The Isbat Session For The Early Determination Of Syawal 1442 H Was Held On Tuesday 11 May

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion will hold a session for determining the beginning of Syawal 1442 Hijriyah or Eid celebration which falls every 1st of Syawal of the Hijri calendar on Tuesday, May 11.

"The first isbat of Syawal will be held on May 11, 2021 or Ramadan 29, 1442 Hijriyah," said Director General of Islamic Guidance, Kamaruddin Amin, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, May 5.

Isbat assembly is a meeting to determine the month related to worship. However, in a more popular way, in Indonesia the isbat session is associated with the determination of the arrival of the months of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is scheduled to directly chair the isbat session. Because it is still a COVID-19 pandemic, the isbat trial is carried out following health protocols and takes place offline and online.

The number of participants attending is limited according to the provisions of the COVID-19 prevention health protocol. Some of the participants are only allowed to participate via teleconference via the internet network.

"In accordance with the health protocol, the invitation to attend the trial is limited to only being attended by the Minister of Religion and Deputy Minister of Religion, the Indonesian Ulema Council, Commission VIII of the DPR, as well as a number of ambassadors from friendly countries and representatives of mass organizations," said Kamaruddin.

The public, he said, could watch the isbat process through the TVRI live broadcast service and the Ministry of Religion's social media. Even so with the media, coverage was also held on a limited basis.

"The Ministry of Religion is collaborating with TVRI to become a TV Pool. Media wishing to broadcast Syawal's early isbat session can coordinate with TVRI. We also use the Ministry of Religion's social media for live streaming," he continued.

Meanwhile, the Director of Islamic Affairs Agus Salim said the isbat session was divided into three stages. First, the explanation of the position of the initial moonlight for Shawwal 1442 H by members of the Ministry of Religion's Hijri Calendar Unification Team. This session will begin at 16.45 WIB and broadcast live.

After Maghrib, the isbat session is chaired by the Minister of Religion, starting with listening to reports on hisab data and the results of the rukyatul hilal.

"The results of the isbat session will be announced by the Minister of Religion by teleconference and broadcast live by TVRI as a TV Pool and live streaming of the Ministry of Religion's social media," he said.

The Ministry of Religion is scheduled to conduct rukyatul hilal at 88 points throughout Indonesia. In DKI Jakarta, the rukyatul hilal will be held at the 7th floor of the DKI Jakarta Ministry of Religion, West Jakarta Al-Musyariin Basmol Mosque, Pulau Karya Kepulauan Seribu, and KH Hasyim Asy'ari Mosque, West Jakarta.