the 500 most influential muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...

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DR KH ACHMAD HASYIM MUZADI
Chairman of Indonesia's Nahdlatul Ulama
Dr KH Achmad Hasyim Muzadi is the leader of
Indonesia's largest independent Muslim organization
and one of the world's most influential Islamic
organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), or 'Awakening
of Scholars'. He guides millions through his work
with the NU.
Head of Expansive Network
The Nahdlatul Ulama boasts an expansive network
that covers 30 regions with 339 branches, 12 special
branches, 2,630 representative councils and 37,125
sub-branch representative councils across Indonesia.
Country: Indonesia
Date of Birth: 8 August 1944
Source of Influence:
Administrative, Political,
Development
Influence: Leader of approximately
30 million members of the
Nahdlatul Ulama
School of Thought: Traditional
Sunni
This network practices the doctrine of Ahlassunah wal Jama'ah, which is Arabic for 'people
of the Sunna (practices of the Prophet Muhammad) and the community'. They base their
practices on the traditional sources of Islamic jurisprudence—mainly the Qur’an, Hadith,
and major schools of law.
Among its aims are the propagation of Nahdlatul Ulama's message and also an expansion
of its already extensive network of members in Indonesia. This is the basis of many of the
organization's social reform efforts. With a solid structure of central and regional boards,
branch and special branch boards, and various advisory councils, Muzadi sits at the top
of this increasingly influential Sunni movement.
Model of Traditionalism
With a mainly rural membership base, the Nahdlatul Ulama distinguishes itself from
other Islamic organizations in Indonesia by positioning itself as a premier organization
of traditional Islam—with an emphasis on education and political engagement based on
Islamic principles. Muzadi also speaks up against edicts of the Indonesia Ulema Council
that are inconsistent with the legal leniency of Islamic law, such as the recent fatwas
(religious rulings) against smoking, and a subsequent proscription against Facebook.
Social Servant
The Nahdlatul Ulama has made substantial charitable contributions to Indonesian society
in the fields of educational development, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. Although
Muzadi stresses that the work of his organization is geared toward establishing a secular
nation-state based on a body of modern and moderate Muslims; his agenda items—
such as anti-corruption laws and social reform measures—are deeply rooted in Islamic
principles.
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