Jakarta, The Religious Affairs Ministry has officially declared that the beginning of Ramadan will fall on Tuesday. The announcement was made by Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in a press conference held on Sunday, following the unanimous agreement from Muslim scholars on clerics.

The isbat session (meeting of Islamic authorities), attended by representatives from the ministry, Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Geospatial Information Agency, astronomy experts, and various Islamic organizations, aimed to determine the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

Prior to the session, the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Ramadan Team conducted an observation of the hilal (crescent moon) position in Indonesia, determining that it was not visible. This conclusion led to the decision that the first day of Ramadan would fall on Tuesday, based on hisab (calculation).

Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas appealed to the Muslim community to embrace and respect the differences in the commencement of Ramadan, emphasizing that Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization, had previously declared that the first day of Ramadan would be on Monday.

"We are aware of the differences, but it is natural. We must continue to respect and uphold the values of tolerance to create a conducive atmosphere," added Minister Yaqut.

Meanwhile, in Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta, hundreds of Muhammadiyah congregants gathered at the Al Isra Grand Mosque on Sunday night to perform the first tarawih prayer of the Ramadan season. Both male and female worshippers attended the tarawih prayer.

Rifki Maulana, the Chairman of the Al Isra Grand Mosque Management Board, explained that the decision to conduct the first tarawih prayer was based on the determination made by Muhammadiyah's Hisab Board, which stated that Ramadan would commence on Monday.

"We follow the decision conveyed by the Central Leadership Tarjih Council of Muhammadiyah, stating that Ramadan begins on March 11. Therefore, tonight, March 10, we are performing the first tarawih prayer," stated Rifki on Sunday night.

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