KH Zulfa Mustofa Launches 'Ithafu Ummati Al Muqtafa' to Preserve Indonesia's Islamic Scholarly Tradition

Wakil Ketua Umum Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), KH. Zulfa Mustofa, will launch and discuss his new book, ‘Ithafu Ummati Al Muqtafa’, on Friday, 10 July 2026, at 7:00 PM WIB in the Sakinah Hall of the Sunda Kelapa Mosque, Menteng, Central Jakarta. The event, titled ‘Launching & Bedah Kitab Ithafu Ummati Al Muqtafa - A Gift for the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW’, serves as a momentum to revive the intellectual tradition of ulama, particularly the tradition of writing books within Nahdlatul Ulama, pesantren, Islamic universities, and religious institutions. The book launch takes place ahead of the PBNU Congress, amidst growing public attention on the direction of leadership, the future of Islamic scholarship, and the strategic role of Nahdlatul Ulama in addressing the challenges facing the ummah, the nation, and Indonesian Islamic civilisation. KH Zulfa Mustofa invited ulama, kiai, academics, and the pesantren community to revive the tradition of writing books as part of an effort to maintain the continuity of knowledge and build Islamic civilisation. He noted that from the early days of Islam to its development in the Nusantara, the progress of civilisation was supported not only by the emergence of pious and moral ulama but also by the scholarly works they left behind. The books of the ulama became a bridge connecting knowledge across generations, remaining alive hundreds of years after their authors passed away. ‘The tradition of the ulama is the tradition of knowledge. And the tradition of knowledge will not be strong without the tradition of writing. That is why the ulama of the past not only educated students but also left behind books as an intellectual legacy for the ummah,’ said Kiai Zulfa. He stated that while pesantren have long been known as centres for transmitting Islamic sciences through the study of classical texts, they must also continue to produce new works in response to the developments of the times and the dynamics of community life. He believes the challenges facing the ummah today are increasingly complex, ranging from technological developments and social changes to national and humanitarian issues, all of which require scholarly answers born from ulama who understand tradition while being able to read reality. ‘It is indeed important and necessary for us to read, recite, and study the books of past ulama. But ulama also have a moral responsibility to produce works that can become references for future generations. That is how the relay of knowledge continues,’ Kiai Zulfa said. The launch of ‘Ithafu Ummati Al Muqtafa’ also affirms that the scholarly tradition of Nahdlatul Ulama must not stop at teaching and recitation alone, but must continue to evolve into a tradition of knowledge production, book writing, and the strengthening of Indonesian Islamic literacy. He stressed that writing a book is not merely an academic activity, but part of da’wah and service to the ummah. Through written works, knowledge can continue to be inherited, studied, developed, and reach communities far beyond the limits of space and time. In KH Zulfa’s view, history shows that great ulama are remembered not only for the breadth of their knowledge or the number of students they had, but also for the works they left behind. Books serve as proof of scholarly authority as well as an intellectual trail that continues to provide benefits across ages. ‘A lecture can move hearts in its time. But a book keeps knowledge alive throughout the ages. Therefore, every ulama needs to have the spirit to leave behind a work as part of a continuous charity of knowledge,’ he said. KH Zulfa hopes the spirit of producing Islamic works will grow again within Nahdlatul Ulama circles, whether in pesantren, universities, or bahtsul masail institutions. He believes the tradition of reading must go hand in hand with the tradition of writing so that the treasures of Indonesian Islamic scholarship continue to develop and contribute to the world. This idea forms the background for the birth of the book ‘Ithafu Ummati Al Muqtafa’, which is expected to enrich Indonesian Islamic literacy through a work rooted in scholarly chains of transmission, responsive to the challenges of the times, and firmly grounded in the pesantren scholarly tradition. The launch and discussion event will be attended by ulama, kiai, academics, santri, community leaders, and Nahdliyin members, and will be moderated by Gus Miftah.