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greeing with the requests of other Muslim groups in the country, Nahdlatul Ulama, the country'€™s largest Muslim organization, has proposed that the government observe Oct. 22 as Santri (Islamic school students) Day.

'€œIt will be better if Santri Day is observed on October 22 and not on Muharram 1 [the first day of the Islamic Year], which is a holy day for Muslims,'€ NU chairman KH Said Aqil Siradj said on the sidelines of the organization'€™s national congress in Jakarta on Saturday.

On Oct. 22, 1945, Muhammad Hasyim Asy'€™ari, a respected Muslim cleric and the founder of NU, decided to issue the Jihad Resolution, calling Muslims in the country to fight against allied forces to uphold the country'€™s independence, which was declared months earlier on Aug. 17, 1945.

Thousands of santri at that time answered the call and partook in a series of battles that culminated in the Battle of Surabaya on Nov. 10, 1945, a day later observed as Heroes'€™ Day.

During his presidential campaign, President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo said he would establish Muharram 1, which is celebrated as New Year for Muslims, as Santri Day.

Once taking office, the President said he would realize his plan of observing Santri Day and Muharram 1 on the same day, which this year would have fallen on Oct. 25.

But five days into his presidency and having received criticism for selecting the day as Santri Day, Jokowi cancelled his plan.

Yet, he greeted people visiting his Facebook account with the words: '€œHappy [Islamic] New Year of the Hijrah, 1 Muharam 1436. And also Happy Santri Day.'€

Other prominent Muslim leaders have voiced objections for selecting Muharram 1 as Santri Day, saying it will reduce the essence of the day for Muslims, as not all Muslims are santri.

'€œMuharram 1 is the holiday for all Muslims worldwide. What about [the Muslims] who never went to Islamic schools? Making it Santri Day will leave out many Muslims who are now celebrating it,'€ said Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Hidayat Nur Wahid, who is also a deputy speaker of the People'€™s Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Din Syamsuddin said the President should take time to consider the day as the decision had to take into account all Muslims in the country.

'€œIt does not have to be [this year]. The President has yet to set up his administration and is not yet able to issue a decree to officiate the day,'€ said Din, who is also the chairman of Muhammadiyah, the country'€™s second largest Muslim group, during the observance of Islamic New Year in Jakarta on Oct. 25.

At that time, Jokowi was still preparing his Cabinet lineup.

The NU'€™s Said pointed out that if President Jokowi was willing to adopt the issuance day of the Jihad Resolution as Santri Day, NU would support such a measure.

Jokowi'€™s former transition team deputy chief, Andi Widjajanto, who is to become Cabinet secretary today, said the President would keep his promise and was in no hurry to set the day. (ask)