HE is the ulama (Islamic religious leader) with the highest authority in this country, ordained to hold two concurrent positions: Rais Aam Syuriah of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization and Chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI). Kiai Haji Mohammad Ahmad Sahal Mahfudh is conversant with classical fikih (Islamic jurisprudence) books and is widely recognized as the cleric who popularized social fikih.

“Romo Kiai”—as this scholar is know