Thus, 'hilal' will have emerged when the sun goes down in YogyakartaJakarta (ANTARA) - Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization, has determined that the Idul Fitri festivity, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, will fall on Thursday.
The final decision was made by referring to the results of "hisab," or calculations, made by the organization's Majelis Tarjih and Tajdid, law-making and reform councils.
Based on the observation of "hilal," or the new moon, conjunction between the sun and the moon would occur on Wednesday, May 12, at 02:03:02 Western Indonesia Time (WIB).
"Thus, 'hilal' will have emerged when the sun goes down in Yogyakarta," Muhammadiyah Secretary Agung Danarto stated at a virtual press conference that ANTARA partook in here on Monday.
Indonesian Muslims apply two standard methods to determine the start of the fasting month of Ramadhan and the first day of Syawal that marks the Idul Fitri festivity.
If Muhammadiyah applies "hisab," or mathematical and astronomical calculations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, uses "rukyat," or lunar sightings.
For Muslims in Indonesia and other countries across the globe, this year's Idul Fitri is again celebrated amid the ongoing global pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The COVID-19 outbreak that initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019 has battered Indonesia's public health and economy.
In the wake of this pandemic situation, the Indonesian police have prohibited all activities that cause crowding, including the ones related to takbiran, or recital of God is great, events on the eve of Idul Fitri.
"All forms of activities that draw crowds are prohibited. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, any activity that potentially attracts crowds violates the law," Central Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner Hengki Haryadi stated on Sunday.
Hence, Haryadi cautioned the people at large to not congregate at the eve of Idul Fitri, as the takbiran events often led to crowding.
Any city-wide convoy to celebrate the takbiran parade in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also been dispersed.
The police also prioritize preventive measures to stop crowds from celebrating the Idul Fitri festivity, he stated.
Some 1,500 personnel from Central Jakarta's army, police, and city government have been deployed to secure the Operation Ketupat Jaya 2021.
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Translator: Asep F, Rahmad Nasution
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