Jakarta, NU Online
The Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in its almanac published by NU Committee of Astrology (LFNU) predicts the 1st Ramadhan 1433 H will fall on Saturday, July 21, 2012. The prediction is based on the most modern astronomical and mathematical calculation.<>

"NU has predicted the beginning of Ramadhan, but it does not mean that NU has set the (Ramadhan) date. This is important to know," chairman of LFNU KH A. Masroeri Ghazalie told NU Online in Jakarta, Friday (6/7).

Ghazalie said, in calculating the beginning of months in Islamic calendar (qamariah / hijriyah), NU has used the most modern science of hisab (calculation). "NU uses so-called tahkiki tadzkiki-ashri."

Based on the calculation, as in NU almanac, the hilal at the time of doing rukyatul hilal (sighting of the moon) on Thursday (19/7) or 29 Ramadhan 1433 H the crescent (hilal) elevation was at 1 degree 38 minutes above horizon. In this case hilal was not visible (imkanur rukyat) so it could not be sighted.

According to Kiai Ghazalie, the MABIM member countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam) set 2 degrees as a minimum limit of the visibility of observation. "These (2 degrees), by the astronomers will be increased to 4 degrees," he said.

He added, astronomically the new moon (crescent) could be observed if it is still under the visibility limits of observation. Thus the NU almanac would fulfill the month of Sya'ban for 30 days based on the the rules of istikmal.

Contributor : A. Khoirul Anam
Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq