Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian Ministry of Religion Affairs will see a moon sighting to determine the beginning of Dhul Hijjah (the last month in Islamic calendar) 1443 Hijri on June 29 at 86 points throughout the country.

The moon sighting is also aimed at setting the date of Eid al-Adha 2022. Eid al-Adha or so-called the Feast of Sacrifice is one of two celebration days in Islam, signifying the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) to show his faith to Allah ﷻ.

"We have decided to hold the moon sighting in 86 locations throughout Indonesia," the ministry’s Director for Islamic Affairs and Sharia Development, Adib, said in a written statement received here on Saturday.

He said, the isbat session (confirmation on the first day of Dzul Hijjah) would be waiting for the results of the moon sighting throughout Indonesia.

The isbat session of Dhul Hijjah at the Indonesian Ministry of Religion office in Jakarta will be attended by a number of ambassadors from fellow countries, members of the House of Representatives, representatives of the Supreme Court and the Indonesian Ulemas (Muslim scholars) Council (MUI), as well as experts from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.

The session will also be attended by representatives of the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Bosscha planetarium of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), astronomers from Islamic organizations, related institutions and agencies, members of the hijri calendar unification team of the Ministry of Religion Affairs, and leaders of Islamic community organizations.

Reporting by Indonesia Window