Ministry of Religious Affairs Gathers Ulama and Penghulu at NASUHA Symposium to Strengthen KUA
Through the NASUHA symposium, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is embracing a convergence of thought between structural and cultural religious authorities to strengthen institutional capacity and the quality of family development services amid the dynamics of modern society.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) will hold the National Symposium of Ulama and Penghulu to Strengthen the Resilience of Sakinah and Maslahah Families (NASUHA) on 9-10 September 2026, which will address the strengthening of Religious Affairs Office (KUA) services.
The event will take place at Pondok Buntet Pesantren in Cirebon Regency, West Java, bringing together ulama, penghulu (marriage registrars), academics, researchers and practitioners of Islamic family law to strengthen KUA services and build family resilience in Indonesia.
“Through this NASUHA symposium, the Ministry is embracing a convergence of thought between structural and cultural religious authorities to strengthen institutional capacity and the quality of family development services amid the dynamics of modern society,” said Ahmad Zayadi, Director of KUA Development and Sakinah Family Affairs at the Ministry, in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Zayadi said that KUA offices, together with penghulu and Islamic religious counsellors, are the frontline of the Ministry’s services at the grassroots level. For this reason, NASUHA has been conceived as an instrument for institutional strengthening, as well as a space for collaborative thinking.
“KUA leadership that is increasingly open and competence-based is an important part of service transformation. KUA offices must be able to respond to society’s needs, including mediation, family counselling and support in domestic conflicts, in a more persuasive manner,” he said.
He added that NASUHA also supports the implementation of the Ministry’s Asta Priority Programmes, particularly the strengthening of impactful religious services, family resilience, and the revitalisation of KUA offices as service hubs for the community at the sub-district level.
This aligns with the statement by Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, who affirmed that family resilience is the foundation of national resilience. Therefore, strengthening family development services through KUA offices is an important part of building a resilient society.
The Ministry is opening opportunities for academics, researchers, penghulu, Islamic religious counsellors and practitioners of Islamic family law to submit scholarly articles from 27 July to 25 August 2026 via the email simposium2026@kemenag.go.id.
All articles will be reviewed by an assessment panel from 26-30 August 2026, while the selection and announcement of the ten chosen panellists is scheduled for 31 August to 2 September 2026. The panellists’ works will be refined and published by the Ministry in a Compilation of Thought Book (ISBN-registered Monograph).