Taxes and Sexual Deviance Become Main Focus of Bahtsul Masail Pre-Muktamar NU

The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, convened a pre-Muktamar (congress) meeting in Depok, West Java, from August 8-9, 2026. Held at the Cendekia Amanah Islamic Boarding School, the Bahtsul Masail (discussion forum) aimed to mature various contemporary religious issues that will be brought forward for deliberation at the 35th NU Muktamar.

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This pre-Muktamar is important for at least four reasons. The first is that we want to deepen and enrich what we have discussed in the Munas some time ago.

Prof. Mohammad Nuh, Secretary of the Steering Committee for the 35th NU Muktamar, highlighted the critical importance of this pre-Muktamar session. He stated that the forum serves to deepen and enrich the discussions previously held in the Munas (National Conference) and Konbes (Consultation) forums. This process ensures that the materials prepared for the Muktamar are thoroughly examined and refined.

Furthermore, the meeting was designed to broaden public participation. Attendees were not limited to those who had previously engaged in the Munas and Konbes sessions; new participants were also invited. Prof. Nuh believes that this wider involvement will strengthen the quality of the materials and decisions made at the Muktamar. The Bahtsul Masail forum is also expected to foster greater public engagement and awareness regarding the issues that NU is addressing.

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With wider participation, the quality of the material to be decided at the Muktamar is expected to be stronger.

Prof. Nuh emphasized the strategic role of Bahtsul Masail in cultivating a tradition of collective ijtihad (independent reasoning or interpretation) that involves multiple generations and diverse fields of expertise. He noted that the topics under discussion extend beyond purely religious matters, incorporating interdisciplinary perspectives. This approach ensures that NU's deliberations are relevant to the complexities of contemporary society.

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The topics to be discussed are not just purely religious, but also involve other disciplines.