NU calls for 'back to pesantren'

Sleman, NU Online
Back to Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) is a matter that should be raised because in the country's most traditional educational institutions there are Islamic clerics (kiai) who are on the frontline.<>

Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Prof Dr Maksum Mahfudz made the remaks on the side lines of a meeting at the Nahdlatul Ulama Elementary School (SDNU) building, Jl. Ringroad Barat, Nogotirto, Gamping, Sleman, Yogyakarta on Saturday (31/08).

Prof Maksum said that the ulama (Islamic scholars) and kiai never said inni Khairun minhu, which means 'I am better than him'." Unlike the devils who proudly say inni Khairun minhu, when commanded by God to prostrate to Adam.

He continued that the kiai are the source of all inspiration.

"All the inspiration come from the Kiai. They have vast treasures of knowledge, ranging from such matters as wudlu (ablution), marriage, Buyu' (buying and selling), and constitutional (system)," he said.

Additionally, the professor of the Gajah Mada University also stressed that ideological crisis had currently occurred in NU. "This ideological crisis must (soon) be built and repaired," he said.

Meanwhile, chairman of lawmaking council (rais syuriyah) of the Yogyakarts's Regional Board of NU KH Asyhari Abta also called for the importance of husbands and wives, students and teachers, and children to parents to have good moral and characters to build and cultivate their relationships.

"There is a character having been built by Hadratussyaikh KH Hasyim Asy'ari, called mabadi' khaira ummah (the principles of building the ummah), the morality of nationality. Therefore, in terms of ideology, NU should be in the middle, not to the right that anything is forbidden, nor to the left that anything is allowed," he said.

Reporting by Dwi Khoirotun Nisa'; Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq