Idul Fitri may fall on different dates: MUI

JAKARTA (JP): The influential Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) has acknowledged the possibility of Indonesian Moslems celebrating Idul Fitri on different days, and called on the government to guarantee peaceful observance.

"Please allow Moslems to observe (Idul Fitri) in accordance with their conviction. Don't prevent those who wish to observe Idul Fitri on a day which is different from the one determined by the government," said chairman Hasan Basri.

He was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday that Moslems have often celebrated Idul Fitri on different dates. "Which is why there should not be any incriminations, much less conflict. It's religiously acceptable if different Moslem groups say their Idul Fitri prayers on different days," he said.

However, he said it would be better if Indonesian Moslems followed the government's decision on the matter as it is the government's role to mediate conflict.

"The government will surely iron out differences through its Itsbat meeting," he said, referring to a gathering of religious leaders and astronomical experts to determine the exact date of Idul Fitri.

Indonesia's second largest Moslem organization Muhammadiyah has said that according to its calculation, Idul Fitri will fall on Thursday, Jan. 29, while Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said there is a greater possibility the holiday will fall on Friday, Jan. 30.

However, Tarmizi said the government would determine the day after the Istbat meeting tomorrow. He also guaranteed there would be no conflict between Moslem groups celebrating on different dates.

"Such differences do not mean that Indonesian Moslems are divided," he said. "Differences in opinion should be seen as a blessing and Moslems should respect one another."

Antara reported yesterday that the East Java Religious High Court has established a team in charge of hisab (determining the holiday through mathematical calculations) and rukyatul hilal (determining when the fasting month ends and the Syawal Islamic lunar month begins based on the sighting of the new moon).

The head of the court, Saleh Rasyid, said seven teams had been prepared to observe the moon at seven posts across the province. The experts will begin their task tomorrow afternoon.

"Should any member of the public wish to observe the moon, they are welcome to join the teams," he said, adding that if the crescent can be sighted tomorrow then Indonesian Moslems can celebrate Idul Fitri the following day.

"However, if we fail to sight the moon, the government will have to Istikmal (decide to complete fasting in 30 days rather than 29 days)," he said. "Therefore, Idul Fitri will fall on Jan. 30."

Saleh called on Moslems who decided to celebrate Idul Fitri on Thursday to exercise self-restraint and not engage in demonstrative merriment that would disturb those who chose to continue fasting.

The same call was made by Rokhim Nur, the chairman of Muhammadiyah's East Java chapter. The organization has 28 million followers and members.

"We are confident that all followers of Muhammadiyah will celebrate Idul Fitri on Jan. 29," he said. "But they should do it in a modest manner."

In Yogyakarta, a scholar said Monday there was even a possibility that some Indonesian Moslems would celebrate Idul Fitri tomorrow.

"There's a possibility that Idul Fitri will be celebrated on Jan. 28, Jan. 29 and Jan. 30," said Cahyadi Takariawan of the Institute of Islamic Education and Arabic language after a special Ramadhan prayer Tarawih at the Syuhada Mosque.

Those who celebrate Idul Fitri tomorrow will likely be following the Saudi Arabian government who started fasting one day earlier than Indonesians, he said.

"Because they started one day earlier, they will perform the rukyatul hilal (today). If they see the new moon today, then Idul Fitri will fall on Jan. 28. If they do not, Idul Fitri will fall on Jan. 29," Cahyadi said.

He said quite a number of kyai (Moslem leaders) here often choose to follow Saudi Arabia in deciding on the date for Idul Fitri. "There's at least one pesantren (Islamic boarding school) and a group of people here who take this stance," he said.

Separately, Antara reported yesterday that thousands of people from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, had raced for the chance to sail home to Surabaya, East Java, for free on two warships provided by the Navy.

The ships are KRI Teluk Sampit 515 and the KRI Teluk Jakarta.

"The passengers need only to pay Rp 6,000 (less than US$1) for their meals on board the ship," said the captain of RI Teluk Jakarta Bambang Kusumo. (swe/swa)