REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government decided that the fasting month 2018 begins on Thursday (May 17) based on the results of the Isbat (decision) session held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs here on Tuesday evening. The Isbat session was attended by among others representatives of Islamic mass organizations, astronomers and a number of guests.

In 2017, the fasting month began on Saturday (May 27) based on the results of the Isbat.

In the meantime, the disciples of Naqsabandiyah Tariqa, one of sufism's teachings in Padang, West Sumatra, have started fasting of Ramadhan 2018.

The disciples of the Naqsabandiyah Tariqa had prayed Tarawih prayer on Monday evening and started to fast after sunrise of Monday morning.

"We have decided and it's based on 'hisab' in the night of Rasulullah SAW Hijra from Mecca to Medina," Chairman of Naqsabandiyah Tariqa Syafri Malin Mudo said in Padang on Tuesday.

The hisab, or mathematical and astronomical calculation to determine the advent of lunar Islamic calendar (Hijri), by the Naqsabandiyah was believed based on Prophet Muhammad's Hijra on Wednesday evening or Thursday's night.

That means the first day of Ramadhan for the Naqsabandiyah disciples is started in the night of Prophet Muhammad's Hijra and the length of fasting month per year of Hijri will be rounded to 30 days. Hence, for them, Eid al-Fitr of the first of Shawwal will fall on June 13, 2018. It is the end of the fasting of Ramadan.

Besides fasting in Ramadhan, the Naqsabandiyah will also fast for six days after the first Shawwal.

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