Lecturer, STIE YPUP Makassar
Keywords: NU Dignity, 35th Congress, Transactional Politics, Service to Nation.
WIN Media, Opinion – The 35th Congress of Nahdlatul Ulama, held at the Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Tambakberas, Jombang, from August 27–31, 2026, carries a grand theme: “Preserving Dignity, Enriching Service for the Nation’s Benefit.” This theme is not merely a ceremonial slogan, but a reflection of two poles that must be balanced: dignity (honor and moral authority) and service (devotion).
This congress is also the first to be held by NU in its second century, a historic moment that should be filled with deep reflection, not merely a change of leadership. Yet amidst the increasingly heated race for the position of PBNU Chairman, a fundamental question emerges: will this congress become merely an arena for political succession, or a momentum to enrich service to the nation?
NU’s dignity is truly at a crossroads: if the leadership succession is more colored by transactional politics and power interests than by the spirit of service, then what is at stake is not merely who wins the congress, but NU’s dignity itself.
Dignity at the Crossroads: The Meaning Behind the Congress Theme
The theme “Preserving Dignity, Enriching Service for the Nation’s Benefit” explicitly positions dignity as the foundation. It is a theme that is both aspirational and diagnostic: it reveals what is being lost.
When an organization feels the need to assert “preserving dignity,” it is essentially acknowledging that its dignity is being questioned, and those doing the questioning are not outsiders, but its own members. Throughout the first half of this year, forums of NU members have emerged in various regions, driven by young kiais, activists, and grassroots cadres, all operating outside the formal structure.
Their forms and demands are not entirely uniform, but they converge on the demand for NU to restore its independence, improve governance, and return service to the congregation. Criticism of PBNU used to circulate within elite circles and end with courtesy visits and handshakes; this time, it comes from below, organized, and speaks the language most difficult for a religious organization to counter: the language of morality.
The Nahdliyyin Ulama Forum (FUN) even held a halaqah (study circle) themed “Saving the Dignity of the Syuriyah Council and the Honor of Ahlul Halli Wal Aqdi (AHWA)” as an expression of concern over potential deviations. FUN Chairman KH Mujib Qulyubi emphasized that the primary purpose of the AHWA system is to avoid money politics, “Eh, now the opposite is happening.” Indications of “shooting on the spot” and complete packages from external institutions are cited as evidence of real deviation.
Meanwhile, the Silaturahmi Forum of Senior Kiais, attended by dozens of prominent clerics, called for the Congress to proceed with a cool, honest, fair, and dignified atmosphere. The Congress, as emphasized by the senior kiais, must be a place where the will of the muktamirin (delegates) is expressed freely, not a place for decisions that have been pre-conditioned merely to obtain ratification.
Succession That Threatens: Between Dynamics and Moral Degradation
The race for PBNU Chairman has begun to narrow down to four names: KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya), KH Imam Jazuli, KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin), and KH Yusuf Chudlori. Each candidate possesses different political-organizational capital, support bases, networks, and leadership characteristics.
Gus Yahya, as the incumbent, is considered to have the advantage of experience, yet he must also account for the achievements and controversies during his one term of leadership. Assessments of Gus Yahya’s leadership period are divided: some praise modernization and global engagement, while others highlight governance issues and internal consolidation. On the other hand, senior kiais have held meetings and formulated moral calls to safeguard the dignity of the jam’iyah (organization), emphasizing respect for the sovereignty of the muktamirin, there must be no designs, mechanisms, conditioning, or manipulations that reduce their freedom in carrying out their mandate.
The greatest threat comes from the increasingly real practice of transactional politics. Political observer Adi Prayitno issued a stern warning: “If the political choice regarding the leadership of PBNU is determined by transactions and money politics, then NU might as well become a political party,” he said in a discussion in Jakarta on Monday (17/8/2026). For him, if transactions and money politics truly enter the succession process, what is at stake is not merely who wins the Congress, what is at stake is NU’s dignity.
Kiai Musta’in Syafi’ie, a senior kiai from the Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School, assessed that the practice of money politics ahead of the 35th NU Congress is not just an issue, but a factual condition on the ground. He even warned, “If you want to destroy a kiai, give them material things,” he said in a discussion titled “Stop Transactional Politics at the NU Congress” in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
A similar warning for clerics was actually conveyed by Imam Al-Ghazali in Ihya’ Ulumiddin: the corruption of scholars occurs due to the strengthening of love for wealth and position. The acceptance of bribes is described as the highest moral depravity that should not be normalized.
Returning to the Khittah: Saving Dignity for True Service
Amidst the hustle of succession, PBNU is demanded to devote its remaining energy to formulating strategic work programs that directly address the real problems of the people. A survey by Parameter Politik Indonesia involving 1,200 respondents across 38 provinces from July 20 to August 3, 2026, found that 76.1 percent of NU members want the organization to focus on religious affairs and community welfare.
Adi Prayitno interprets this finding as advice for NU to return to its khittah (charter/guiding principles), focusing solely on religious, social, and community affairs. Energy spent on practical political conflicts means NU loses focus on serving the people, even though the majority of its members want the opposite. The Congress will also deliberate on NU’s Development Roadmap for the next 25 years (2026-2050), this is a form of long-term service that should be the main agenda.
Independence is a prerequisite so that NU’s service is not tainted by practical political interests. Adi Prayitno emphasized: “NU must remain outside power. NU must remain neutral. NU must remain independent and certainly become a critical partner of the government.” NU does not have to be an enemy of the government, but it also cannot become part of the power structure—NU must be a critical friend.
KH Ma’ruf Amin, a Mustasyar (senior advisor) of PBNU, has given assurance that the government will not interfere in the 35th NU Congress. “I am confident, we are confident, that the government will not do that,” he said in a press conference at the PBNU office on Thursday (20/8/2026). He also emphasized that nothing should be allowed to undermine the organization of the Congress.
Dignity or Transactional Politics?
NU’s dignity is truly at a crossroads. The theme “Preserving Dignity, Enriching Service for the Nation’s Benefit” is not mere decoration, but a moral call for the Congress not to be trapped in the vortex of power struggles and political interests. If succession is colored by transactional politics, then the dignity being preserved is merely a mirage, and service to the nation will be displaced by momentary ambition.
Observer Fachry Ali warned that failure to resolve factionalism could cause PBNU to lose legitimacy in the eyes of Nahdliyin members. He even warned of the threat of “local anarchism”, a situation when NU forces in the regions operate based on their own authority without heeding the direction of PBNU’s formal structure.
Rejection of transactional politics, as called for by the Nahdliyyin Ulama Forum and senior kiais, must become a shared commitment. The 35th Congress in Tambakberas, the birthplace of KH Abdul Wahab Hasbullah, one of the founders of NU, must give birth to a leadership that is independent, has integrity, and sides with the interests of the people, not the interests of power.
Adi Prayitno reminded that the competition at the Congress should not lead to division: “No matter how fierce the competition, no matter how intense the political dynamics, no matter how severe the internal confrontation, let us remain united and in harmony,” he said on the same occasion. Because, “If the clerics and religious teachers set an example of division, what will happen to their followers?”
The 35th Congress in Jombang is not merely about who wins, it is about what NU wants to become in the future. If dignity is preserved, service to the nation will continue to flow. If dignity falls, what is lost is not only NU’s honor, but also the trust of the people and the nation. A preserved dignity is the path to everlasting service.