Said Aqil Siradj (born 1953) is an Indonesian Islamic scholar and former chairman of the executive council of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Islamic organization in the world. The most recent publication of The 500 Most Influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan ranked him as the 20th most influential Muslim person in the world.Dr KH Said Aqil Siradj at the official webpage of The Muslim 500. Accessed 15 December 2016.
Siradj has consistently spoken out in opposition to the November 2016 Jakarta protests. Siradj cited a fatwa that prohibited praying in the street as the protesters had planned since it disturbed the peace,Jokowi says No Rally on December 2. Tempo, 30 November 2016. Accessed 15 December 2016.Mikael Niman, NU Releases Fatwa Against Friday Prayer On the Street During Anti-Ahok Protest. Jakarta Globe, 25 November 2016. Accessed 15 December 2016.Moses Ompusunggu, Ina Parlina and Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Citizens told to ignore incendiary rumors ahead of Dec. 2 rally. Jakarta Post, 25 November 2016. Accessed 15 December 2016. though his position was immediately opposed by Indonesian Ulema Council, an organization specifically of religious leaders which includes Nadhlatul Ulama leaders.Alin Almanar, Clerical Body Issues Edict Legitimizing Friday Prayers Outside Mosques. Jakarta Globe, 30 November 2016. Accessed 15 December 2016. Siradj event cited the positions of the Maliki and Shafi'i schools of thought within Sunni Islam that prohibit praying the congregational prayers in the middle of a street.Nahdlatul Ulama: Friday prayer in public roads not valid. Antara, 24 November 2016. Accessed 15 December 2016.
In addition to his leadership within Nahdlatul Ulama, Siradj also founded the Said Aqil Centre, an organization in Egypt which focuses on developing Islamic discourse in the Middle East, and since 2021 has become the chairman of the board of commissioners of Kereta Api Indonesia.
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