TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has decided that Eid al Adha Holiday will fall on September 1. The decision was announced after an isbat (confirmation) meeting attended by representatives of the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the House’ Religious Affairs Commission, together with Ambassadors of friendly countries and religious figures.
Earlier, a discussion held by the team that observe hisab (astronomical calculation) and rukyat (sighting of the moon) agreed that Indonesia has to hold ijtema (national gathering) for sighting of the hilal (the new crescent moon). The team consisted of Bosscha observatory researchers, the Nahdlatul Ulama executive board, Muslim figures and the Religious Affairs Ministry officials.
The MUI deputy chairman Kiai M. Abdullah Zaini has expressed his appreciation on the decision to set the date of Eid al Adha. He expects Muslims to improve their kurban (to sacrifice an animal) as a form of social consciousness.
MITRA TARIGAN | ANDITA RAHMA