NU Marks 100 Years as Pillar of Indonesian Islam and National Identity

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Nahdlatul Ulama marked its 100th anniversary on Saturday, Jan 31, 2026 in Jakarta as Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation and promoting a humane global civilization, a stance leaders said remains inseparable from the country’s founding ideals. The centennial celebration at Istora Senayan underscored NU’s enduring role as a religious, social, and moral force shaping Indonesia’s national identity.

Founded in 1926, Nahdlatul Ulama is one of the world’s largest Islamic organizations, rooted in Sunni Islam and the traditions of pesantren or Islamic boarding schools. NU has historically combined religious scholarship with nationalism, supporting Indonesia’s independence and later defending the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia as a shared civic home.

PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf said NU would continue to serve as a moral light for the country, stressing that the organization’s mission could not be separated from Indonesia’s destiny. “I like to use metaphors, and if NU is a lamp meant to illuminate its surroundings, then what is illuminated is Indonesia,” he said.

Yahya said NU’s vision aligned with the ideals of Indonesia’s independence, particularly the struggle to build a more dignified civilization for all humanity. “That vision is to fight for a more noble civilization for all humankind, that independence is the right of all nations, and therefore colonialism must be abolished because it contradicts humanity and justice,” he said.

He added that NU would continue to uphold the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, including Indonesia’s role in promoting a world order based on freedom, lasting peace, and social justice. According to Yahya, these principles had been embedded in NU’s founding vision and later manifested in the establishment of the Indonesian state.

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar used the centennial stage to urge NU’s leadership to strengthen managerial capacity amid accelerating global change. “Nahdlatul Ulama has reached the time when we must emphasize managerial figures who consistently put forward superteams, or the power of we,” he said.

Nasaruddin warned that rapid change had produced overlapping shocks across theology, culture, politics, economics, and science, demanding stronger organizational leadership. “The future arrives earlier and faster than humanity’s ability to prepare, and the result is multiple shocks,” he said.

He said effective management was part of the Prophet Muhammad’s example, noting that leadership and managerial skill were inseparable. “The Prophet was not only outstanding as a leader, but also as a manager,” Nasaruddin said.

In a separate address, Nasaruddin described NU as a “great pesantren,” marked by intellectual debate, diversity of thought, and deep respect between scholars and students. He said a century of existence reflected NU’s organizational maturity and resilience amid internal dynamics.

NU’s centennial was also framed as a reaffirmation of national unity following recent internal turbulence. A PBNU plenary meeting earlier in the week restored Yahya’s position as chairman and committed the organization to improving governance, transparency, and accountability.

The plenary, led by Rais Aam Miftachul Akhyar, agreed to review internal decisions, strengthen financial governance, and ensure future programs adhered to NU’s statutes and constitutional principles. The meeting also set the schedule for major organizational forums in 2026, including the National Conference and the next NU congress.

President Prabowo Subianto did not attend the centennial event, with Yahya explaining that the president had state duties involving foreign guests. Rais Aam Miftachul Akhyar was also absent due to health reasons, according to PBNU.

Despite those absences, NU leaders said the centennial message remained clear, that NU and Indonesia were inseparable in purpose and struggle. “We cannot think about NU without at the same time thinking and acting for Indonesia,” Yahya said.