"Alhamdulillah, we have been fasting for 30 days and performing Eid prayers earlier than the government's stipulated date, as we began our fasting earlier," leader of Mahfilud Islamic Boarding School Dluror KH Ali Wafa remarked in Jember District.
The residents performing Eid prayers at the Mahfilud Dluror Islamic Boarding School were not only residents of Jember District but also some of Bondowoso, as the pesantren was located in the border area of Jember and Bondowoso.
"Although we are celebrating Eid today, we always appeal to the santri and residents of the pesantren to continue to respect Muslims, who are still fasting," he stated.
Mahfilud Dluror Islamic Boarding School's students, santri, and the community around Islamic boarding schools had performed tarawih prayers on Saturday (May 4) evening and enjoyed a meal on Sunday (May 5) morning, so fasting began earlier than the government's determined date of the start of Ramadan on Monday (May 6).
"The initial determination of fasting in our pesantren was based on the book Nushatul Majaalis wa Muntahobul Nafaais, and the method was implemented since 1826, so it did not use the method of reckoning and rukyat," he explained.
He elaborated that the initial stipulation of fasting was based on beliefs that used the reference to the khumasi system, derived from Arabic that means five/khomsatun, which was based on the book of Nushatul Majaalis by Syeh Abdurrohman As Shufuri As Syafi'i.
"The system of calculation, which is the determination of the start of fasting this year, can be ascertained by counting five days from the start of the previous year's fast, specifically on Tuesday, so that the next five days are Sunday as the start of fasting this year," he stated.
Ali Wafa pointed to no compulsion to follow the results of ijtihad in the pesantren and that the people were free to choose to follow the stipulation of 1 Shawwal 1440 Hijrah in accordance with the determination of the government, Muhammadiyah, or follow the methods run by the pesantren that had been ongoing for many centuries.
"Although it is different from the government, pesantren citizens and alumni are appreciative of the existing differences and continue to live in harmony with the Muslims around them," he stated.
The government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, has stipulated that 1 Shawwal 1440 Hijriah falls on June 5, 2019, after it held an isbat hearing on Monday (June 3) night at the Ministry's building, Jakarta.
Translator: Zumrotun/Eliswan Azly
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
