Miftachul Akhyar Re-elected NU Supreme Leader as Anwar Highlights Muslim Community’s Economy

KH Miftachul Akhyar has been re-elected for a second term as Rais Aam, or supreme leader, of Nahdlatul Ulama’s central executive board. The decision came during the organization’s 35th congress, held from Aug. 27 to 31, 2026.

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That is clearly visible in the various speeches and sermons he has delivered, in which KH Miftachul Akhyar often reminds us that in preaching we should not use improper methods, but should be calmer, dialog-based, and persuasive.

Anwar Abbas, chairman of the central leadership of Muhammadiyah, praised Akhyar’s approach to preaching. He described it as peaceful and far removed from violence and insults, citing speeches in which Akhyar urged religious outreach to remain calm, dialog-based and persuasive.

Abbas summarized that approach through a series of contrasts: inviting rather than mocking, embracing rather than striking, showing compassion rather than competing, educating rather than targeting, building rather than humiliating, seeking solutions rather than sympathy, and defending rather than attacking.

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Inviting rather than mocking, embracing rather than striking, showing compassion rather than competing, educating rather than targeting, building rather than humiliating, seeking solutions rather than sympathy, and defending rather than attacking.

He said Akhyar’s concerns extend beyond religious outreach to the economic condition of Muslims and the wider nation. Abbas said Akhyar frequently emphasizes the need to strengthen economic and business capacity because failure to do so could leave the Muslim community vulnerable to further decline.

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Because, according to the cleric, if the community cannot strengthen itself economically and in business, Muslims will fall behind, and we will not be able to stop or prevent the community’s decline.