Indonesia Set Eid al-Adha on September 12

Jakarta, 30 Dzulqa’dah 1437/02 September 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs ruled Wednesday that Muslims in the country will celebrate Eid al-Adha on Monday after receiving a report that the new crescent moon is still not visible over the entire country.

Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said that some of the observers tasked at 90 points around the country — the new moon had still not been sighted (known locally as ru’yah).

If that is the situation, the beginning of a new Dzulhijah falls on Saturday, September 3, 2016 and the Eid al-Adha will be celebrated on September 12.

The Minister announced the date of Eid al-Adha after having a closed-door meeting with ulama or clerics and leaders of several Islamic organisations in the country on Wednesday afternoon.

In the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha occurs on the 10th day of the Dzulhijjah lunar month, and is also the third day of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)