President Jokowi Urges Public to Uphold Spirit of Santri Day to Face Crises

President Jokowi welcomed by Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas upon arrival to attend the commemoration of the 2023 Santri Day at the Heroes’ Monument in East Java provincial capital Surabaya, Sunday (10/22). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Kris)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Sunday (10/22) has urged the public to continue to maintain the spirit of Santri Day to face current crises.

“We must uphold the spirit of Santri Day (Islamic Students’ Day) in accordance with the current context. In this current context, there is an economic crisis due to war, there is a food crisis due to war, and there is an energy crisis due to war as well,” he said while attending the commemoration of the 2023 Santri Day at the Heroes’ Monument in East Java provincial capital Surabaya.

According to President Jokowi, the background of Santri Day is related to the jihad (struggle against evil) resolution stated by the Founder of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Kiai Haji Hasyim Asyari during the country’s independence period.

“He stated that fighting against colonizers is an obligation, that it is an obligatory act, and that to die while fighting against enemies will make one a martyr. This was an extraordinary ruling because everyone at that time, including santri, fought for the interest of the nation, the state, and the ummah (Muslim community),” he said.

The President pointed out that Indonesia has a huge potential to achieve a better future as it has a large Muslim population and more than 36,000 Islamic boarding schools.

“As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, we have more than 36,000 Islamic boarding schools. It is a huge power that determines the future of the nation, the advancement of the nation, and the achievement of the national goals,” he remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/FID/AIT) (DH/MMB)