Idul Fitri likely to fall tomorrow: Scholars

Idul Fitri likely to fall tomorrow: Scholars

SURABAYA (JP): Indonesia's largest Moslem organization
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) may join Muhammadiyah members celebrating
Idul Fitri tomorrow rather than Friday as the government calendar
says.

NU astronomy expert Mahfud Anwar and secretary of the East
Java chapter Fuad Anwar told The Jakarta Post they believed the
Ramadhan fasting month ends today and the Islamic lunar month of
Syawal, which coincides with the first day of Idul Fitri, begins
tomorrow.

NU has 30 million followers while Muhammadiyah has about 28
million.

"I have conducted careful hisab (mathematical calculations)
and I am confident that Idul Fitri falls (tomorrow)," Mahfud
said. "Insya Allah (God willing) my calculation is not mistaken."

Mahfud said according to his calculations, the position of the
new moon will be two degrees and two minutes above the horizon
this afternoon. The new moon should be in the southeast, which
means that it may not be seen from the northern coast of
Indonesia.

"The rukyatul hilal (efforts to sight the new moon) should be
concentrated (on monitoring posts erected) along the southern
coast," he said.

"I personally will end my fasting (today) and celebrate Idul
Fitri (tomorrow) even without waiting for the result of the
sighting because I am confident of my astronomical calculations,"
Mahfud said.

Muhammadiyah had earlier said that according to their
calculations, they would celebrate Idul Fitri on Jan. 29.

However, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said it
was more likely the day would fall on Jan. 30.

The East Java chapter of NU earlier issued a calendar that
says Idul Fitri falls on Jan. 29. But Fuad said chapter leaders
would also perform the rukyatul hilal this evening in some
locations, including Lamongan, Gresik, Surabaya and Pamekasan in
Madura, to be completely certain.

The government will convene in Jakarta this evening a meeting
of leaders and astronomical experts from various Islamic
organizations to determine the exact date of Idul Fitri.

Antara reported that Muhammadiyah leaders in Central Java have
written to the governor about their plan to hold Idul Fitri
prayers tomorrow.

Chapter secretary Jaisar Amit said those who agree with the
organization's stance may perform their prayers in any mosque in
their neighborhood.

Islam stipulates Moslems complete their fasting, either for 29
or 30 days, depending on the length of the Ramadhan month in the
Islamic lunar calendar. The sholat Ied, the Idul Fitri prayers,
are not obligatory.

The news agency also quoted Makmum Bayyumi, a mufti from
Cairo, as saying that Moslems may defer and hold their prayers
for the following day, together with other groups who believe it
to be the first day of Syawal.

Bayyumi said Caliph Omar ibn Khattab, after conducting
mathematical calculations, determined that a Ramadhan lasted for
30 days. When the people of Mecca were still fasting, a Bedouin
Moslem suddenly declared that he had sighted the new moon.

The caliph then whispered to the Bedouin: "You may break your
fast... and perform the Idul Fitri prayers the next day with the
others."

Bayyumi suggested that when such differences occur, those in
the minority should join the majority. "It is better for a nation
to celebrate Idul Fitri on the same day," he said. (nur/swe)