INDONESIAN MUHAMMADIYAH DECIDES EID ON JULY 17

Bandung, 16 Ramadan 1436/3 July 2015 (MINA) – The Chairman of Indonesian Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, Din Shamsuddin said his institution is going to celebrate Eid Fitri  1436 on July 17, 2015.

“For those who use reckoning calculations (hisab) like Muhammadiyah. It could ensure that Eid Fitri on July 17, 2015,” said Din Syamsudin, after attending the inauguration of the Halal center at Salman Bandung engineering institute (ITB), Friday.

He askes that all Muslims must uphold tolerance if the determination of Idul Fitri would be different.

“Lets do tolerance and keep ukhuwah islamiyah especially in Eid Fitri,” he said. Antaranews quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Meanwhile, the head of the Indonesia National Aeronautics and Space Agency (Lapan) Thomas Jamaluddin said There is any possibility of differences in the date of Eid al-Fitr 1436 celebration.

“The difference is because Islamic organizations are still using different methods and have not handed over the full authority for the determination of the date of to the government,” said Thomas.

According to him, there are three types of methods which is being used in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah  uses hisab, NU uses seeing the moon directly with a height of minimum two degrees and PERSIS uses four degrees higher.

Thomas said, the position of the moon on July 16 would be more than two degrees but still less than four degrees. So according to Muhammadiyah, the Eid will be on July 17th.

“So it is still possible on July 17 or 18. The isbat trial is unpredictable,” he added.

Thomas stressed the importance of Muslims to have one calendar for the achievement of unity in determining the start of Ramadan and Eid. (T/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agnecy (MINA)