NU Syuriah Leader: Guru Tua as Inspiration for Education and Da'wah in the Archipelago

This demonstrates an attitude of mutual respect and honour, including towards figures from interfaith backgrounds. Palu (ANTARA) - Rais Syuriah of the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), Prof Zainal Abidin, stated that the contributions and legacy of struggle of Sayyid Idrus bin Salim Aljufri, or Guru Tua, serve as inspiration in developing Islamic education and da’wah in the archipelago. “The founder of the Alkhairaat Foundation (Guru Tua) needs to be emulated in building the ummah. His contributions in the field of Islamic education have had a positive impact on educational development in eastern Indonesia,” said Zainal Abidin in Palu on Wednesday. He assessed Guru Tua as a figure who was patient and diligent in nurturing, educating, and teaching his students. Such high dedication forms a strong foundation in producing generations that are knowledgeable and of good character. According to him, Guru Tua’s sincerity in developing education and da’wah amidst society deserves to be emulated, because that struggle not only focuses on aspects of knowledge but also touches on social and humanitarian values. “Sayyid Idrus greatly respected and honoured local culture and wisdom, then adapted it with Islamic teachings. If something is found that contradicts Islamic values, it is corrected in a wise manner,” said Zainal, who is also Chairman of the Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB) of Central Sulawesi. He explained that Guru Tua’s tolerant attitude towards various groups was also very prominent. In fact, in the educational practices at Alkhairaat, that Islamic education figure once appointed a non-Muslim algebra (mathematics) teacher to teach, and routinely inquired about the progress of the learning process in class. Abnaul Khairaat needs to actualise the positive values left by the Guru Tua figure in advancing education and da’wah. “The legacy of Guru Tua’s thoughts and struggles remains alive to this day and serves as a guide for successor generations in building a civilisation that is knowledgeable, tolerant, and of noble character,” he stated.