JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) has set the first day of fasting or the beginning of Ramadan 1444 Hijri falls on March 23, 2023.

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said this decision was taken after reports of a number of Indonesian regions witnessing the hilal.

"In consensus that 1 Ramadan in 1444 Hijri falls on Thursday, March 23, 2022 AD," Yaqut said in a press conference broadcast on the Indonesian Ministry of Religion's Youtube, Wednesday, March 22.

Thus, the public can start performing tarawih prayers today, Wednesday, March 23 evening. The initial time of Ramadan set by the government is similar to the decisions of PBNU and Muhammadiyah.

Yaqut explained that information on the count of reckoning had been informed by a number of Ministry of Religion in areas that were placed at 124 rukyat points in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

As a result, the height of the hilal in all parts of Indonesia is currently in a position between 6 degrees 46.2 minutes to 8 degrees 43.2 minutes.

Meanwhile, based on the new criteria agreed by MABIMS, at the beginning of the month of Ramadan entered if the position of the hilal at sunset was 3 degrees and the elongation was 6.4 degrees.

"In 124 rukyatul hilal throughout Indonesia, there are several people who have reported seeing the hilal as reported by the Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development, therefore based on the reckoning the position of the hilal throughout Indonesia is already above the horizon and has fulfilled the diversity of the MABIMS," said Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.


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