NU chairman says ulema and clerics have big contribution to the nation

Jakarta, NU Online
Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siradj (Kang Said) said that ulema and clerics (kiai) were the figures whose big contribution in building the  nation's character, adding that the figures had always protected the ummah and the government in the nation and state's life.
 
While speaking before ulema and leaders (mursyid) of sufi orders (tarekat) at the Jakarta's Hajj Dormitory on Thursday (12/2), Kang said said that the role of ulema was very important in guiding the ummah as such a reference in which they could ask anything in addition to preventing the nation from any upheaval.<>

"During in our nation's journey in any period of government; no matter in the Old Order, in the New Order or in the present time, the ulema have still become models for their ummah," Kang said said, adding that  when the nation's politics and economy got worse, the ulema, had played an important in protecting the nation.

During the annual meeting held by the the Jam'iyyah Ahlit Thoriqoh Mu'tabaroh Indonesia (Jatmi), Kang Said reiterated the important role played by the ulema in addressing the national character building was especially by empowering their ummah in regard with education.

In terms of the nationals character building, Kang Said called on ulema and clerics to be capable of increasing quality of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) as leading educational centers.

"If santri (students) studying in pesantren are qualified individuals, the pesantren would of course not meet such difficulties in developing quality of the nation's generation," he said.

In the meantime, Kang Said also expected the government to give its more attention to pesantren especially in providing religion-based education facilities so that the tasks of ulema in enlightening the nation could easily be carried out by pesantren's alumni whose high quality and integrity. (min)