Muslims in Indonesia are accustomed to different dates in celebrating major holidays such as Idul Fitri and Idul Adha, the result of two methods of determining a new month in the Hijriyah Islamic calendar. One method relies on astronomic calculation, the hisab, while the second relies on visual observation, or rukyat, of the new moon, or hilal.

Different groups of Muslims in Indonesia celebrated Idul Adha, the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, this year on different dates, as has been the case for the Idul Fitri holiday in previous years.

Despite the appeals made by the government and mass organizations like Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah for mutual respect, debates over the use of hisab, calculating the moon'€™s position, and rukyat, observing the first crescent moon, to determine the beginning of the month and date, have continued.

For Agus Mustofa, this is a cause for concern. '€œI was at first very anxious about the difference in determining the start and end of the month of Ramadhan,'€ said Agus at a workshop of astrophotography, which combines astronomy and photography, at the School of Engineering of Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, on Sept. 11.

Agus, who was born in the city on Aug. 16, 1963, insisted that a compromise solution needed to be found. This difference, he said, could serve as a means of learning for the Muslim community.

The nuclear engineering graduate from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, has studied the crescent moon observation method that led him to astrophotography. By this technique, the observation of hilal is conducted in the morning, to prove the appearance of the early-month crescent by photography without waiting for dusk.

He realized that the day-time crescent moon hunt had been carried out by observers in European countries. '€œOne of them is Thierry Legault from France, who noticed a very thin crescent on July 8, 2013, with his astrophotography equipment,'€ revealed the former journalist.

Agus decided to delve further into this technique by visiting the aeronautic engineer in France in 2013. At Thierry'€™s house, he learned how the telescope and related astrophotographic instruments worked, with a programmed panel control to follow the moon'€™s movement.

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Its track can be recorded with digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) or charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, by means of a remote control or even smartphone. While orbiting, the moon remains recorded in photographic form, which is processed by special software to obtain the best image directly visible on the computer or laptop monitor.

According to Agus, the alternative method, known as rukyat qoblal ghurub (RQB), offers an attempt to provide an objective middle path, using a telescope to provide photographic proof.

Likewise, day-time photographing of an object in the sky, calculating the degrees and direction for telescopic viewing, is also compatible with the aspect of hisab. '€œThe concept of wujudul hilal [crescent presence] is fulfilled while the criteria for rukyat are also met by the photo produced,'€ he added.

Agus explained that the technique based on photographs or video recording could minimize the factor of observer subjectivity. '€œThe difference is about criteria, and this method combines both, using calculation as well as visual evidence,'€ noted Agus, who studied theology in Cairo.

The criteria refer to the difference in degrees of the moon'€™s height over the horizon, and so involve subjectivity of location as well as observation. Agus, therefore, aims for objective definition by applying the simple norm that hilal is the new moon after ijtimak (conjunction), which marks the new month, while the first day is marked by sunset.

Convinced of astrophotography'€™s capacity to solve the controversy surrounding hisab and rukyat, he eventually purchased eight units of equipment. '€œIt'€™s quite expensive, costing around '‚¬6,000 [US$6,725] per unit,'€ said the father of four. He granted the units to several observatories and educational institutions in various cities to spread the technique.

To prepare the personnel handling the equipment, Agus invited Thierry to provide training at an astrophotography workshop in Surabaya in April 2014, attended by then education and culture minister Mohammad Nuh, then Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin and Bosscha Observatory chief Mahasena Putra.

Among the institutions already using the method is the observatory of the Assalam Students'€™ Astronomy Club (CASA) at the Assalam Islamic Boarding School in Surakarta, Central Java.

'€œThe students here have taken day-time pictures of hilal by the technique of astrophotography,'€ said CASA chief AR Sugeng Riyadi.

In his opinion, this highly computerized technology can help the activity since it is relatively easy to operate and its results are valid.

Support has also come from different agencies and academic circles, proposing their personnel as workshop participants and rukyat team volunteers. Nuh motivated the youths to learn astrophotography by planning to make available 10 units of equipment. '€œSadly, since the Cabinet change [last year] there has been no follow-up,'€ said Agus.

Din Syamsuddin also backed Agus'€™ effort to resolve the hisab and rukyat issue by science and technology.

NU chairman Said Aqil Siradj said the method was a middle path to achieving harmony among Muslims when the workshop committee visited his office in Cianjur, West Java, some time ago.

The method, however, is not without its opponents.

The pre-dusk observation of the moon is seen by some rukyat circles as incompatible with the fundamentals of the method.

Agus'€™ Facebook fanpage has received negative comments. This forum prompted the Religious Affairs Ministry to invite him to the Hisab Rukyat National Conference in Bogor, West Java, to present his idea.

At the meeting, he featured on a panel with Prof. Thomas Djamaludin, head of the National Aeronautic and Space Institute (LAPAN), who favors imkanur rukyat (crescent visibility under certain parameters). Uniquely, after the discussion, his debate with Djamaludin continued on his Facebook page. Despite the government'€™s support, Agus'€™ method continues to be opposed by many quarters.

While striving to keep holding workshops to popularize his method amid public suspicion, he has always submitted workshop results to the Religious Affairs Ministry for consideration. The government is seeking a point of convergence between hisab and rukyat so that followers of both can be reconciled.

Especially for Idul Adha, if no common criteria can be found, the instant solution is to determine the day is by referring to the beginning of haj in Saudi Arabia. '€œWhen Saudi Arabia has determined the date of wukuf [stopping] at Arafah, we can just follow it,'€ he said.

Agus is set to carry on his efforts. '€œI hope [my method] can be applied this year or next year, or even the following year, until it succeeds,'€ he said.

'€“ Photos by JP/Nedi Putra AW

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