TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Religious Affairs Ministry has announced that the first day of Islamic holy month of Ramadan is officially started tomorrow, Saturday, May 27. The Isbat meeting team from the ministry Cecep Nurwendaya stated today, May 26, that the position of the new moon (hilal) could already be seen in a number of regions.
Isbat is the process done by experts and Islamic organizations of determining the first day of Ramadan or the fasting month.
“The hilal could be viewed in almost every region in Indonesia with bare eyes as long as no clouds covering the sky,” Cecep said Friday, May 26.
He said the position of the new moon in Pelabuhan Ratu was at 8.51 degrees, in eastern Indonesia at 6.8 degrees, and in western regions of the country at 8.5 degrees.
Meanwhile, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the position of hilal was at 9.14 on Friday.
The Indonesian government determines the start of Ramadan with two methods, namely hisab (calculation) and rukyah, or an astronomy observation to confirm the hisab method. The start of Ramadan is determined when hilal or the new moon's position is above 2 degrees.
The religious affairs ministry said there are 84 spots in 33 provinces in observing the new moon's position.
The ministry of religious affairs divides three steps in Isbat meeting to determine the start of Ramadan this year, or 1438 Hijri in Islamic calender. The first is the explanation of the hilal's position by the astronomy experts, the second is the meeting which is done behind closed door with the Islamic mass organization's leaders, and lastly, the press conference to announce the result of the Isbat meeting.
DANANG FIRMANTO