Gus Ipul Visits Pesantren to Promote NU Congress

General Secretary of the Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board (PBNU), Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, continued his series of Eid al-Fitr goodwill visits on the fourth day of Lebaran by visiting three founding pesantren of Nahdlatul Ulama in Jombang.

The three pesantren are Pesantren Tebuireng, Pesantren Tambakberas, and Pesantren Denanyar.

The goodwill visits also served as an opportunity to promote and seek prayers of blessing for preparations for the NU Congress planned for August and the National Meeting/Consultative Conference in April this year.

“This goodwill visit is certainly part of our efforts to maintain good relations with the masyayikh and kiai, while seeking prayers of blessing so that all organisational agendas, including preparations for the NU Congress, can run smoothly, bring benefits, and strengthen the jam’iyah,” said Gus Ipul in a written statement on Wednesday (26/3/2026).

Gus Ipul, who also serves as Chairman of the NU Congress Committee, began the series of goodwill visits by paying respects at the residence of KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin) in Ndalem Kesepuhan Tebuireng. On that occasion, he also joined the congregational Maghrib prayer at the main mosque of the pesantren, founded directly by KH Hasyim Asy’ari.

According to him, Tebuireng holds very important historical value for the journey of NU and the Indonesian nation. He described the pesantren’s atmosphere, which still preserves its historical heritage, as an important reminder of the roots of the ulama’s struggle.

“At Tebuireng, we can feel how the values of struggle, exemplary conduct, and the legacy of the founders remain alive. The mosque founded directly by Hadratussyaikh KH Hasyim Asy’ari and still maintained in its originality serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving history and continuing the struggle,” he said.

At Tebuireng, Gus Ipul also met KH Abdul Ghaffar Rozin (Gus Rozin), who was also visiting the pesantren at the time.

From Tebuireng, Gus Ipul continued his journey to Pesantren Tambakberas to meet the masyayikh, including KH Hasib Wahab, KH Achmad Hasan, and KH Abdurrozak Sholeh. The goodwill visit was then continued to Pesantren Denanyar to meet KH Abdussalam Shohib (Gus Salam).

The series of visits concluded with a pilgrimage to the grave of KH Bisri Syansuri, the 3rd Rais Aam of PBNU, and the extended family of Pesantren Denanyar. In the graveyard complex behind the pesantren mosque, there are also the graves of Gus Ipul’s father, KH Ahmad Yusuf Cholil, and Muhaimin Iskandar’s father, KH Muhammad Iskandar.

Gus Ipul stated that the goodwill visits and pilgrimages to the founding pesantren of NU are not merely Lebaran traditions, but part of efforts to maintain the chain of knowledge, struggle, and unity within Nahdlatul Ulama.

“These founding pesantren of NU are the wellsprings of exemplary conduct. It is from these places that we learn about sincerity, devotion, and responsibility to continue safeguarding NU so that it remains beneficial to the ummah, the nation, and the state,” he concluded.