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An Nadzir followers start Ramadhan on Friday
An Nadzir followers in South Sulawesi will start fasting on Friday.
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Observance: An Nadzir followers perform Idul Fitri prayers in a field near their settlements around Mawang Lake, Gowa, South Sulawesi, last year. (JP/Andi Hajramurni)
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n Nadzir followers in South Sulawesi will start fasting on Friday. They made the decision after observing the position of the moon since the beginning of Syaban, the eighth month on the Islamic calendar.
“The change from Shaban to Ramadhan occurred at 9 a.m. local time on Thursday. It means we have entered Ramadhan. We will start fasting tomorrow,” An Nadzir leader Lukman A. Bhakti said.
Calculating the moon’s position by using both hisab (astronomical calculations) and rukyat (visual observations of the new moon), An Nadzir experts said at 5:20 a.m., the moon could no longer be seen from the east. This signified the end of Syaban.
The calculations were supported by the results of an observation of high tides. In Makassar Strait, high tide reached its highest level at 9 a.m. on Thursday. A similar condition also occurred in the Toli-toli and Luwuk Banggai seas in Central Sulawesi.
“When high tide reaches its highest level, it means the change from Syaban to Ramadhan has taken place,” said Lukman, adding that this year, Ramadhan would last 30 days.
Although the first day of Ramadhan was expected to fall on Friday, Lukman said, An Nadzir followers who lived along Mawang Lake in Somba Opu district, Gowa, South Sulawesi, had started fasting on Thursday. “It’s a sunnah [voluntary] day of fasting to welcome the holy month of Ramadhan.” (ebf)
