Idul Fitri falls tomorrow: Govt
Idul Fitri falls tomorrow: Govt
JAKARTA (JP): The government announced last night that Idul
Fitri will fall tomorrow, but said Moslems who intend to mark the
end of the Ramadhan fasting month today will be respected.
The decision followed a meeting of religious experts and
leaders of various Moslem groups led by Minister of Religious
Affairs Tarmizi Taher.
"The first day of Idul Fitri will be marked on two different
dates, and both of them are right. It's up to the people to start
the celebration either today or tomorrow," Tarmizi said.
"We must respect differences. Islam is an open religion and
this is a blessing from God.
"However, the government must make a decision and we have
decided that the holiday will fall Friday," he told reporters.
Muhammadiyah, one of the largest groups, said it was
determined that Idul Fitri falls today. The group will hold
prayers for their followers in towns and mayoralties.
Muhammadiyah chairman Amien Rais is scheduled to lead the
prayers at the Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran for the benefit
of its followers in Central and North Jakarta.
Muhammadiyah vice chairman Sutrisno Muhdam, who was present at
the meeting, called on everyone not to debate the differences.
"This (issue) should not be discussed further. We should use
the occasion to strengthen Moslem unity," Sutrisno said.
Hasan Basri, chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas,
agreed, adding that those who mark Idul Fitri today and tomorrow
"should be able to walk together".
The other largest Moslem group, Nahdlatul Ulama, conducted its
own survey and concluded that Idul Fitri falls Friday.
When Ramadhan ends has often been a point of contention among
Moslem leaders. Under the Islamic lunar calendar, a month lasts
either 29 or 30 days depending on the movement of the moon.
Although the movement can be predetermined by mathematical
calculations, the actual start of Idul Fitri still depends on the
sighting of the moon "with a naked eye".
The government assigned district and religious court officials
in 24 different towns yesterday to try to sight the new moon. NU
also designated its experts in various towns. The government and
the NU said these posts failed to observe the new moon.
The government said three officials in Cakung, East Jakarta
reported to have sighted the new moon, but their reports were
rejected because they were weak and dubious.
Experts said that while failure to sight the moon could have
been caused by obstructions such as cloud, the maxim should be
that when in doubt, Moslems should fast the full 30 days.
Muhammadiyah has been adamant that Idul Fitri would fall on
Jan. 29 based on its mathematical calculations. It argued that
since Sjaban, the month before Ramadhan, lasted 30 days, then the
following month should last 29 days.
Besides Muhammadiyah, the Dewan Mesjid Indonesia (Indonesian
Mosque Council) also intends to celebrate Idul Fitri today.
Other organizations taking part in last night's meeting were
the Indonesian Ulema Council, Persis, Al-Irsyad, Dewan Dakwah
Islamiyah Indonesia and Tarbiyah. Also present were ambassadors
and representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Malaysia, Egypt, Palestine and Brunei embassies.
Leading astronomy professor Bambang Hidayat of the Bandung
Institute of Technology agreed with Muhammadiyah that Ramadhan
ended last night and that the new moon begins today.
Based on astronomical calculations and observations, "the moon
has passed the conjunction point," Bambang said.
Bambang said the Boscha Observatorium in Lembang regularly
produces calculations of the new moon, but the government never
consulted them in determining the end of Ramadhan.
"Perhaps, they think I'm too radical," he quipped. (10/43/emb)
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