Ministry Of Religion Asks People To Respect Each Other's Differences In The Beginning Of Ramadan

DOC BETWEEN PHOTO/Abriawan Abhe/YU

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion urges Muslims to prioritize dialogue and respect each other for the potential differences in the beginning of fasting Ramadan 1445 Hijri/2024 AD.

"We respect the choices and beliefs of Muslims in starting the fast of Ramadan 1445 H/2024 AD. Respecting each other needs to be put forward in responding to differences," said Ministry of Religion spokesman Anna Hasbie as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, March 8.

Ramadan 1445 H/2024 M in Indonesia has the potential not to start together. The majority of Muslims will start fasting Ramadan 1445 H on March 11 or 12, 2024.

The Tarjih Council of Muhammadiyah Central Executives has announced the beginning of Ramadan fasting on March 11, 2024, while the new government will hold an early Ramadan 1445 H session on March 10, 2024.

"The trial will decide whether this year's Ramadan fasting will start on March 11 or 12," he said.

However, there is a group of worshipers who have started fasting on March 7. There are also those who will start fasting on March 10.

In the spirit of mutual respect, said Anna, dialogue spaces must still be opened because science is increasingly advanced and growing, including related to astronomy.

The determination of the beginning of the Hijri month can be approached empirically through the reckoning and/or rukyatul hilal, not only based on spiritual beliefs, so that the arguments about it are also scientific.

"The Ministry of Religion continues to open spaces for dialogue and discussions related to the determination of the beginning of Ramadan. From there, it is hoped that there will be a process of exchanging information and understanding regarding options in starting Ramadan fasting," he said.

Muhammadiyah, for example, established Ramadan on March 11 because of historical hilal arguments, while the government used the reckoning approach as initial information and rukyatullilal

as confirmation.

"How was the initial argument of Ramadan 1445 H on March 7 or March 10? We can discuss it so that it can provide mutual understanding," said Anna.