Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama said that the first day of Ramadhan, the Muslim fasting month would fall on Wednesday (10/7).<>

Secretary General of the Central Board of NU KH Marshudi Syuhud made the remarks on the itsbat (corfirmation) meeting held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Monday night.

Marshudi said that observations conducted by the rukyatul hilal teams of the NU Astrology Committee had concluded that the hilal (crescent moon) which marks the beginning of the new moon, was not yet visible.

"Because the resut of the rukyat (carried out by the NU rukyatul hilal team) did not sight the crescent moon (today), NU determines that the beginning of Ramadhan will fall on Wednesday (10/7)," he said.

Following the result of the itsbat meeting attended by some 16 Islamic organizations, the government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that the first day of Ramadhan would fall on Wednesday.

Muhammadiyah, which uses calendar-based calculations, has previously announced that the fasting month would begin on Tuesday (9/7).

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq