Semarang, NU Online
The education and training (Diklat) for rukyat practitioners organized by the country’s largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) was opened by the Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs Maftuh Basyuni on Sunday (17/12). The training conducted at the Semarang’s Grand Mosque Complex, Central Java, would purposefully run for a week.

The much-awaited forum was a series of programs of Nahdlatul Ulama Committee of Astrology (LFNU) within the frame of creating high-quality rukyat in responding to such dissenting opinions dealt with both hisab and rukyat.

<>It would reportedly involve experts of hisab, astrologists, rukyat practitioners from the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), LFNU, LAPAN (National Institute of Aeronautics and Space), BMG, Departmen of Religious Affairs, and so on.

About 100 delegates participating in the training were from regencies such as Lamongan, Gresik, Surabaya, Blitar, Malang, Jember, Banyuwangi, Probolinggo, Pamekasan, Bangkalan, Rembang, Jepara, Semarang, Batang, Tegal, Kebumen, Bantul, Banjar, Tasikmalaya, Sukabumi, Cilegon, Serang, and Lebak.

It would also involve researchers or coordinators of rukyat representing committees of astrology from East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, West Java, Banten, Jakarta and representatives from NTT, NTB, Bali, Manado, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, the Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, West Sumatra, Lampung, North Sumatra, and Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD).

There were also Islamic boarding schools namely Tebuireng Jombang, Lirboyo Kediri, Langitan Tuban, Salafiyah Syafi’iyyah Situbondo, Al Anwar Sarang Rembang, Maslakul Huda Kajen Pati, Al Hikmah Brebes, Tegalrejo Magelang, Kalibeber Wonosobo, Al Munawwir Krapyak Yogyakarta, Cipasung, Al Masturiyyah Tipar Sukabumi, Buntet Cirebon, Al Itqon Cengkareng Jakarta, and Subulus Salam Balaraja Tangerang. (nam)