The government announced on Tuesday (5/1) that the first day of Syawal month, which marks the Eid al-Fitr 1442 Hijri celebration, would fall on Thursday (5/13).

Religion Minister, Yaqut Cholil Qourmas said that the altitude of the new moon across Indonesia was below the horizon of minus 5 degrees 36 minutes under to 39 minutes.

It was done by calculating and rukyatul hilal or seeing directly the presence of the hilal. The hisab (astronomical calculation) and rukyatul hilal (lunar movement observation) methods were complementary methods.

"We have endorsed the decision made during a limited isbat (confirmation) meeting," he said, Tuesday (5/10).

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Chairman, Miftachul Akhyar explained this agreement had previously predicted that from all the almanacs of Islamic mass organizations and expert calculations, today nothing special happened at night.

"The moon is still far below the law, so in Istiqlal our fast is subject to 30 days. This means that Eid al-Fitr will fall on Thursday," he closed.