Ramadan Starts on Friday: Gov’t

Minister of Religious Affairs Fachrul Razi announces the first day of Ramadan 1441 Hijri. Photo by: Ministry of Religious Affairs

The Government has announced that the first day of this year’s fasting month of Ramadan falls on Friday (24/4).

“Participants in the isbat Meeting have unanimously agreed that the first day of Ramadan will fall tomorrow on Friday, 24 April, 2020,” Minister of Religious Affairs Fachrul Razi said Thursday (23/4), referring to the annual meeting attended by the Government and Islamic organizations to determine the first day of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha.

This agreement, according to the Minister, was reached after participants got the report of rukyat (new moon observation) and analyzed the hisab (astronomical calculation).

“These two factors are complementary,” Fachrul said.

Astronomically, at the sunset of 23 April, 2020, the position of hilal (the new moon) in all parts of Indonesia is already above the horizon, ranging from 2 degrees 41 minutes to 3 degrees 44 minutes.

The astronomical data is confirmed by the rukyat conducted at 82 observation points in 34 provinces across Indonesia.

The Minister also said that six rukyat officers have testified under oath that they saw the new moon. The rukyat officers, he added, saw the hilal at the observation point in Gresik (2 officers), Pasuruan, and Bojonegoro (3 officers).

“After taking into account the calculation of the new moon position and the testimony of our officers, all the participants of the isbat meeting unanimously agreed that 1 Ramadan 1441 Hijri will fall tomorrow 24 April  2020,” the Minister concluded (Public Relations of Ministry of Religious Affairs/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas