Indonesian Islamic Leaders Urge Unity, Citing Iran's Prediction of Global Leadership

Buya Anwar Abbas, a chairman of Muhammadiyah, expressed his hopes for a successful 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress, which opened in Jombang, East Java. He wished for the congress to generate work programs that would propel NU, Indonesian Muslims, and the nation toward greater progress and advancement.

Anwar Abbas emphasized the importance of electing NU leaders who can effectively carry out their mandate for the next five years. He urged the newly elected PBNU leadership to further strengthen the unity among Muslims, a unity that is already a global Islamic aspiration.

Recounting a significant experience from a 2008 Indonesian Ulama Council delegation visit to Iran, Anwar Abbas shared a striking statement from a high-ranking Ayatollah. The Ayatollah predicted that Muslims would one day lead the world, but specifically identified Indonesian Muslims as the future leaders, not those from the Middle East, Turkey, or Iran. This prediction, delivered with seriousness, underscored the Ayatollah's understanding of the Indonesian Muslim landscape.

This message from the Ayatollah carried a specific plea: to maintain the Islamic brotherhood between NU and Muhammadiyah. Anwar Abbas views this as a profound reminder of the critical role unity plays in the strength, integrity, and peace of a community or nation. He hopes the future NU leadership will foster this unity, encouraging mutual respect, cooperation, and empathy among all elements of the Muslim community and the broader Indonesian populace. He cited the example of KH Hasyim Muzadi, who frequently visited the Muhammadiyah central office, as a model for such inter-organizational respect.