Continue KH Said Program, PBNU Era Gus Yahya Builds 100 Mosques In Indonesia In Cooperation With Qatar

Mosque illustration (Photo by Usama Sher Khan on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board will build 100 mosques and 10 hospitals in Indonesia. The first mosque to be built is planned to be around the National Capital City (IKN) of the Archipelago, East Kalimantan.

The construction of this mosque and hospital is a collaboration between PBNU and the Royal Qatari Humanitarian Fund, Qilaa Group (Insania Humanitarian Funds). PBNU and Qilaa Group previously signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Islamic University of Malang (Unisma), 5 December 2021 ago.

At that time, the cooperation was signed by the General Chairperson of the 2015-2021 PBNU, KH Said Aqil Siroj, with the Secretary General of the Qatar Royal Family Council as well as the Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Qatari Kingdom's Humanitarian Fund, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abdurrahman Hassan al-Thani.

"We have a responsibility to continue what has been the decision of the previous management," said PBNU Chairman H Amin Said Husni, representing the Chairman of PBNU KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya), when receiving a visit from Qilaa Group Indonesia representatives, in the meeting room on the 5th floor of the Building PBNU Jakarta, Friday 11 March.

He also immediately reported the results of the meeting to Gus Yahya. Then, the two sides followed up by making a cooperation agreement that would be signed by Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Thani and Gus Yahya. Sheikh Abdul Aziz is scheduled to come to Indonesia on March 20, 2022.

"We will report it to the General Chair, including the proposal to build a mosque at IKN. Because of its location near the PBNU office, this will be discussed immediately and the process is finalized. With the proposal to build a mosque that will be assisted by Sheikh al-Thani, this is interesting, "added Amin Said as quoted from NU Online.

PBNU will also soon form a working team and prepare the location. This is because the management of mosques and hospitals will be fully handed over to PBNU.

"The number of 100 mosques and 10 hospitals is not an easy job. Because we have to prepare the location, so that it becomes part of the plan that we have to make, "explained Amin Said.

Qilaa Group Indonesia representative M Taufik Hidayat said the collaboration with PBNU to build 100 mosques and 10 hospitals in Indonesia was Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Thani's wish for NU to become an independent Islamic organization. The construction of a mosque near the IKN Nusantara location was immediately proposed to Sheikh Abdul Aziz when he arrived in Indonesia.

"Please make a technical team immediately so that they can draw up a cooperation agreement before he (Syekh Abdul Aziz) comes, so that they know the size of the mosque in each region. If possible, later the mosque at IKN will have an Islamic Center. Regarding the design of the mosque, it can be adapted to each region, so that local wisdom can be seen," explained Taufik.