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NU told to preserve Kitab Kuning as cultural wealth

Jum, 29 Oktober 2021 | 05:32 WIB

NU told to preserve Kitab Kuning as cultural wealth

KH. Said Aqil Siroj

Jakarta, NU Online

As an organization that adheres to traditions, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) actually has great social wealth. Besides being in the form of religious symbols such as the tradition of chanting shalawat badr, maulid ad-diba' or al-barzanji, another social capital that is no less important is the abundant wealth of maraji' in the Al-Turats, religious books, popularly known as Kitab Kuning.

 

General Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siroj (Kiai Said) made the remarks at the Inauguration of the Central Sulawesi's Regional Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU) at the Swiss Bel-Hotel Silae, Palu City, Central Sulawesi, Friday (29/10/2021).

 

"We have the advantages of Maraji, Kutub Turats (sources of religious legacies). This is part of the Tharawat Khadoriyah. It is part of our cultural wealth that must be maintained," Kiai Said said.

 

With the wealth of the yellow books, according to him, NU has become a strong and respected organization. Religious issues concerning legal status of bank interest, cryptocurrency, and other actual problems, could soon be found fatwa recommendations and solutions.

 

“If discussed at the NU Bahtsul Masail (problems deliberation), these religious issues will be resolved in two days," the kiai (cleric) from Cirebon said.

 

In an effort to maintain cultural wealth, he asked the NU administrators throughout Central Sulawesi to protect the symbols of the organization. Although the existence of symbols is not a principle, for Kiai Said it is still important.

 

“The NU nameplate symbol, for example, it's a symbol of jamiyah (organization). Let's put up the nameplate of each Branch board (PC), each Branch Representative Council (MWC). Because it's a symbol of our syiar,” the leader of Al Tsaqafah Islamic Boarding School (pesantren) in Ciganjur, South Jakarta said.

 

On the same occasion, the Chairman of the Central Sulawesi's PWNU, KH Lukman S Tahir stated that he was committed to strengthening regeneration and advancing the organization's work, especially in the economic and thought fields.

 

"In the future, God willing, we (Central Sulawesi's PWNU) are ready to play an economic development movement and strengthen the intellectual movement," he said.

 

As in the history of its establishment, he added, NU had three pillars, namely Tasywirul Afkar, Nahdlatut Tujjar, and Nahdlatul Wathan. As the new PWNU leadership relay command holder, he projected that in the future the Central Sulawesi's PWNU will strengthen these three pillars in a balanced way.

 

"We don't want these potential NU cadres to play more on the same field," Kiai Lukman added.

 

Contributor: Syifa Arrahmah
 

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq