Islamic Day of Sacrifice falls on March 6, astronomer says

Islamic Day of Sacrifice falls on March 6, astronomer says

BANDUNG (JP): An astronomer at the Bandung Institute of
Technology's (ITB) Bosscha Observatory here said on Saturday,
that according to visual observation the Idul Adha Islamic Day of
Sacrifice should fall on March 6, instead of March 5 as scheduled
on the government calendar.

However, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siraj and
Muhammadiyah expert in the Hijriah Islamic calendar, Asmuni, both
backed the government calendar.

NU and Muhammadiyah are the largest Muslim organizations in
the country.

In separate interviews in Jakarta and Yogyakarta they said
that the Islamic holiday would fall on Monday, March 5.

Astronomer Moedji Rahardjo argued that his statements were
based on visual observations that the hilal (moon) was not seen
on the evening of Feb. 23. "This means that the beginning of
Dzulhijjah should fall on Feb. 24."

According to the government, Feb. 23 is the first day of
Dzulhijjah (a month in the Hijriah Islamic calendar). According
to the Islamic calendar, Idul Adha falls on the 10th of
Dzulhijjah, "therefore, we see that the 10th of Dzulhijjah falls
on Tuesday March 6, not March 5, based on the telescopic view."

Said Aqil said that the NU and Muhammadiyah had used both
hisab Islamic calendar calculations and rukyat visual
observation. "The experts discussed things in a special council
before deciding the calendar. The result is that, what the
government decided on the calendar is correct. People should not
be confused by other theories."

Asmuni backed Said Aqil, telling The Jakarta Post on Saturday
that the Idul Adha would fall on Monday.

He acknowledged that other experts could have different
opinions on the issue.

"It is only a matter of different standards in judging the
beginning of a month," he said, referring to the Bosscha
calculation that the Idul Adha should be on Tuesday.

Asmuni said that Muslims should not be confused by the
different calculations because such differences were common.

He, however, believed that most Indonesian Muslims, including
Nahdlatul Ulama followers, would celebrate the Idul Adha on
Monday and there would be few celebrating it on Tuesday.

"It's a firm decision and based on very strong, careful
calculations which also meet with the rukyat method," he said.
(25/01/44/sur)