Sahal Mahfudh (December 17, 1937January 24, 2014) was an Indonesian cleric. He was the spiritual leader (''rais aam'') – the most senior cleric – of the

Nahdlatul Ulama Nahdlatul Ulama (, , NU) is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Its membership numbered over 40 million in 2023, making it the largest Islamic organization in the world. NU is also a charitable body funding schools and hospitals as well as or ...

, Indonesia's largest Muslim majority organization, from 1999 to the time of his death in 2014. He was also chairman of the

Indonesian Ulema Council Indonesian Ulema Council (, , abbreviated MUI) is Indonesia's top Islamic scholars' body. MUI was founded in Jakarta on 26 July 1975 during the New Order era. The council comprises many Indonesian Muslim groups including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), ...

(MUI). He took over the Maslakul Huda boarding school from his father, Kiai Mahfudz Salam, in 1963. Sahal was born in Pati,

Central Java Central Java (, ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogya ...

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

, and died at his residence in the Maslakul Huda Islamic boarding school in Kajen, Margoyoso in

Pati Regency Pati Regency (, ꦥꦛꦶ) is a Regencies of Indonesia, regency () in the northeastern region of Central Java Province, on the island of Java in Indonesia. The regency covers an area of 1,503.68 km2, on the coast of the Java Sea. It had a ...

. He had previously been treated at the Dr. Kariadi General Hospital in Semarang for lung and heart problems. Sahal never entered politics.https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/01/25/senior-nu-cleric-sahal-mahfudz-dies-77.html "Known as a Muslim leader who refused to enter politics"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahfudz, Sahal 1937 births 2014 deaths Indonesian Islamic religious leaders Javanese people Nahdlatul Ulama people