{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1794442,
        "msgid": "muhammadiyah-cadres-challenge-religious-courts-law-on-isbat-and-hisab-method-at-constitutional-court-1781049058",
        "date": "2026-06-10 06:05:00",
        "title": "Muhammadiyah Cadres Challenge Religious Courts Law on Isbat and Hisab Method at Constitutional Court",
        "author": "Indriyani Astuti",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Legal",
        "summary": "The Constitutional Court is reviewing a judicial challenge to the Religious Courts Law, brought by three Muhammadiyah cadres who argue the law discriminates against the hisab method of determining the Islamic calendar. The applicants contend that the law and its explanatory notes grant exclusive state recognition to the rukyat hilal (moon sighting) method, creating legal uncertainty and inequality. The panel of judges has requested the applicants strengthen their legal standing and clarify the specific harm suffered before the case proceeds.",
        "content": "<p>The Constitutional Court (MK) held a preliminary hearing on Tuesday\n(9\/6\/2026) for a judicial review of Law Number 3 of 2006 concerning\nAmendments to Law Number 7 of 1989 on Religious Courts. The lawsuit\nfocuses on the constitutionality of the isbat mechanism for the start\nand end of Ramadan, which is deemed discriminatory against users of the\nhisab method. The petition was filed by three Muhammadiyah cadres: Andri\nSumarna, Muhammad Fajri Nur Rizky, and Rozak Daud. They are challenging\nArticle 52A and its elucidation in the Religious Courts Law, which they\nbelieve contradicts the 1945 Constitution. Article 52A of the Religious\nCourts Law states that the religious courts provide isbat for testimony\nof rukyat hilal in determining the beginning of Hijri months. However,\nthe applicants highlighted the elucidation of the article, which grants\nthe Minister of Religious Affairs the authority to nationally determine\n1 Ramadan and 1 Syawal based on rukyat isbat. According to the\napplicants, this legal construction causes the rukyat hilal method to\nreceive official state recognition, whilst the hisab method they adhere\nto does not obtain equal standing. This is considered to create legal\nuncertainty and discriminatory treatment in performing worship. Juanda,\nthe applicants\u2019 legal counsel, stated that the difference in substance\nbetween the body of Article 52A and the Elucidation of Article 52A\ncreates an inconsistency of norms. He explained that an elucidation\nshould only serve as interpretation, not add new norms or narrow the\nscope of the law. In this case, the elucidation is considered to narrow\nthe scope of the Hijri year to only Ramadan and Syawal, and to add\nauthority to the Minister of Religious Affairs not contained in the body\nof the article. The hearing was chaired by Chief Justice Suhartoyo, with\npanel members Constitutional Justices M. Guntur Hamzah and Daniel Yusmic\nP. Foekh. The judges provided several notes for improving the petition.\nJustice M. Guntur Hamzah suggested the applicants sharpen their legal\nstanding and strengthen the posita of their petition, while Justice\nDaniel Yusmic asked them to be more careful in aligning the articles\nunder review with the petitum submitted. Chief Justice Suhartoyo\nspecifically asked the applicants to prove the real loss suffered from\nthe norm in the Religious Courts Law, particularly regarding the hisab\nmethod related to the isbat hearing. The court granted the applicants\ntime to revise their petition before the case proceeds to the next\nstage.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muhammadiyah-cadres-challenge-religious-courts-law-on-isbat-and-hisab-method-at-constitutional-court-1781049058",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}