JAKARTA,- The Indonesian government through its Religious Affairs Ministry decided on Sunday evening that this year’s Ramadhan fasting month began on Monday, August 1, 2011.
The decision was taken in an isbat meeting led by Religious Affairs Minister Suryadhama Ali and attended by Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin, Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary General Bahrul Hayat, Director General for Islamic Guidance Nasaruddin Umar, leaders of Islamic organizations and ambassadors of other countries.
"Taking into account the report of the Hisab and Rukyat Body (calculation and sighting of the new moon) and ulemas considerations, we all agree that Ramadhan starts on Monday, August 1, 2011," Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said while banging the gavel on his desk.
Chairman of the Hisab and Rukyat Body Ahmad Jauhari reported to the isbat meeting the results of the new moon observations throughout Indonesia. He said that data collected by the directorate general of Islamic guidance at a number of observation sites indicated that the end of the month of Syaban fell on July 31, 2011, at 13.45 pm Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB).
"When the sun set, the crescent position was above the horizon at the height of 4 degrees, 50 minutes up to 5 degrees 50 minutes," Jauhari, who is also director of Islamic affairs and syariah development of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said.
He said that of the 38 observation locations, three locations where witnesses said that they saw the new moon, namely in the GTC Mall, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Condrodipo Hill in Gresik East Java and Bangkalan, Madura, East Java.
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