1 Ramadhan 1447 H Falls on 19 February 2026; MUI Calls on Mosques Across Indonesia to Perform Qunut Nazilah for Palestine

Jakarta, VIVA – The government has officially determined that 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah falls on Thursday, 19 February 2026. The decision was taken through an Isbat session held by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jakarta on Tuesday and announced directly by Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar.

Behind the determination of the start of fasting, however, a strong humanitarian call emerged from the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), KH M. Anwar Iskandar. He urged all mosques across Indonesia to seize the momentum of Ramadhan to pray for the safety of the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, through qunut nazilah.

“We earnestly hope that all mosque imams throughout Indonesia can strengthen their prayers for the safety of Muslims and the Palestinian nation, especially the Palestinian people in Gaza,” he said during the Isbat session.

He also emphasised the importance of mosque administrators and Islamic organisations in broadly disseminating this call to prayer.

“Through what is known as qunut nazilah, we hope that all mosque administrators across Indonesia — perhaps through the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) or through Islamic organisations such as Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, Al-Irsyad, Al-Washliyah, Al-Wahda, and others — will call upon all imams. During this blessed Ramadhan, when prayers are most readily answered, to beseech Allah,” said Anwar Iskandar.

The call reflects the concern of Indonesian Muslims regarding the humanitarian situation in Palestine, which remains distressing, particularly in the Gaza Strip, affected by protracted conflict.

The momentum of Ramadhan, he said, is not merely about personal worship but also about global Muslim solidarity. Collective prayers through qunut nazilah are therefore expected to serve as a form of spiritual support for the Palestinian people who are enduring suffering.

Previously, the government determined the start of Ramadhan after the Isbat session concluded that the hilal (new crescent moon) had met the criteria for determining the beginning of the Hijriah month.

“The Isbat session has determined that 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE falls on Thursday,” said Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar whilst leading the press conference on the Isbat session’s decision.

Based on the presentation by the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hisab Rukyat (astronomical calculation and moon sighting) team, the position of the hilal across all Indonesian territories on 29 Sha’ban 1447 H, or 17 February 2026, did not meet the MABIMS visibility criteria. The standard requires a minimum hilal altitude of 3 degrees and a minimum elongation of 6.4 degrees.