Govt to Synchronize Start of Fasting Month This Year
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Minggu, 24 Mei 2015 09:14 WIB
Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin. Image: TEMPO/Dian Triyuli Handoko
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin said that the government would synchronize the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan between Indonesia’s two biggest Muslim groups, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
The minister said that both Nadhatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah would sit together to decide on the first day of Ramadan.
"We hope that this year, the start of Ramadan between Muhammadiyah and NU can be synchronized. We’re going to have a meeting discussing this issue,” Lukman said during his working visit to South Sulawesi on Saturday.
Lukman also said that to decide on the start of Ramadan, the Religious Affairs Ministry would have an isbat (confirmation) meeting with religious figures, all Islamic organizations and clerics and the meeting itself will be done on 29 Syaban.