The government has decided that the first day of Idul Fitri 1434 H will fall on Thursday. The decision was taken at an itsbat (confirmation) meeting held at the Religious Affairs Ministry on Wednesday evening.

'€œWe decided the first day of Idul Fitri will fall on Thursday,'€ Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali announced the result of the itsbat meeting as quoted by Kompas.com.

Before announcing it officially, Suryadharma first asked representatives from various Muslim organizations and Muslim scholars attending the meeting on whether they approved the decision. Nobody had an objection to the decision.

The decision referred to calculations based on hisab (astronomical calculations) and ru'€™yatul hilal (lunar sightings). There were 60 hilal observation posts throughout Indonesia. It was reported that hilal was seen in several locations, such as Alam Indah beach in Central Java; Fakfak, Papua; and Gresik, East Java.

Earlier, a meeting in Riau Islands on June has decided that based on a hisab or astronomical observation, the start of Idul Fitri will fall on Thursday.

The government'€™s decision was similar to the one taken by Muhammadiyah.

On July 29, Muhammadiyah central board chairman Din Syamsuddin said that Muhammadiyah followers would celebrate Idul Fitri 1434 H on Aug.8. This was based on a hisab-based decision made by the Majelis Tarjih (law-making council) of the Muhammadiyah central board.

No representatives from Muhammadiyah attended the itsbat meeting on Wednesday evening. (apt/ebf)

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