KH Zulfa Mustofa Responds to Calls for His Candidacy as PBNU Chairman

Wakil Ketua Umum Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), KH Zulfa Mustofa, has responded to calls for his candidacy in the upcoming PBNU chairmanship election. He stated that if the request comes from branch and regional administrators, he cannot refuse it. “If that is the request from the branch and regional administrators, I cannot say no,” KH Zulfa said during a press conference following the launch and discussion of his book, Ithafu Ummati Al Muqtafa, at the Sunda Kelapa Mosque, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Friday night.

KH Zulfa emphasised that the leadership succession process within NU must be placed as part of an effort to safeguard the dignity, unity, and future of the organisation. He noted that leadership in NU is not merely about holding a structural position but carries a significant responsibility to preserve traditions, guide the community, and ensure NU remains a moral compass for the nation.

Meanwhile, KH Abdullah Syamsul Arifin, Chairman of the PBNU Dakwah Institute, revealed that aspirations for KH Zulfa to run for the top post are increasingly being voiced by various regional and branch administrators. “He is seen as an icon of change within NU,” Kiai Abdullah said.

The 35th NU Muktamar is scheduled to be held at the Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java, in August 2026. During the book launch event, KH Zulfa also stressed the importance of reviving the scholarly tradition of writing among ulama and the younger generation of pesantren, moving beyond oral transmission of knowledge. His new work, Ithafu Ummati Al Muqtafa, contains four books covering fiqh, ushul fiqh, and a biography of Syekh Nawawi al-Bantani.