DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Elections & Politics

Accused of Being Unable to Read Classical Islamic Texts, Gus Kikin Says: “Just Prove It”

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, or Gus Kikin, was elected chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama for 2026-2031.
  • Responding to claims that he could not read classical Islamic texts, Gus Kikin said, “There is no need to answer it, just prove it.”
  • He said his first task would be to form the organization’s executive board, with completion targeted within one month.

KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, known as Gus Kikin, answered criticism of his religious credentials with a short challenge after being elected chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama for 2026-2031.

There is no need to answer it, just prove it.

— KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin)He responded to claims that he could not read classical Islamic texts.

Asked about claims from opponents of his candidacy that he could not read *kitab turost*, or classical Islamic texts, Gus Kikin declined to extend the dispute. “There is no need to answer it, just prove it,” he said after his election at Nahdlatul Ulama’s 35th congress in Jombang, East Java.

His response turned attention away from the allegation and toward the organization’s work. Gus Kikin said his immediate priority would be to fill the executive structure for the new term. “The program remains the same, one month. We have to fill the organization first. Without that, how can we work?” he said.

The program remains the same, one month. We have to fill the organization first. Without that, how can we work?

— KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin)He described the timeline and priority for forming the new Nahdlatul Ulama executive board.

He said the board formation should be completed within a maximum of one month, although the process could finish sooner if possible. “It should be possible to speed it up,” he said.

It should be possible to speed it up.

— KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin)He said the board formation could be completed sooner than the one-month target.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog