MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Muhammadiyah announced the dates for Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH. The eagerly awaited pronouncement, delivered at a press conference in Yogyakarta on Saturday (January 20), offers guidance and stirs anticipation for millions of Muslims across the nation as they prepare for these significant religious moments.
Dismissing any notion of competition, President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir emphasized the normalcy of their annual date announcement. “This is not about pre-empting others,” he clarified. “It’s a custom, just like various other Islamic organizations and even governments do.”
But what sets Muhammadiyah apart is its unique method: hisab wujudul hilal hakiki, a meticulous astronomical calculation. And while this may lead to occasional date discrepancies with other observers, Haedar urged unity rather than discord. “If differences emerge, as they occasionally do within Indonesia, let’s embrace tolerance and mutual understanding,” he appealed.
He reminded everyone that the essence of these holy days transcends any discrepancies in timing. “Whether we share the same dates or not, let us be mindful of the true meaning of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha,” he stressed. “Let them deepen our spirituality, strengthen our faith, and bring us closer to one another.”
Haedar, however, expressed his fervent hope for a universally accepted Islamic calendar. “This is a debt we owe to our civilization,” he declared. “As the Quran commands us to ‘read,’ we must become a thinking people, united by a calendar built on scientific principles.”
Muhammadiyah’s pronouncement not only offers clarity for Indonesian Muslims but also reignites the ongoing conversation about the urgency of a global Islamic calendar within the larger Islamic world. While date variations may persist, the shared spirit of faith and brotherhood remain the pillars upon which bridges of understanding can be built.
