MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURABAYA — This year, Indonesian Muslims will once again celebrate Eid al-Adha on different days, as has happened frequently in the past. Agus Purwanto, a member of the Muhammadiyah Council for Religious Opinion and Tajdid, explained on Friday (June 7) that this difference is not a new phenomenon and should not come as a surprise to Indonesians.
The pattern of these differing dates has varied in recent years. In the two years prior to 2024, Eid al-Adha in Saudi Arabia coincided with the date set by Muhammadiyah, but fell on a day earlier than the Indonesian government’s date. In other years, Eid al-Adha in Saudi Arabia aligned with the government’s date, while Muhammadiyah observed it a day earlier. There have also been years when all three entities – Muhammadiyah, the Indonesian government, and Saudi Arabia – celebrated Eid al-Adha on the same day.
For 2024, Eid al-Adha in Saudi Arabia falls before the dates set by both Muhammadiyah and the Indonesian government. Muhammadiyah determined that the 29th of Dhul Qadah 1445 AH would fall on Thursday, June 6, 2024. However, the conjunction (the meeting of the sun and moon) had not yet occurred at Maghrib (sunset) on that day. Because the conjunction did not take place until 7:04 Western Indonesia Time (WIB), the month of Dhul Qadah is considered to have 30 days. Therefore, according to Muhammadiyah’s Wujudul Hilal criteria, the 1st of Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH falls on Saturday, June 8, 2024, making Eid al-Adha fall on Monday, June 17, 2024.
The Indonesian government, which uses a different method for determining the beginning of Islamic months, starts Dhul Qadah one day later than Muhammadiyah. Consequently, the government determined that the 29th of Dhul Qadah 1445 H would fall on Friday, June 7, 2024. By Maghrib on that day, the conjunction had already occurred, and the crescent moon reached a height of 8 degrees 48 seconds, satisfying the criteria for the start of the month according to the MABIMS version. As a result, the government designated Saturday, June 8, 2024 as the 1st of Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH, with Eid al-Adha following on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Saudi Arabia, like Muhammadiyah, uses the Wiladatul Hilal method to determine the beginning of Dhul Qadah. Therefore, their calendar aligned with Muhammadiyah’s, placing the 29th of Dhul Qadah 1445 H on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Calculations using Stellarium for Jeddah showed that sunset on that day occurred at 7:00 PM Saudi Time (11:00 PM Western Indonesia Time) with a crescent height of 1 degree 58 seconds. Since the crescent moon was visible, Saudi Arabia confidently declared Friday, June 7, 2024 as the beginning of Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH, leading to an Eid al-Adha celebration on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
This difference in dates will inevitably lead to variations in the observance of the Arafah fast and wukuf (standing in vigil) on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. Ideally, these practices would be performed at the same time by Muslims around the world. The ongoing discrepancies highlight the importance of a single global hijri calendar. This calendar would establish a unified approach, ensuring that all Muslims celebrate Islamic holidays on the same day. With a KHGT, the variations in fasting and wukuf on Arafah would be eliminated, fostering a greater sense of global unity and togetherness among Muslims.
