Ramadhan fasting month to start on Thursday<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): After meeting with representatives of major
\nIslamic organizations on Thursday, the government announced the
\nMuslim fasting month of Ramadhan would begin on Thursday as
\nwidely expected.<\/p>\n
The decision was reached after all of the organizations said
\nthey failed to sight the crescent moon before dusk on Tuesday,
\nmeaning that the month of Sya'ban will last for 30 days and end
\non Wednesday, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
The Islamic calendar is determined by lunar movements.
\nAlthough the beginning and ends of months can be calculated, they
\nmust still be confirmed by the sighting, or non-sighting, of the
\ncrescent moon.<\/p>\n
This means that a month can last for either 29 or 30 days,
\nwith the sighting of the crescent signaling a new month has
\nbegun.<\/p>\n
A number of Muslim organizations here often disagree with the
\ngovernment on when Ramadhan begins and ends.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia, which has
\noften differed with the government on this matter, said on
\nTuesday it had been flooded with calls from its followers asking
\nwhen Ramadhan began.<\/p>\n
The group said it concurred with the government that Ramadhan
\nwould begin on Thursday. (emb\/01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ramadhan-fasting-month-to-start-on-thursday-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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