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)