Ansor Echoes Spirit of Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 11: Change Begins with Oneself

The spirit of change contained in Surah Ar-Ra’d verse 11 was one of the main messages at the Gerakan Pemuda (GP) Ansor’s 11th National Leadership Training (PKN) in 2026. The message was delivered by GP Ansor Chairman Aminuddin Ma’ruf while speaking at the cadre development event held at the Bumi Sholawat Progresif Islamic Boarding School in Sidoarjo, East Java. Aminuddin stressed that any major transformation must begin with a change in the mindset, integrity, and vision of its actors. According to him, this message aligns with the word of God in Surah Ar-Ra’d verse 11: ‘Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.’ ‘A large organisation must not get trapped in internal bureaucratic complexities that obscure its main mandate. The same applies to GP Ansor,’ said Aminuddin in a written statement received on Monday. The Deputy Minister for State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) cited the transformation within the SOE environment through structural simplification as an example. The SOE portfolio was streamlined from 1,074 entities to approximately 281 entities by 2026 to make governance more effective and efficient. Meanwhile, GP Ansor Chairman Addin Jauharudin explained that cadre development is the organisation’s main anchor for producing leaders capable of answering the challenges of the times. He stated that Ansor must be an organisation that continuously generates ideas and innovations, not merely one that runs routines. ‘Ansor is an open house, we can realise any dream. An organisation is a place where hopes gather. Going forward, all of Ansor’s instruments and structures must be present with new capabilities,’ said Addin. He assessed that future challenges will be increasingly difficult. Indonesia, he said, will face social changes that give rise to a society without values and even a society without organisations. Therefore, a leader must be able to move people through ideas and works. ‘How do we move people with our ideas and works, even without us moving physically? A leader is a leader of ideas,’ he said. Addin also encouraged the improvement of human resources as the foundation for the organisation’s economic progress. He instructed all GP Ansor structures to independently build training schools to produce skilled workers and create jobs. ‘There should be no idle land or unemployed people. All assets must be managed optimally. That is the function of leadership,’ he said. The 11th PKN GP Ansor was held from 6 to 12 July 2026, featuring various figures, technocrats, professionals, and three professors from several universities. The series of cadre development events concluded at the Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang with a pilgrimage to the tomb of KH Wahab Hasbullah, the founder of GP Ansor and one of the founders of Nahdlatul Ulama. The location will also host the 35th NU Congress on 27-31 August 2026. According to Addin, the closing in Tambakberas serves as a reminder for Ansor cadres to emulate the fighting spirit of KH Wahab Hasbullah in building the organisation and serving the community. ‘Mbah Wahab, besides being the founder of NU, is also the founder of Ansor. His great hope is that Ansor will become a driving force for the organisation, following his example. In addition, it is our responsibility, Ansor Banser, to ensure the congress runs safely and successfully,’ Addin explained.