35th NU Congress Should Choose Rais Aam Based on Scholarship, Not Politics

SURABAYA - Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Young Figure, HRM Khalilur R. Abdullah Sahlawiy or Gus Lilur, considers that the 35th NU Congress, which is scheduled to take place in August 2026, will be an important momentum for the organization to enter the second century of its journey. According to him, the forum not only determines the new leadership, but also the direction of NU's future.

Gus Lilur said that the fundamental question that should be answered in the muktamar is not merely about who will be elected as Rais Aam PBNU, but rather who is the figure who truly meets the criteria as the highest religious leader in the Nahdlatul Ulama environment.

"The 35th Muktamar is not an ordinary muktamar. This is the first NU muktamar in the second century. Therefore, what must be answered is not only who is chosen, but who is indeed worthy of being Rais Aam," said Gus Lilur in a written statement, Monday, July 6.

According to him, the position of Rais Aam cannot be understood only as a structural position in the organization. He emphasized that NU was established from the beginning as a diniyyah jam'iyyah, namely a religious organization that became a container for the tradition of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah which had developed long before NU was established in 1926.

"Rais Aam is not just the head of an organization. He is the imam for the religious tradition that millions of Nahdliyin citizens practice. Therefore, the standard used should not be merely a political consideration," he said.

Gus Lilur explained that NU was built on three main pillars, namely the mazhab-based fiqh, the Asy'ariyah-Maturidiyah creed, and the tasawwuf of Imam Al-Ghazali and Imam Al-Junaid Al-Baghdadi. According to him, a Rais Aam must have a deep mastery of these three aspects.

In addition to mastering religious knowledge, he assessed that the candidate for Rais Aam must also have integrity which is reflected in the principle of Mabadi Khaira Ummah, such as honesty, trust, justice, mutual help, and consistency.

"The founders of NU have set high standards of integrity. These values must first be attached to the highest leaders of the organization," he said.

Gus Lilur also reminded that NU had experienced a long experience in practical politics before finally returning to Khittah 1926 at the Situbondo Congress in 1984.

According to him, the decision to return to Khittah is a confirmation that NU must maintain a distance from power politics and continue to carry out its role as a religious and community organization.

"Rais Aam must be the guard of Khittah. He must be able to ensure that NU does not become the political vehicle of anyone, including his own interests," he said.

In his view, history has provided a clear measure of the figure who deserves to occupy the Rais Aam chair. Gus Lilur mentioned the three founding figures of NU who had led the organization, namely Hadratussyekh KH M. Hasyim Asy'ari, KH Abdul Wahab Chasbullah, and KH Bisri Syansuri.

According to him, the three ulama have similarities in four main aspects, namely the depth of religious knowledge which is widely recognized, the real work which is still felt until now, a great role for the community and nation, and an example in daily life.

"Their authority is born from knowledge and dedication, not because of their position. The position actually comes to them because of the quality of their ulama," said Gus Lilur.

He added that the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) system used to choose the Rais Aam was also designed so that the selection process remained oriented towards the quality of the clergy, not just political contests.

According to him, AHWA members must meet the requirements as scholars who are knowledgeable, fair, have integrity, tawadhu, wara', and zuhud as regulated in the NU Articles of Association and House of Representatives.

Ahead of the 35th Congress, Gus Lilur also highlighted the emergence of nine names of ulama who are said to be members of AHWA. Among them are KH Nurul Huda Djazuli, KH Abdullah Kafabihi Mahrus, KH Ahmad Mustofa Bisri, KH Ma'ruf Amin, KH Said Aqil Siroj, Tgk H. Nuruzzahri Yahya, KH Ali Kholil, TGH Turmudzi Badruddin, and KH Asep Saifuddin Chalim.

He assessed that the composition reflects the diversity of ulama from various regions and scientific backgrounds who have a long track record in education, preaching, and dedication to NU.

"For me, this is the face of AHWA as desired by the AD/ART NU, namely a gathering of scholars who have knowledge, exemplary, and moral integrity to determine who is most worthy of being Rais Aam," he said.

Gus Lilur hopes that all muktamirin will make the track record of the founders of NU as a benchmark in determining the organization's leader at the 35th Muktamar.

"The Rais Aam chair is a great trust. Therefore, every candidate must be measured by the depth of his knowledge, the work he left behind, his dedication to the community, and his example. NU history has shown that becoming a Rais Aam is not for everyone," said Gus Lilur.