KUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds of Muslims from Yogyakarta were reported to have performed the Aidilfitri prayer and celebrated the end of the Ramadan fasting month on Friday (April 5) morning.
According to Indonesia's media portal, Antara, they were congregants of Aolia Mosque from Giriharjo Village, Panggang sub-district, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, where they ended their fast much earlier than the majority of Indonesian Muslims.
They were reported to have started fasting on March 7, a date determined by their spiritual leader, KH Raden Ibnu Hajar Sholeh Pranolo, also known as Mbah Benu among his followers.
The portal said the congregants began gathering at Aolia Mosque and the home of their spiritual leader at 6am local time yesterday and commenced the Eid prayer at 6.58am.
Mbah Benu urged his followers to preserve their unity and harmony. He also appealed to them not to criticise other Muslims who would celebrate Eid on a different date.
"Do not shame others as wrong. If they are wrong (that is fine), but if they are right, we will be on the wrong side," he said.
Meanwhile, Panggang III Hamlet of Giriharjo Village head, Agung, said the Aolia Mosque congregation has been observing Ramadan fasting and celebrating Aidilfitri on a different date from the majority of Muslims in the hamlet for a long time.
Despite their differences, congregants of Aolia Mosque and other Muslims in the region live in harmony.
"There has never been a conflict. (The congregation) has existed since before I was born," Agung said.
The head of the Islamic affairs section at the Yogyakarta provincial Religious Affairs Ministry Office, Jauhar Mustofa, said the Aolia Mosque congregation performs Islamic rituals similarly to other Muslims.
The only difference lies in determining the first day of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, as they follow their method for calculating the date.
"They have their own method introduced by their spiritual leader, Mr. Ibnu, and it is adhered to by his followers," he said.
Mustofa added that the regional office has no authority to compel the congregation to follow the government-determined date for their Islamic rituals.
"The difference in dates this year is five days, which is quite significant. Usually, the differences are only one or two days, but this year is different. It's no wonder they have attracted public attention."
He mentioned that the regional office will communicate with the congregation to ensure harmony between the government and religious leaders.