Ministry of Religious Affairs: The Spirit of Kiai Wahab Hasbullah Remains Relevant in Strengthening Islamic Boarding Schools and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has affirmed the importance of reviving the spirit of KH. Abdul Wahab Hasbullah as a foundation for strengthening religious moderation, transforming Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), and reinforcing national unity amidst current socio-religious challenges.
The affirmation was made during a book review event on KH. Abdul Wahab Hasbullah: Founder of NU, Driver of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, themed ‘The Mastermind of Movement: Unveiling the Art of Inclusive Leadership and the Dialectics of Moderation’, held at UIN Jurai Siwo Lampung on Saturday, 16 May 2026.
The event served as a platform for reflection to revive the thoughts and struggles of Kiai Wahab Hasbullah as one of the important figures who founded Nahdlatul Ulama and also drove Indonesian nationalism.
The Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, who attended via video conference, said that pesantren are authentic Indonesian educational institutions that have stood the test of time and play a strategic role in maintaining national morality and producing leaders with nationalist and Islamic values.
In his speech, Nasaruddin stated that the government is currently strengthening pesantren institutions through the transformation of the Directorate General of Pesantren within the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
According to him, this step is being taken so that pesantren not only serve as a moral fortress but also develop as centres of innovation, economic empowerment for the community, and educational institutions capable of competing globally.
‘If in the past KH. Abdul Wahab Hasbullah used organisations and diplomacy to safeguard the nation, then today we must use science and technology to maintain national sovereignty and human dignity,’ said Nasaruddin Umar.
He also emphasised the importance of emulating the thoughts and struggles of Kiai Wahab Hasbullah in building moderate Islamic education that is adaptive and relevant to current developments.
The Director of Pesantren at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Basnang Said, said that the history of Indonesia’s struggle cannot be separated from the contributions of pesantren and great figures such as Kiai Wahab Hasbullah.
‘When talking about Indonesia and pesantren, it is incomplete if we do not talk about Kiai Wahab Hasbullah. He was not only a founder of an organisation but also a national figure who maintained Indonesian unity through a moderate religious approach,’ said Basnang Said.
According to Basnang, the legacy of Kiai Wahab’s thoughts remains highly relevant in facing the challenges of intolerance, violence and social fragmentation in Indonesia today.