics," he said, adding that politics was a consequence of the Nahliyin (NU flollowers) citizenship rights.

The leader of Al - Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Malang and Depok added, Kiai Sahal was an Islamic jurisprudence expert, thus bringing forth social jurisprudence. 

Due to his capacity in the field, the Jakarta's Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University granted him  an honorary degree called "doctor honoris causa" (Dr. h.c.).

"This is the cause making his Islamic legal thought strong, because he bases his thought mainly on manhaj (methodology) rather than qouly (verbal expression)," said the Secretary General of the International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS).

As a statesman, said Hasyim, the Kiai Sahal's concept about the relationship between religion and state was very clear, namely inclusive-substantive, so that it could ensure the implementation of state without facing to face with religion, and vice versa.

"His thoughts are moderate, not extreme nor liberal.  As a leader, he has always warmly served anybody with a breadth of mind and thought, unifying, and polite."

Kiai Sahal died early on Friday at his house in the Islamic boarding school Maslakul Huda complex in Pati district, Central Java.

He was buried at 9 a.m. on Friday, according to the website of the Islamic organization. He was 76.

Sulthan Fatoni, the deputy secretary general of NU, said that Sahal was buried at the Waliyullah Mbah Mutakkin cemetery.

He said the organization has instructed its members to pray for Sahal.

“In An Nahdlah [The NU building in Jakarta], a prayer for the deceased will be conducted for seven days in a row,” Sulthan said.

Sahal was born in Dec. 17, 1937 and had been long suffering from a lung disease. He spent two weeks at the hospital’s intensive care unit before he died. He was allowed to leave the hospital as he showed signs of improvement, but three days after he left the hospital, his condition deteriorated.

When he was young, Sahal was a teacher at the Mathali boarding school. In 1963, he led his father’s boarding school, called Maslakul Huda.

He was also an active writer of Islamic jurisprudence.

Prior to his death, he attained the highest position within NU and was made its spiritual leader in 1999. He was also chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI).

NU, a traditionalist Sunni Islam group, is the country’s largest Islamic organization and counts 30 million members across Indonesia.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq