Most of Indonesian Ulemas agree
Ramadhan begins August 1

Jakarta|badilag.net (31/7/2011)

Suryadhama Ali, the Religious Affairs Miniter, stated that Rahmadhan for this year begins at the first of August. He said after closing a meeting to determine when Indonesian Moslem officially will start fasting, Sunday (31/7/2011).

The meeting held in Operation Room, the Religious Affairs Ministry’s Office was attended by ambassadors from some Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Libia, and Palestine. Echelon I and II from the Supreme Court, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Muhammadiyah, PB NU, PERSIS, PUI, etc also attended in the meeting.

 

.

 

According to hisab (astronomical calculation), the hilal (the new moon) would be sighted at early evening of July 31. The position of the hilal was at 40 55' - 60 50' and it was reported from 32 location including Makassar, Gresik, Bangkalan etc.

To determine the beginning of Ramadhan, all Religious Courts were instructed by Badilag to make coordination with regional office chief of the religious affairs. And the meeting to determine the hilal must comply with the official letter of the chief justice no KMA/095/X/2006.

There are two methods to determine the hilal, namely hisab (astronomical calculation) and rukyat (the direct hilal sighting). In the previous year, and it was common to happen that Indonesia Muslims were divided in determining the beginning and the end of Ramadhan. It was caused by their different methods.

Fortunately, the majority of Muslim in Indonesia often comply with the decision stipulated by the Religious Affairs Ministry.  
(Arijaya)