PKS Asks For Differences In Eid Day Not To Create Splits But Tolerance Between Muslims

President of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Ahmad Syaikhu and Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Muhammad Mardiono/ANTARA

JAKARTA - President of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Ahmad Syaikhu asked that the difference in Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri/2023 AD can cause tolerance among fellow Muslims. "This difference is certainly not a factor that solves the nation's defense, but we actually open up spaces for prayer, tolerance between fellow people," said Syaikhu at the PPP DPP Office, Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, April 19. For this reason, he hopes that this polemic will be addressed more maturely. The difference in celebrating Eid 2023 between Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is not a factor that divides the nation. "Because each of them has a handle. Each of them has a basis, but it doesn't determine whether it will be different. Hopefully, it can also be together," he added. On the other hand, Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Muhammad Mardiono assessed the difference in celebrating Lebaran as also a form of tolerance from Muslims. Because, they as the majority religion in Indonesia do not impose their will. "If I'm not mistaken, on Friday the 21st, yes. We also amini that, but the government has not decided yet. Later, based on the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), we will decide based on the believed hilal. We will follow that later," said Mardiono. Previously, the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH Muhammad Cholil Nafis invited the Muslim community to carry out and celebrate Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri/2023 AD according to their respective beliefs. "There is Eid al-Fitr that has different opinions between Friday (21/4) and Saturday (22/4), please implement it according to their respective beliefs," he said in Jakarta, Wednesday (19/4). Cholil said the public may celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Friday (21/4) or Saturday (22/4) as long as they believe in their own beliefs and do not participate. He explained that differences of opinion like this are common and his party also responds to this by mutual tolerance. "The point is that we both believe that Eid al-Fitr will be held on the first day of Syawal Hijri, either Friday or Saturday," said the doctor who graduated from Malaya University. Previously, the Muhammadiyah Central Executive (PP) had determined that Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri falls on Friday (21/4) 2023. Meanwhile, the government through the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) are still waiting for the results of the isbat session which will be held on Thursday (20/4).

This difference occurs due to differences in the method where PP Muhammadiyah uses the hisab hakiki method in the formatul hilal method with a calculation in the science of Falak and astronomy, while NU uses the rukyatul hilal method with direct observations both with the naked eye and optical tools.