Muslim organizations split on sacrifice day<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Muslims will celebrate Idul Adha (the Islamic
\nday of sacrifice) on two separate days as the country's two
\nleading Islamic organizations have decided upon different dates
\nfor the holiday.<\/p>\n
Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Muslim organization with 35
\nmillion followers, announced on Saturday that the start of
\nDzulhijjah month in the Islamic calendar this year fell on March
\n8 and, therefore, Idul Ahda would fall on Friday, April 17, 2000.<\/p>\n
The two dates are based on reports by the NU's rukyatul team,
\nwhich looks out for the moon's appearance from Pelabuhan Ratu
\nbeach in West Java, Semarang beach in Central Java and the East
\nJava town of Gresik, NU said in a press statement signed by
\nchairman Hasyim Muzadi.<\/p>\n
\"The team did not see the moon, so based on law the previous
\nmonth lasted 30 days, one day longer than expected,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
On the same day, Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim
\norganization, announced that the sacrifice day would fall on
\nThursday, April 16, the date in the 2000 official calendar,
\narguing the Dzulhijjah month began on March 6.<\/p>\n
The national date for the holiday will be announced after a
\njoint meeting on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
NU's deputy secretary general Masdluki Baidlawi said he
\nwelcomed the difference and believed that President Abdurrahman
\nWahid, despite the fact that he is a former NU chairman, would
\ntake the same stance.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) entrusted the
\ncelebration of the holiday to Muslim people's beliefs. (emf\/rms)<\/p>",
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