NU's Elder Kiai: It Is Better to Support Iran Than America
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SITUBONDO – The stance of some Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) adherents who declare support for Iran amid the escalating US–Israel–Iran conflict has sparked debate. Some question whether backing Iran would cause someone to depart from the manhaj Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah (Aswaja) An-Nahdliyah?
In response to the confusion, KH Afifuddin Muhajir, the deputy head of the Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Situbondo boarding school, gave an explanation in a study uploaded to Ma’had Aly Situbondo’s Instagram account.
The question arose after a NU MWC (Majelis Wakil Cabang) official was described as questioning the NU-ness of someone who openly supported Iran. Yet the person was known to be familiar with NU’s practices and literature. However, when Iran struck, he was said to be among the loudest supporters.
“Is he still Aswaja An-Nahdliyah or has he become Shi’ah?” this was the essence of the question raised in the forum.
Responding to this, Kiai Afif provided an answer emphasising the importance of looking at the scale of priorities in confronting global conflict.
“Rather than supporting America, it’s better to support Iran,” Kiai Afif was quoted as saying in a video also uploaded to his personal Instagram account on Wednesday (4/3/2026).
The senior NU cleric then explained the notions of “great enemy” and “small enemy” in reading the dynamics of resistance and conflict. According to him, there may indeed be theological differences with Shi’ah that have long been a point of debate in Islamic scholarship. However, in facing threats deemed larger, cooperation within certain bounds is possible.
“Perhaps we are at odds with Shi’ah, but the enemy in a certain sense is the same. Yet when facing the greater enemy, we can join with Shi’ah to confront that greater enemy, right?” said the Deputy Rais Aam (leader) of PBNU.
To strengthen his argument, Kiai Afif cited the stance of a great scholar, Imam Al-Ghazali. He explained that Al-Ghazali was known for harshly criticising Mu’tazilah in theological matters. However, when confronted with a philosophical current deemed more dangerous to the umat’s aqidah, Al-Ghazali complemented Mu’tazilah to face the philosophers.
“Meaning philosophers are more dangerous than Mu’tazilah, just as America is more dangerous than Shi’ah,” said the student of National Hero KHR As’ad Syamsul Arifin.
With this analogy, Kiai Afif asserted that political stance in a geopolitical context does not automatically alter a person’s theological identity. Support for Iran in the context of opposing the United States, in his view, does not automatically cause someone to leave the ranks of Aswaja An-Nahdliyah.
“No problem,” he asserted.