National

NU calls on Muslims not to quarrel over start of Ramadhan

Senin, 8 Juli 2013 | 10:39 WIB

Jakarta, NU Online
Member of the NU Advisory Council KH Ma'ruf Amin callen on Muslims not to quarrel over possible differences in starting the fasting month of Ramadhan.<>

"It is very likely that Ramadhan would be started differently with Muhammadiyah to start it on Tuesday while the government still has yet to determine it on Monday evening but will likely to decide it will start on Wednesday," he said.

The Associate chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) said the differences could occur because of different methods used to determined the first day of Ramadhan.

Two Indonesia's largest Muslim organizations like NU and Muhammadiyah, he said, had their own method in determining the beginning of the holy month.
"Muhammadiyah uses so-called hisab (calculations) while NU uses rukyat (moon sighting)," he said, adding that Muslims should develop tolerance and not be trapped into their differences and a quarrel.

He said Muslims must promote brotherhood and would see the differences as a blessing.

"People also must not become spendthrifts that would only bring disadvantages," he said.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq