PBNU chief Gus Kikin to use istikharah in choosing new leadership team

Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, known as Gus Kikin, plans to use istikharah, a prayer for guidance, when selecting the new leadership team of Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama central board, or PBNU.

He said the tradition would help identify people suited to serve the community and bring benefit to society. “The NU tradition is istikharah,” Gus Kikin said, adding that the practice should help ensure the organization’s decisions receive God’s blessing.

Gus Kikin said forming the leadership structure was an urgent task. PBNU cannot operate fully until the new team takes shape, he said, because the organization needs the structure in place to launch its programs and provide services to the community.

“

The NU tradition is istikharah. That is what we do so we can receive guidance about who is suitable and who can provide benefits to society going forward. It is a tradition we uphold in NU so that everyone receives God’s blessing.

On Friday, he made his first visit as chairman to the PBNU office in Central Jakarta. He met staff and employees and inspected the office that will later serve as the chairman’s workspace.

Gus Kikin was elected chairman for the 2026-2031 term at the 35th NU Congress, held from Aug. 27 to 31 at Bahrul Ulum Islamic boarding school in Tambakberas, Jombang, East Java. Miftahul Achyar was elected Rais Aam for the same term. Gus Kikin was selected through the Ahlul Halli Wal Aqdi process after receiving written approval from the incoming Rais Aam and winning 472 votes, the highest total among five candidates in the congress’s fifth plenary session.

“

So that we can start our activities and serve the community for the benefit of the ummah as soon as possible.