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.