JABARTODAY.COM – SURABAYA. Around 200 Islamic scholars (NU) and “Gus” (young clerics) from East Java held a deliberation as part of the Tirakat for the Salvation of the Nation and People at the At-Tauhid Islamic Boarding School in Sidoresmo, Surabaya, on Thursday, August 10, 2023. There were four main outcomes of this deliberation. One of them stated, “After we conducted a thorough assessment and personally observed the state of Mr. Anies, we are convinced that Mr. Anies is indeed a practitioner of Ahlusunnah Waljamaah or Aswaja. Anies is one of us,” said KH Nasirul Mahasin Nursalim, the blood brother of Gus Baha. The Sidoresmo Statement was handed directly to Anies Baswedan by KH Mas Mansur Tholhah.
In the discussion led by Gus Mahasin, they also decided to recommend five individuals who are both Nahdliyin members and activists as potential vice-presidential candidates to accompany Anies Baswedan, the presidential candidate. The recommended names are Yenni Wahid, Gus Muhaimin Iskandar, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and Mahfud MD. Of course, whoever is chosen, the participants of the deliberation leave the final decision to Anies Baswedan himself.
Mr. Anies, who has Nahdliyin heritage and is further supported by a Nahdliyin vice-presidential candidate, has led the participants to hope for concrete support towards the world of students and Islamic boarding schools. “Among all the candidates, only Mr. Anies Baswedan has tangible evidence in the field of education. Therefore, we, the kyais, trust Mr. Anies the most to take care of our students and Islamic boarding schools, ensuring that they become more intelligent and prosperous,” added Gus Mahasin.
In his concluding remarks, Anies Baswedan expressed his gratitude to the “kyais” and “gus” who participated in this event. Anies emphasized that in the future, the government will continue to increase its attention towards students and the world of Islamic boarding schools. “These Islamic boarding schools have stood for hundreds of years, even before Indonesia’s independence. Because of this, the government must provide concrete support to students and Islamic boarding schools.”
Here is the complete At-Tauhid Sidoresmo Statement from Surabaya:
- After conducting a thorough assessment and direct observation, we are convinced that Anies Baswedan adheres to Aswaja (Ahlusunnah Waljamaah) and aligns with us as Nahdliyin.
- We entrust the Islamic boarding schools and students to Anies Baswedan, who is indeed an educator and teacher. Only Anies Baswedan is deemed worthy of shaping the future of our students.
- As Nahdliyin, we recommend five Nahdliyin activists and members to Anies Baswedan as potential vice-presidential candidates: Yenni Wahid, Gus Muhaimin Iskandar, Khofifah Indar Paransa, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and Mahfudz MD.
- Anies Baswedan is capable of fostering unity in Indonesia, as he is the only one with proven leadership abilities that align with the Nahdlatul Ulama’s trilogies: Ukhwah Islamiyah (Islamic Brotherhood), Ukhwah Basyariyah (Humanitarian Brotherhood), and Ukhwah Wathoniyah (Nationalist Brotherhood) (Fahrus Zaman Fadhly)
