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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