Ma'ruf Amin Launches Book Attended by Prospective PBNU Chairman Candidates
Former Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin launched a book titled Fikroh, Manhaj, dan Harakah Nahdhiyyah dalam Perspektif KH Ma’ruf Amin at the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta. The book is the latest work written by the Mustasyar of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU).
Several figures tipped to contest the election for General Chairman of PBNU at the 35th NU Congress attended the launch.
“Besides the General Chairman, many prospective general chairmen were also present. Some have been announced, some have declared, and some have not yet declared. I would like to express my thanks,” said Kiai Ma’ruf in his statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
Among the figures mentioned as potential candidates for the chairmanship were Deputy General Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH Marsudi Syuhud, General Chairman of PBNU KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya), Minister of Religious Affairs KH Nasaruddin Umar, Chairman of the East Java PWNU KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin), caretaker of API Tegalrejo Islamic Boarding School KH Muhammad Yusuf Chudlori (Gus Yusuf), and caretaker of Bina Insan Mulia Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon KH Imam Jazuli.
Kiai Ma’ruf emphasised that the book examines the three main pillars of Nahdlatul Ulama: fikroh (way of thinking), manhaj (method), and harakah (movement).
According to him, the book was born out of his concern about religious practices that are often carried out merely as tradition (amaliyah) without being accompanied by a complete understanding of the organisation’s direction of struggle.
In his introduction, he stressed that NU must not be understood merely as an administrative organisation. NU is a living system.
“Do not let NU be released without direction, without irsyadat (guidance), without taujihat (instruction),” he said.
According to him, the Nahdlatul Ulama movement must be carried out through three main functions: himayah (protecting), ishlah (improving), and taqwiyah (strengthening). These three functions are applied in the fields of religion (harakah diniyyah), nationhood (harakah wathaniyyah), and economy (harakah iqtishadiyyah).
Echoing Kiai Ma’ruf, Deputy General Chairman of MUI KH Marsudi Syuhud said that one’s life journey and positions within an organisation must not simply pass without leaving behind works that have a positive impact.
“The most important thing in life is to have a legacy, or as the kiai call it, amal saleh (righteous deeds). Amal saleh, when left behind, even after we have passed away, will continue to be remembered and provide benefit,” said Kiai Marsudi.
He assessed that all the ideas and thoughts of KH Ma’ruf Amin expressed in his latest work are highly relevant, timely, and represent an important momentum for renewing Nahdlatul Ulama as it enters its second century.
Kiai Marsudi explained that Kiai Ma’ruf is a distinguished thinker whose ideas are able to pass through a long process until they become a real movement within society.
“(The originator of ideas) will rise in rank. After Kiai Ma’ruf’s thoughts and sentences are formed, they are considered by many people. Over time, people will focus, and then it becomes a passion,” he said.
He explained that when these ideas are collectively internalised, they will shape the behaviour of the movement, which becomes cohesive and produces tangible results. According to him, Kiai Ma’ruf is a complete example of a scholar-thinker whose thoughts have proven to yield concrete results for the ummah and the nation.