KH Maimun Zubair proposed to be Rais Aam

Kediri, NU Online
A number of leaders of Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) and the blessed descendents of Prophet Muhammad PBUH (habaib) from East Java and Central Java held Sunday a meeting at the Kediri's Islamic boarding school, proposing KH Maimun Zubair, the leader of  an Islamic boarding school located in Sarang Rembang, to be general chairman of lawmaking body (Rais Aam) of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) for the coming period.

The meeting was initially aimed at discussing criteria for recommendation of general chairman candidates for the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization. Usually such meetings held by NU ulema (Muslim scholars) ahead of any NU congress has never taken up issues dealing with the criteria of Rais Aam.<>

In the ulema forum, KH A Nawawi Abdul Djalil, the leader of Sidogiri Islamic boarding school, told participants on phone that for Rais Aam he named KH Maimun Zubair and KH Sholahuddin Wahid (Gus Sholah) as general chairman of the executive board (tanfidziyah) of PBNU.

While the prominent figure from Langitan KH Abdullah Faqih mandating his son who was also attending the forum proposed KH Maimun Zubair as Rais Aam and recommended no figure to lead the tanfidziyah.

Another senior figure KH Nurul Huda Djazuli of Ploso, Jombang, also proposed the same name, namely KH Maimun Zubair.

On the occassion KH Zaim Ahmad Maksum being the spokesperson said that the meeting did not focus more on criteria which should be possessed by Rais Aam, adding the most important thing which should be possessed by the Rais Aam was he must be the leader of Islamic boarding school.

"There have been such unwritten rules within NU. Conversely speaking that Rais Aam is basically not the same as chairman of provincial syuriyah (advisory board) or chairman of syuriyah of Sabang. The Rais Aam must be the leader of pesantren. That is the secret why the National Ulema Meeting in Kaliurang named KH Ali Ma'sum," Gus Zaim said.

The meeting was openned by the leader of pesantren Lirboyo KH AIdris Marzuki and participated by some 50 leaders of pesantren across East Java and Central Java and a score of the blessed descendents of the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

Present at the meeting were such figures as KH A Idris Marzuki (Lirboyo), KH Zainuddin Djazuli (Ploso), KH Sholeh Qosim (Sidoarjo), KH Moh Anwar Mansur (Lirboyo), KH M. Abdul Aziz Mansur (Pacul Gowang, Jombang), KH Dimyati Romly (Darul Ulum, Jombang), KH Anwar Iskandar (Kediri), and KH Mas Subadar (Besuk, Pasuruan).

Present also at the purposeful gathering were such figures as KH M Zaim Ahmad Ma’sum (Lasem), KH Masbuhin (Manba’us Shalihin Gresik), H Muhammad Shaleh Qosim (Baharuddin Sepanjang), KH Mukhlas (Sidoarjo), H M. Subadar (Pasuruan), H Muhaimin Basri, KH Saiful Islam (Genggong, Probolinggo), KH Abdurahman Chudlori (Magelang), KH Warsun (Yogyakarta), and many others. (mkh)