NU, Muhammadiyah decide Idul Fitri to fall on Dec. 16
NU, Muhammadiyah decide Idul Fitri to fall on Dec. 16
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Indonesia's two largest Muslim organizations -- Nahdlatul Ulama
(NU) and Muhammadiyah -- have decided that Idul Fitri, a festival
marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan, should be
celebrated on Sunday Dec. 16, 2001.
The decision was taken by the East Java chapters of the two
organizations even though there hasn't been any confirmation from
the government yet on when will it announce the day for Idul
Fitri celebrations, Antara news agency reported.
The head of NU's Lajnah Falaqiah (Astronomical Section)
Abdussalam Nawawi and the head of Muhammadiyah's Majlis Tarjih
(Law Section) H. Nadjib Hamid disclosed in separate statements on
Thursday that they both agreed on the timing of Idul Fitri, based
respectively on hisab (astronomical calculation) and ru'yat
(sighting of the moon).
Abdussalam, however, said that, despite fixing the date for
Idul Fitri, NU astronomers would still conduct ru'yatul hilal, a
technical sighting of the moon's position so as to determine the
end of the month in accordance with the Islamic calendar.
The ru'yatul hilal would be conducted in the East Javan cities
of Gresik, Lamongan, Madura, Surabaya, Blitar, Malang,
Probolinggo and Banyuwangi, Abdussalam said.
Meanwhile, Najib said that, based on what he called hisab
haqiqi, an in-depth astronomical discussion about the movement of
the moon and the sun among Muhammadiyah experts, the end of the
fasting month would fall on Saturday, Dec. 15.
"This means that the Idul Fitri day will fall on Sunday, Dec.
16," Nadjib said.
Muhammadiyah's deputy chairman Din Syamsuddin addressed a
press conference at its headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday on
the same subject.
Muslims in Indonesia have been forced to celebrate Idul Fitri
on different days over the last few years due to differing
interpretations by NU and Muhammadiyah.
Despite the absence of confirmation from the government,
however, President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to open
the State Palace on the first day of Idul Fitri on Sunday to
receive greetings from the public.
The event will be conducted from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. after the
President, accompanied by her husband Taufik Kiemas and their
family, take part in Idul Fitri prayers at Istiqlal Grand Mosque,
according to a state announcement on Thursday.
Megawati entertain legislators, diplomatic corps, government
officials and police and military officers between 10:30 a.m. and
12 p.m. on Sunday at the State Palace.
Vice President Hamzah Haz and his wife Ismaniah will also pray
at Istiqlal and then receive the public in his official residence
on Jl. Diponegoro No. 2 in Jakarta from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Later in the afternoon, the Vice President is scheduled to
hold a similar shindig at the Bogor Palace from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30
p.m.
In Thursday's press conference, Din also announced
Muhammadiyah's decision to set Feb. 22 as the date for Idul Adha,
or the Day of Sacrifice.
Commenting on the timing of Idul Adha, Din said that the
decision was taken to reassure Muslims, who have become used to
celebrating it on different days.
In a bid to anticipate any differences with the announcement
from the government, Din urged Muhammadiyah's followers to adopt
a mature approach.
The pros and cons of celebrating Idul Adha on a particular day
have frequently confused Muslims due to differences between the
dates announced by Muhammadiyah and the government, Din said.
"We urge those who celebrate Idul Adha on different days to
just go ahead with their chosen days. The government will also
allow them to do so," Din said.