Dynamics Emerge Ahead of NU Munas-Konbes, Senior Clerics Call for Cancellation of AHWA Changes

A number of senior clerics (masyayikh) and scholars of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) have called for various proposed changes to the selection mechanism for members of the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) to be cancelled ahead of the National Conference of Religious Scholars (Munas Alim Ulama) and the NU Grand Conference (Konbes). The call was made during a gathering of NU senior clerics held at the Al-Falah Ploso Islamic Boarding School in Kediri, East Java, on Saturday (20/6/2026), according to a written statement delivered by PBNU Vice Chairman KH Amin Said Husni. In their appeal, the senior clerics requested that the Munas Alim Ulama and Konbes NU be conducted with full wisdom and not establish material that could potentially diminish the historical, cultural, and spiritual relationship between NU and the scholars and Islamic boarding schools. “The senior clerics request that the regulations regarding the requirements and selection mechanism for Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) members continue to safeguard the character of AHWA as a scholarly forum based on depth of knowledge, moral exemplarity, breadth of service, and scholarly recognition within the Nahdlatul Ulama community,” the appeal stated, as quoted on Saturday (20/6/2026). The senior clerics firmly requested that the proposal to add a requirement for AHWA member candidates to originate from the Syuriyah board and be based on regional representation be cancelled. They also requested that the proposed change to the prohibition on holding concurrent political positions not be pursued.