Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah has announced that the first day of Syawal 1, 1435 Hijr, or Eid ul-Fitr to fall on Friday, July 17.

Muhammadiyah has set the first day of Eid ul-Fitr to fall on July 17, 2015

“ Muhammadiyah has set the first day of Eid ul-Fitr to fall on July 17, 2015 ,” stated Chairman of Muhammadiyah Jakarta DPW, Agus Suradika, Thursday (7/16).

Nevertheless, Suradika stated, the government remains to conduct isbat meeting or rukyatul hilal today on Thursday (7/16). "The government will hold a Isbat meeting today, just wait," he exclaimed. 

According to him, he used the concept of a “hisab hakiki wajudul hilal” calculation. It is based on the motion of celestial objects, especially the sun in factual months. Thus, the itjimak (conjunction between the moon and the sun) ahead of Ramadhan is on June 18, and ijtimak ahead Syawal 1436 Hijri falls on Friday.

“On that day, the moon already tangible, when the sun sets the moon is on the horizon. So, we decided to set Syawal 1 falls on July 17,” he asserted.

Muhammadiyah begin fasting earlier than government on last June 18. Meanwhile, the government set the first fasting that also coincides with Muhamadiyah. “Muhamadiyah conducted fasting for 30 full days,” he finished.