EIGHT Estimates The Beginning Of Ramadan Will Be Uniform Set For April 13

Photo Archive (Maulana Surya / Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) estimates that the beginning of Ramadan 1442 Hijriah will be assigned uniforms on April 13, 2021.

"God willing, it will be uniform, at least the two major Islamic organizations of NU and Muhammadiyah will be uniform. So the beginning of Ramadan will be uniform on April 13," said Head of LAPAN Thomas Djamaluddin in a written statement, reported by Antara, Tuesday, March 30.

Muhammadiyah has set the beginning of Ramadan 1442 Hijriah to fall on April 13, 2021 based on the results of the reckoning, which show that on April 12 evening after sunset the position of the new moon (hilal) in Yogyakarta is at an altitude above the horizon of 3 degrees 44 minutes 38 seconds.

In determining the start of Ramadan, Muhammadiyah uses the criteria for the form of a hilal with a moon height of around zero degrees. Meanwhile, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) uses the criteria for the height of the moon 2 degrees above the horizon.

With these criteria, the determination of the start of Ramadan between the two Islamic organizations will be different if the position of the moon is between 0 and 2 degrees.

However, according to LAPAN, this year the position of the month on 29 Shakban or 12 April is already above 2 degrees. This means that it has met the criteria of both NU and Muhammadiyah.

The Ministry of Religion has yet to set the start of Ramadan.

The government usually sets the beginning of Ramadan based on the results of reckoning or calculations and rukyatul hilal, observations of the visibility of the hilal or crescent moon at sunset before the beginning of the Hijri month.

The Ministry of Religion plans to hold an isbat session to determine the start of Ramadan on April 12, 2021.