Towards the 35th NU Congress: For Indonesia and World Civilisation
Internal dynamics within Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) are heating up ahead of the 35th Congress, scheduled to take place in August 2026. The leadership contest this time has begun to reveal patterns of candidate pairs between the General Chairman and the Rais Aam, involving incumbent powers and political networks.
The 35th NU Congress is predicted to be the most vibrant congress yet, as several factions possess balanced strength and extensive networks. Nevertheless, as an organisation of the revival of scholars, NU must maintain a peaceful and conducive atmosphere during the leadership succession process, which is expected to lead to the greatness and integrity of NU, rather than its decline.
Many organisations fail to endure long-term due to internal differences in views or factions. However, this is not the case for NU. NU has been able to grow and develop through several storms since its founding, strengthening its influence and stability despite various challenges.
In the context of the nation-state, NU serves as one of the primary pillars in protecting the Indonesian nation from various threats attempting to undermine the Pancasila ideology. In the history of the nation’s struggle, the spirit of nationalism and patriotism ignited by Hadratus Syekh through the Jihad Resolution was able to mobilise the Indonesian people to expel colonisers and achieve independence.
An Unshakeable Pillar of the Nation
NU’s struggle within the nation’s history is indisputable. Scholars and students (santri) have been at the forefront of the national struggle, notably the Jihad Resolution on 22 October 1945, which was later established as National Santri Day via Presidential Decree No. 22 of 2015. This historic event signifies that NU and other national elements have bequeathed a precious treasure: a free Indonesia, fought for with a spirit of selfless sincerity.
In subsequent eras, from the Old Order and New Order to the current Reformation era, NU has continued to play a role on both national and international stages. Nationally, it has established thousands of pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) and madrasahs, hundreds of hospitals, and universities. Internationally, NU has demonstrated ‘Islam Rahmatan lil ’Alamin’ (Islam as a blessing for the universe), reflecting Indonesia’s moderate face as the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
The Reformation era saw a significant leap with the mandate of KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) as President of Indonesia. Although not a formal institutional representation of NU, it is widely known that Gus Dur had been the General Chairman of PBNU since the 1984 Situbondo Congress. He was followed by another NU figure, KH Makruf Amin, who served as Vice President of Indonesia for the 2019-2024 period.
Modern Challenges for NU
Among the reasons for the birth of NU was the need to shield the Muslim community from Wahhabi influences at the time. In subsequent ideological struggles following independence, NU has been able to defend the Pancasila ideology and protect against attacks from left-wing ideologies like communism and right-wing ideologies like radicalism. This was achieved through the strengthening of Ahlussunnah Waljamah (Aswaja) as a thinking paradigm, the strength of pesantren and madrasahs, regeneration, and cultural movements.
Slowly but surely, although left and right-wing ideologies have occasionally appeared in Indonesia, they have been unable to penetrate the ideological fortress of Pancasila. This demonstrates that NU remains a primary strength and a great bulwark for the Indonesian nation. NU stands at the forefront against any ideology that seeks to disturb or shake Pancasila.
In terms of organisational management, NU has demonstrated its capability as an IT-based organisation. Digital correspondence services, from the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) to regional branches, have been implemented under the ‘Digdaya NU’ initiative, similar to practices in government and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN).
This has enabled NU to operate using modern management principles. In the contemporary era, NU has adapted well. Its identity as a traditional organisation has shifted towards an organisation capable of producing great cadres who hold various public and governmental roles. The presence of NU generations holding formal education up to PhD levels, including hundreds who have reached the highest academic rank of Professor across Indonesian universities and government agencies, demonstrates the strategic role of NU today and in the future.
An important strategic role to be strengthened is positioning NU as a role model and reference for the community and the nation, with the primary function of strengthening national consciousness (wathaniyah), moderation (wasathiyah), brotherhood (ukhuwah), and the public good (mashlahatul ummah). This role is vital as NU enters its second century, alongside the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Society 5.0.
Challenges today and in the future are becoming heavier and more complex. As a socio-religious organisation, NU serves as a moral force in maintaining national morality and a solid pillar for national and state life.