Jakarta. Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas urged local governments to facilitate Eid mass prayer among Muhammadiyah followers scheduled for Friday, which potentially comes a day earlier than the government’s stipulated date for the country’s biggest national holiday.

His call came amid reports that authorities in Pekalongan and Sukabumi refused to allow Muhammadiyah to use public squares as the venue for the prayer until they get confirmation on what date the Eid will come according to the government.

The central government usually held a conference involving Muslim scholars and prominent figures to confirm the sighting of the crescent Moon on the last day of Ramadan before announcing the date for Eid or the first day of Syawal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.

Muhammadiyah on the other hand determined the first day of Syawal in advance, even before Ramadan began, and it became common in the past that the Muslim group’s pre-determined date for Eid very often came a day earlier that the government version.

"We ask local governments to facilitate our Muhammadiyah brothers who will perform the Eid prayer this Friday," Yaqut told reporters at his office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The minister said there’s no point in disrupting the Muhammadiyah Eid prayer, adding that differences should be celebrated as a blessing.

"We commonly accept that the Eid comes on the first day of Syawal but we may have different opinions over what the date it is [based on the Gregorian calendar]," he said.

The government will announce the date for Eid after the so-called isbat conference that will begin on Thursday afternoon.

Reports said that the regency governments in Pekalongan and Sukabumi have finally granted permits for Muhammadiyah to use public squares for its Eid prayer this week.

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