By: Adlan Daie
Political Analyst; General Secretary of the Indramayu Regency Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)
Retired Police Commissioner General (Three-Star General) H. Ahmad Dhofiri is among the national figures set to attend the culmination of the grand two-day commemoration (*Haul*) of KH Bilal Ilyas. The event will take place at the PPTQ Darul Falah Islamic boarding school in Kepolo, Singaraja, Indramayu, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
KH Bilal Ilyas was the father of KH Syairozi Bilal, the current caretaker of PPTQ Darul Falah Kepolo and General Chairman of the Indramayu Regency Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for the 2025–2030 term. Consequently, the 51st anniversary of the MUI is also being incorporated into the 2026 *Haul* festivities.
This brief article does not aim to detail the extensive two-day *Haul* program itself, but rather to explore the significance of H. Ahmad Dhofiri’s presence at the 43rd *Haul* of KH Bilal Ilyas. It highlights his identity as a high-ranking police officer whose personal growth was deeply rooted in Indramayu’s socio-religious landscape.
In Clifford Geertz’s theory of political anthropology, the name “Ahmad Dhofiri” belongs to the “santri” (devout Muslim) family lineage—a category Geertz distinguished from “Abangan” Muslim families (nominal Muslims), who typically bore names such as “Sudiro,” “Moerdiono,” and the like.
Although naming conventions began to blur between *santri* and *Abangan* families starting in the 1990s, the attribution of his name clearly suggests he was shaped and raised within an ecosystem where one would study the Quran and sleep in the local prayer house (*langgar*, *surau*, or *musholla*).
This context illustrates that H. Ahmad Dhofiri’s visit to the Kepolo Islamic boarding school represents far more than a routine visit by a government official—specifically, a Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Indonesia on security matters. This represents a return to his cultural roots—a journey back to the religious ecosystem of Indramayu.
H. Ahmad Dhofiri, a native son of Tegalurung, Indramayu, did not grow up under the influence of modern social media “spectacles”; rather, he was nurtured by the “guidance” of local wisdom and the exemplary conduct of a social ecosystem strictly bound by cultural and religious norms.
He is a professional police officer who rose through the ranks from the very bottom. His career has been free of controversy; he remains steadfast in propriety and ethics, keeping his distance from the factionalism and political affiliations that often pull at the institution—no easy feat at a time when politics has encroached upon the police force, leading the public to label it the “brown party.”
As a recipient of the *Adi Makayasa* award—honoring the top graduate of the 1989 Police Academy class—H. Ahmad Dhofiri played a pivotal role in upholding the dignity of the police force. He successfully exposed elements of “obstruction of justice”—impediments to the investigation originating from within the institution itself—during the sensational case involving Inspector General Ferdy Sambo a few years ago.
The philosophical message conveyed by his journey is that an official’s ability to wield authority and influence within an ethical framework stems from the strength of their wisdom and the steadfastness of their character.
He has conducted himself in a manner that illuminates civilization and upholds public justice; he “passed the test” of integrity, resisting the temptations and pressures to politicize the police force—a complex challenge in an era where politics acts as the “supreme commander.”
We are, therefore, proud of the role played by H. Ahmad Dhofiri—a son of Indramayu who succeeded in salvaging the police force’s tarnished image, which had been eroded by elements from within the institution itself. He has stood as a guardian of the police force’s ethical standards, restoring its dignity in the face of public scorn. This source of pride certainly uplifts the spirits of the public—particularly the people of Indramayu, where H. Ahmad Dhofiri was shaped from an early age by local wisdom, a robust religious ecosystem, and a foundation of steadfast professionalism.
It is crucial for officials in Indramayu—whether within the police force or the broader bureaucracy—to emulate the exemplary conduct of H. Ahmad Dhofiri, steering clear of the arrogance and haughtiness that so often offend the public sensibility.
History—both in Indonesia and across the globe—shows that leaders who wield their political authority with arrogance often suffer a swift and ignominious downfall, ultimately cast by the public into the dustbin of history.
It is in this context that the author views H. Ahmad Dhofiri’s presence at the 43rd *Haul* (commemoration) of KH Bilal Ilyas in Kepolo, Indramayu—his hometown—as a significant homecoming of exemplary leadership, one that serves to cultivate a culture of integrity among Indramayu’s officials.
Moreover, such a commemoration does more than merely invite us to look back at the legacies of our predecessors; it also charts a course for the future.
We welcome the presence of H. Ahmad Dhofiri and extend our congratulations to the extended family of PPTQ Darul Falah Kepolo, Indramayu. May the event proceed smoothly and be filled with blessings.
Warm regards,
Indramayu, August 16, 2026
——-
