Eid Al-Fitr 1 Syawal 1441 H Fall On Sunday, May 24, 2020

Illustration (Photo: rizky yogatama on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The government, through the Ministry of Religion, has finished holding a session to determine the Eid Al-Fitr in 2020. As a result, it was decided that Eid Al-Fitr 1 Syawal 1441 H would fall on Sunday, May 24.

"1 Shawwal 1441 H falls on Sunday or Sunday 24 May 2020," said Minister of Religion Fachrul Razi in Jakarta, Friday, May 22.

The Early Isbat Syawal 1441H Session was attended only physically by the Minister of Religion Fachrul Razi, Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi, Chairperson of Commission VIII Yandri Susanto, Chair of MUI KH Abdullah Jaidi, and Director General of Islamic Guidance and Guidance, Kamaruddin Amin.

Meanwhile, leaders of mass organizations, astronomy experts, the Religious Courts, as well as other Echelon I and II officials of the Ministry of Religion followed the isbat session through video conference media.

The series of isbat sessions began with the explanation of astronomical experts from the Ministry of Religion Falakiyah Team, regarding the astronomical position of the new moon on 29 Ramadan 1441 H. The process of determining the initial Syawal uses the reckoning and rukyat methods in determining the start of the Hijri month.

The Ministry of Religion's Falakiyah Team stated that the height of the new moon throughout Indonesia was below the horizon, which ranged from minus 5.29 to minus 3.96 degrees, "explained Fachrul.

In carrying out the isbat session, the government uses two methods, namely the reckoning and the rukyat method. The monitoring method is by directly observing the presence of the new moon.

Fachrul continued, the information on hisab calculations was confirmed by 80 rukyat points. Of the 80 point locations, all reported not seeing the new moon. With such a position, the hilal is not possible to see today.

"Therefore, the reckoning report is still under the horizon, then the rukyat report does not see the new moon," he said.

For information, this year's Eid situation is certainly different from previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire community is prohibited from carrying out Eid prayers in mosques or fields. The community is also prohibited from keeping in touch with crowds.