The polemic over the impeachment of PBNU General Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, or Gus Yahya, has raised concerns among NU figures. Several executives and clerics are calling for islah, or reconciliation, to resolve the conflict. They emphasize the need for open communication and NU principles like balance and tolerance.
The internal conflict in the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) emerged following a daily Syuriyah PBNU meeting on November 20, 2025, at a hotel in South Jakarta. The meeting, attended by 37 out of 53 executives, produced a minutes document signed by PBNU Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar, requesting Gus Yahya to step down from his position. However, the document lacks the signature of PBNU Katib Aam, which is considered mandatory.
KH Mohammad Hasib Wahab Chasbullah, or Gus Hasib, son of NU founder KH Abdul Wahab Chasbullah, expressed concern over the polemic. "We are concerned about receiving unverified information, leading to such minutes. There should be 'tabayun' or clarification of all alleged information from the accused party," he said on November 25, 2025. He heard that Gus Yahya was privately summoned by Rois Aam, but the reasons given were not accepted, and he called for deliberation among founders' descendants to achieve islah.
Mohamad Syafi’ Alielha, or Savic Ali, a PBNU daily executive, acknowledged worries over the lack of open communication between Rais Aam and the General Chairman. "Of course I'm worried, because up to today we haven't seen a sufficiently open space for communication," he stated in the Ruang Publik podcast on November 25, 2025. Nevertheless, he believes NU is "managed by God" as per Gus Mus's teaching, and there is no need to worry excessively. Savic emphasized principles of tawassuth, tawazun, tasamuh, and i'tidal, including proportionality in decision-making.
Former PBNU Deputy Chairman Nusron Wahid hoped the "storm passes quickly" on November 24, 2025. PBNU Katib Aam Ahmad Said Asrori stated that the clerics unanimously reject the impeachment, with the leadership to complete its one-year term. In a clerics' gathering on November 23, 2025, attended by about 50 kiai, they proposed a larger meeting for islah and called for reflection and mujahadah for the common good. "This is 100 percent," Ahmad Said affirmed.
