NU, Muhammadiyah decide Idul Fitri to fall on Dec. 16<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's two largest Muslim organizations -- Nahdlatul Ulama
\n(NU) and Muhammadiyah -- have decided that Idul Fitri, a festival
\nmarking the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan, should be
\ncelebrated on Sunday Dec. 16, 2001.<\/p>\n
The decision was taken by the East Java chapters of the two
\norganizations even though there hasn't been any confirmation from
\nthe government yet on when will it announce the day for Idul
\nFitri celebrations, Antara news agency reported.<\/p>\n
The head of NU's Lajnah Falaqiah (Astronomical Section)
\nAbdussalam Nawawi and the head of Muhammadiyah's Majlis Tarjih
\n(Law Section) H. Nadjib Hamid disclosed in separate statements on
\nThursday that they both agreed on the timing of Idul Fitri, based
\nrespectively on hisab (astronomical calculation) and ru'yat
\n(sighting of the moon).<\/p>\n
Abdussalam, however, said that, despite fixing the date for
\nIdul Fitri, NU astronomers would still conduct ru'yatul hilal, a
\ntechnical sighting of the moon's position so as to determine the
\nend of the month in accordance with the Islamic calendar.<\/p>\n
The ru'yatul hilal would be conducted in the East Javan cities
\nof Gresik, Lamongan, Madura, Surabaya, Blitar, Malang,
\nProbolinggo and Banyuwangi, Abdussalam said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Najib said that, based on what he called hisab
\nhaqiqi, an in-depth astronomical discussion about the movement of
\nthe moon and the sun among Muhammadiyah experts, the end of the
\nfasting month would fall on Saturday, Dec. 15.<\/p>\n
\"This means that the Idul Fitri day will fall on Sunday, Dec.
\n16,\" Nadjib said.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah's deputy chairman Din Syamsuddin addressed a
\npress conference at its headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday on
\nthe same subject.<\/p>\n
Muslims in Indonesia have been forced to celebrate Idul Fitri
\non different days over the last few years due to differing
\ninterpretations by NU and Muhammadiyah.<\/p>\n
Despite the absence of confirmation from the government,
\nhowever, President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to open
\nthe State Palace on the first day of Idul Fitri on Sunday to
\nreceive greetings from the public.<\/p>\n
The event will be conducted from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. after the
\nPresident, accompanied by her husband Taufik Kiemas and their
\nfamily, take part in Idul Fitri prayers at Istiqlal Grand Mosque,
\naccording to a state announcement on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Megawati entertain legislators, diplomatic corps, government
\nofficials and police and military officers between 10:30 a.m. and
\n12 p.m. on Sunday at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz and his wife Ismaniah will also pray
\nat Istiqlal and then receive the public in his official residence
\non Jl. Diponegoro No. 2 in Jakarta from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon, the Vice President is scheduled to
\nhold a similar shindig at the Bogor Palace from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30
\np.m.<\/p>\n
In Thursday's press conference, Din also announced
\nMuhammadiyah's decision to set Feb. 22 as the date for Idul Adha,
\nor the Day of Sacrifice.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the timing of Idul Adha, Din said that the
\ndecision was taken to reassure Muslims, who have become used to
\ncelebrating it on different days.<\/p>\n
In a bid to anticipate any differences with the announcement
\nfrom the government, Din urged Muhammadiyah's followers to adopt
\na mature approach.<\/p>\n
The pros and cons of celebrating Idul Adha on a particular day
\nhave frequently confused Muslims due to differences between the
\ndates announced by Muhammadiyah and the government, Din said.<\/p>\n
\"We urge those who celebrate Idul Adha on different days to
\njust go ahead with their chosen days. The government will also
\nallow them to do so,\" Din said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-muhammadiyah-decide-idul-fitri-to-fall-on-dec-16-1447893297",
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