Muhammadiyah Announces Eid Al-Fitr April 21, Early Ramadan Fasting Starting March 23

The tradition of topat Eid on Batulayar beach, West Lombok, NTB, Wednesday, June 2019. (Between-Ahmad S)

JAKARTA - The Muhammadiyah Central Leadership (PP) has set 1 Ramadan 1444 Hijriah or the beginning of fasting for the holy month falls on March 23. Meanwhile, 1 Syawal or Eid al-Fitr 2023 on April 21.

"The beginning of Ramadan, Syawal, and Zulhijah 1444 Hijriah was based on the results of the hakih formul hilal which was guided by the Tarjih Council and the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Tajdid," said Secretary of PP Muhammadiyah Muhammad Sayuti while reading the PP Muhammadiyah Declaration at the PP Muhammadiyah Office, Yogyakarta, Monday 6 February.

According to Sayuti, based on the calculation method used by Muhammadiyah, Tuesday Legi or 29 Syakban 1444 Hijri which coincided with 21 March 2023, ijtimak ahead of Ramadan had not yet occurred.

He said ijtimak only happened the next day, Wednesday Pahing, 30 Syakban 1444 Hijri to coincide with 22 March 2023 at 00.25.41 WIB with a moon height at sunset in Yogyakarta +07.57' 17.

"In all parts of Indonesia, at sunset the moon is above the horizon. The age of the 1444 H Syakban Month is 30 days, and the 1st of Ramadan 1444 H falls on Thursday Pon, March 23, 2023. So, starting Tarawih Wednesday night," he said.

Meanwhile, for the determination of 1 Syawal, ijtimak occurred on Thursday, April 20, 2023, exactly 29 Ramadan 1444 H, taking place at 11.15.06 WIB with the height of the moon at sunset in Yogyakarta +01$ 4758".

"With this condition, the hilal has been declared a manifestation. In all parts of Indonesia, when the moon sets, it is above the horizon," he said, quoted by Antara.

On this occasion, PP Muhammadiyah also determined 1 Dzulhijah on June 19, so that Eid al-Adha falls on June 28, 2023.

The determination of Zulhijah's Moon, Sayuti said, occurred at 11.39.47 WIB on Sunday Kliwon, June 18, 2023 M, to coincide with 29 Zulkaidah 1444 H. The height of the moon at sunset in Yogyakarta +01.00.25". With this height, throughout Indonesia at the time of sunset the position of the Moon is above the horizon.

"Therefore, the 1st of Zulhijah 1444 H falls on Monday Legi, June 19, 2023. Arafah Day or 9 Zulhijah 1444 H falls on Tuesday Wage, June 27, 2023. Eid al-Adha or 10 Zulhijah 1444 H falls on the day after that, namely Wednesday Kliwon, June 28, 2023," he said.

PP Muhammadiyah chairman Syamsul Anwar said that Muhammadiyah in the early determination of Qomariah, including Ramadan, Syawal, and Zulhijah, was not based on sightings, but on the geometric position of celestial objects, namely sun, earth, and moon.

"So the position, it's not visible or not," said Syamsul.

"According to the calculation on paper," said Syamsul, it is estimated that the determination of 1 Ramadan 1444 H will not be different throughout Indonesia.

According to him, differences may occur when the syawal and Zulhijah moons are determined because according to the criteria of the Ministers of Religion of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS) it is determined that the moon height is at least 3 degrees and for the elongation or distance of the moon and the sun, 6.4 degrees.

"It has not been fulfilled to be seen. The MABIMS criteria for hilal can be seen. If the criteria have not been met, it means they cannot be seen. Because it cannot be seen, then according to the MABIMS criteria the next day the conditions for entering the new moon cannot be met. Meanwhile, according to the criteria 'Wujudul Hilal' which is not based on appearance, which is not visible and visible, then the next day it has entered the new moon," he said.