CAIRO — With Muslims worldwide are readying to sight the moon of `Eid Al-Fitr, mosques across Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, are finalizing preparation for `Eid prayers. "Whether it is Sunday or Monday, we will be ready to hold `Eid prayers," Muhammad Wahyono, the Istiqlal Grand Mosque committee secretary for Ramadan committee, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday, September 19.
The mosque, which is expected to draw 100,000 worshippers, has been furnished for the Muslim festival, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
`Eid al-Fitr 1430: Give & Forgive The `Eid religious sermon and khateeb (the scholar who delivers the sermon) are also ready for the prayers.
"Many people believe that `Eid Al-Fitr will fall on Sunday, but since Istiqlal is not authorized to determine the time, we will wait for the official announcement from the government," said Wahyono.
Other mosques, including the Sunda Kelapa Grand Mosque in Menteng in Central Jakarta and Pondok Indah Raya Mosque in South Jakarta, also finalized preparations for the prayers.
"Most likely, `Eid Al-Fitr will fall on Sunday. But if it falls on Monday, then so be it," said Heri Saliman of the Sunda Kelapa Mosque.
Indonesia will sight the moon of `Eid Al-Fitr on Saturday.
`Eid Al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Adha.
After special prayers to mark the day, festivities and merriment start.
During `Eid days, families and friends exchange visits to express well wishes and children, wearing new clothes bought especially for `Eid, enjoy going out in parks and open fields.
`Eid Prayers
`Eid prayers have already been decided on Sunday in mosques affiliated to Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second largest Muslim group.
"We will hold the prayer on Sunday in line with Muhammadiyah," said Helmi Ramahdani, of Al-Huda Mosque in Tebet, South Jakarta.
"The date has been fixed."
Muhammadiyah has said that its millions of followers will celebrate the three-day Muslim festival on Sunday, September 20.
Al-Azhar Mosque in South Jakarta is also ready for `Eid prayers on Sunday.
"We have made all the preparations, including sound system, security arrangements and khotib for the prayers," said Abdul Rahman Gayo, head of the mosque’s Ramadan committee.
Moon sighting has always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem at odds over the issue.
While one group of scholars sees that Muslims in other regions and countries are to follow the same moon sighting as long as these countries share one part of the night, another states that Muslims everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia.
A third, however, disputes both views, arguing that the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the country should all abide by this.
Source: IslamOnline
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