East Java PWNU proposes Aswaja Center NU become an official institution
The East Java Regional Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU) has proposed that Aswaja Center NU become one of the institutions within Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) through the 35th NU Congress at Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java.
The proposal was delivered by East Java Aswaja Center NU Coordinator K.H. Ma’ruf Khozin and East Java PWNU Deputy Chairman K.H. Balya Firjaun Barlaman during the National Gathering (Silatnas) of Aswaja Center NU at the Jami’ Mosque of Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang on Saturday.
“Clearly, East Java PWNU has had an Aswaja Center NU working group since 2011 and several branches also already have one. This is in line with the value of Aswaja as the spirit of NU,” said K.H. Ma’ruf Khozin in his statement in Jombang.
Meanwhile, East Java PWNU Deputy Chairman K.H. Balya Firjaun Barlaman said that the principle of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (Aswaja) cannot be separated from the three principles of Islam, namely faith, Islam, and ihsan, which were taught by the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad.
“These three principles are applied by NU in the triad of teachings of KH Hasyim Asy’ari, namely creed, sharia, and Sufism,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Aswaja Center PWNU East Java K.H. Faris Khoirul Anam, who was also present, said that Aswaja has the characteristics of tawassuth, tawazzun, i’tidal, and tasamuh, which can serve as an approach in resolving various problems in society.
“Aswaja is knowledge and a mentality or character that is a problem solver, for example with qiyas as a middle way,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Network of Writers and Literacy Activists (JPPL) together with the Institute for Publication and Dissemination (LTN) of East Java PWNU have formulated a document-based history book as a contextualisation of the existing NU history books.
The activity was also attended by envoys and delegates of Aswaja Center NU from a number of regions, including East Java, Makassar, Gorontalo, and West Java. During the event, K.H. Ma’ruf Khozin also launched the “Aswaja NU Master Book”.
The book contains the three principles of Aswaja, arguments regarding Yasin, tahlil, tawassul and haul, as well as the history of NU which records the roles of KH Abdul Wahab Hasbullah, KH Ridlwan Abdullah, and KH Mas Alwi Abdul Aziz.
In addition, at the 35th NU Congress arena, the Nahdlatut Turots community also held an exhibition of around 2,000 turots, or manuscripts left by ulama and classical Islamic works. Some of the collection has undergone a digitalisation process.