TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government announced the first day of Islamic fasting month of Ramadan starts on Thursday, May 17. The decision was taken after holding the isbat (confirmation) meeting on Tuesday, May 15.
“So, the first of Ramadan falls on Thursday, May 17. That is the conclusion of the isbat meeting session joined by all leaders of Islamic organizations and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI),” said Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin at the Ministry of Religious Affairs today.
The meeting was led by Minister Lukman and was also attended by the ambassadors of neighboring countries. Lukman said Indonesia used two methods, namely hisab (reckoning) and rukyat (observing the new moon).
The meeting began with the explanation by the team of hisab and rukyat from the Ministry of Religious Affairs about the position of the hilal (new moon).
Lukman said based on the results of hisab, the hilal throughout Indonesia is still under the horizon. The position of hilal, he said, ranged from minus 1 degree 36 minutes to 0 degrees 2 minutes.
Read: Govt to Hold Isbat Meeting to Set First Day of Fasting
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has placed the rukyat team in 95 places throughout Indonesia, Lukman said. The Ministry has received reports from the 32 rukyat teams that the hilal was not seen.
M ROSSENO AJI
