Jakarta, VIVA \u2013 The government, through the Ministry of Religious\nAffairs, has determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Thursday,\n19 February 2026, whilst Muhammadiyah had earlier declared that fasting\nwould commence on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.<\/p>\n
Responding to the discrepancy, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin\nUmar urged the public not to allow the difference to become a source of\ndivision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all hope that this decision will enable all Muslims across\nIndonesia to begin their fast together. May this serve as a symbol of\nMuslim unity in Indonesia, reflecting our solidarity as fellow citizens\nin welcoming a brighter future,\u201d Nasaruddin said at a press conference\nfollowing the Isbat Session for 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah at Hotel\nBorobudur, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.<\/p>\n
He also reminded the public that should certain groups observe\nworship at a different time, this must be understood as a matter of\nconviction. \u201cAnd should there be members of our Muslim community who may\ndo things differently, it is truly in accordance with their respective\nconvictions. We urge the entire public \u2014 such differences in the past\nhave not caused us to split or differ in any negative sense,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us turn these differences into a most beautiful collaboration.\nIndonesia has long experience of differing yet remaining in a most\nbeautiful unity,\u201d Nasaruddin added.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs\u2019 Hisab Rukyat Team,\nthe position of the crescent moon (hilal) across all regions of\nIndonesia on 29 Sha\u2019ban 1447 H, or 17 February 2026, did not meet the\nMABIMS visibility criteria. The standard requires a minimum lunar\naltitude of 3 degrees and a minimum elongation of 6.4 degrees.<\/p>\n
Calculations showed that the lunar altitude across Indonesia ranged\nfrom minus 2.41 degrees to minus 0.93 degrees, with elongation between\n0.94 degrees and 1.89 degrees. Astronomically, the moon was still below\nthe horizon at sunset, making sighting impossible.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the government determined the start of fasting as 19\nFebruary 2026 through a combined method of hisab (astronomical\ncalculation) and rukyat (moon sighting), whereby hisab provides the\npreliminary data and rukyat serves as confirmation.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah, meanwhile, determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 H falls on 18\nFebruary 2026. The organisation explained that its determination was\nbased on a global calculation approach, which has sparked public\ndiscussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe determination of the start of Ramadan 1447 H falling on\nWednesday, 18 February 2026, has ignited critical discussion within\nsociety, particularly regarding the use of the crescent moon\u2019s position\nover the Alaska region as a reference point,\u201d Muhammadiyah stated.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-affairs-minister-addresses-difference-in-ramadan-start-dates-between-government-and-muhammadiyah-1771496202", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }