NU won't announce Syawal 1st before government decision

Jakarta, NU Online
In accordance with astronomical calculation (hisab), Indonesia's biggest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has been capable of determining the first day of Syawal or Idul Fitri 1429 H (Islamic calendar). But this organization will not publicly announce its decision before the meeting of government in determining the 1st of Syawal.

Chairman of the Astronomical Committee of Nahdlatul Ulama (LFNU) KH Ghazali Masroeri made the remarks at a press conference at the NU headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/9).<>

KH Ghazali said that NU had used the hisab method in dealing with each first day of Islamic months long before doing rukyat (moon sighting) as shown in the NU published annual calendar.

In this regard, according to KH Ghazali, NU has had its own decision related to  the Idul Fitri holiday this year. The mathematical method was not enough however. For NU the result of hisab should be proven through the process of rukyatul hilal (crescent observation).

"The hisab methodology used by NU is the one whose high accuracy by a criterion of imkanur rukyah (the possibility of observing crescent). This hisab is used to direct, control, and support the process of rukyat in obtaining the best rukyat," he said.

He further explained that the LFNU would help create such public calm by considering the importance of not announcing the day for Idul Fitri before the government decision.

For that reason, he said, NU and other Muslim organizations along with the Department of Religious Affairs would first of all conduct rukyatul hilal ahead of the meeting in determining the first day of Syawal (Idul Fitri). The rukyatul hilal itself would be conducted in some 55 locations by involving experts and astronomers on 29 September 2008.

"This rukyat will be used as a means of evaluating the results of astronomical calculations," KH Ghazali said. (rif)