MUI expects Islamic organizations to celebrate idul fitri on same date

Yogyakarta, NU Online
The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) expects mainstream Islamic organizations to celebrate Idul Fitri, the festive day marking the end of the fasting month, on the same date.

Secretary of MUI-Yogyakarta Chapter Ahmad Muhsin Kamaludiningrat said the majority of Indonesian Muslims had started the fasting month of Ramadan on the same day.<<>br />
They were also expected to celebrate Idul Fitri on the same day, he said.

"Insya Allah (God willing), there will be no different dates for the Idul Fitri celebration," he said.

Indonesia`s two largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, observed the same date as the government despite different methods of calculating the start of Ramadan.

If Muhammadiyah depends on astronomical calculations, NU refers to the sighting of the new moon called rukyah.

The NU and Muhammadiyah followers started the first day of Ramadan on August 11.
In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month. During the sacred month, fasting Muslims are not allowed to eat, drink, have sex with married spouses, and do any other forbidden activity from dawn until sunset.

After a month-long fasting, Muslims in Indonesia and other parts of the world celebrate the end of Ramadan festivities commonly called the Idul Fitri.

A part from the undecided date of Idul Fitri, NU Chairman KH Said Aqil Siradj has called on Indonesian Muslims to celebrate the festivities next week in simple or modest ways.

Through a simple life style, Muslims could help one another, especially the less fortunate brothers and sisters in Islam, he told people attending an NU-organized fast breaking event here.

"According to Islam, the essence of Idul Fitri is not substantiated by new material things but by an effort to bring one`s self closer to God," he said.

Siradj also called on Indonesian Muslims to strengthen and maintain brotherhood by visiting family members, relatives, and friends.

This tradition was necessary to create peaceful and caring lives, and also would enable Muslims to get rid of social disintegration and the spirit of individualism, he said.

In celebrating the end of the Ramadan fasting month, solidarity among Muslims and among Indonesians as one nation was highly recommended, he said.

"With these efforts, our national integrity as a nation will remain strong and Indonesia becomes a peaceful and secure nation," he said. (ant/dar)