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Religious Ministry to determine date of Idul Fitri on Saturday evening
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Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
T
he Religious Affairs Ministry will hold an isbat (confirmation) meeting to determine the first day of Idul Fitri on Saturday evening at the ministry office in Central Jakarta.
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin is scheduled to lead the meeting, according to the ministry's director of sharia coaching and Islamic teaching, Muhammad Thambrin.
"The Isbat meeting is a form of cooperation between the Religious Affairs Ministry and Islamic mass organizations and related institutions to determine the months of the Qamariah [Islamic calendar], especially Ramadhan, Syawal and Dzulhijjah," Muhammad said as quoted by Antara.
The meeting would also be attended by several officials from foreign embassies, the Supreme Court, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).
It would start at the 5 p.m. with an explanation about the Moon's current position, while the process of isbat would follow the Maghrib prayer at about 6:30 p.m., Muhammad said.
Observing the hilal (crescent moon) would be conducted at 9:32 p.m.when the Moon was predicted to be at 2 to 4 degrees, Muhammad said, adding that the ministry would deploy some hilal observers in all provinces throughout the country. The observers consisted of officials of the Religious Ministry's regional representatives and Islamic mass organizations. (yon/dmr)
