JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Muhammad Ahmad Sahal Mahfudz aka Kiai Sahal aka Mbah Sahal, Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), passed away on Friday (Jan. 24) due to lung and heart problems.
Sahal Mahfudz is also supreme leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia.
Mustofa Bisri aka Gus Mus, another Muslim cleric and a respected figure among NU members, confirmed that Sahal Mahfudz was died on Friday at about 1:10 am of local time.
Sahal died at his residence in the Maslakul Huda Islamic boarding school in Kajen, Margoyoso, Pati regency, Central Java. Previously, Sahal was ever treated for a week at Dr Kariadi General Hospital in Semarang, Central Java.
According to the official site of the NU, Sahal’s remain has been buried at a cemetery in his hometown in Kajen this morning.
Born in Kajen, Margoyoso, Pati on Dec. 17, 1937, Sahal served as NU Rais Aam Syuriah for three periods. He leaves behind one wife, Nafisah Sahal, one son, Abdul Ghaffar Rozin, and two grandchildren. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)