Crescent Moon Not Sighted at 96 Observation Points Across Indonesia for Ramadan 1447 H
Observations of the crescent moon (rukyatul hilal) for the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah conducted at 96 points across Indonesia yielded no results. The crescent moon was declared not sighted.
Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar said that none of the officers stationed at the 96 observation points across Indonesia reported seeing the crescent moon.
"There are no reports of the crescent moon being sighted," Nasaruddin said during the Isbat Session for the Determination of Ramadan 1447 H, held at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Tuesday (17 February).
The Minister also presented the position of the crescent moon based on hisab (astronomical calculation). According to him, the crescent moon's position across all of Indonesia remained below the horizon.
"The crescent moon's altitude across Indonesia ranged from minus 2 degrees 24 minutes 42 seconds — meaning it had not yet formed and remained below the horizon — to 0 degrees 58 minutes 47 seconds. So across the entire Indonesian archipelago, and indeed Southeast Asia, and even in discussions among governments of all Muslim-majority countries, not a single Muslim nation has met the criteria for the crescent moon's appearance, as it remains below the horizon," Nasaruddin said.
He also noted that based on Turkey's global hilal criteria, Ramadan had not yet begun on Wednesday (18 February).
"In determining the start of a lunar month, Indonesia uses the MABIMS hilal visibility criteria, namely a minimum moon altitude of 3 degrees and an elongation angle of 64 degrees — this is the standard," he said.
"Accordingly, based on the hisab results and the absence of any reports of the crescent moon being sighted, it has been agreed that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Thursday, 19 February," Nasaruddin added.
There is a difference this year between the government and Muhammadiyah regarding the start of 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah.
The Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah had determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah would fall on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Muhammadiyah officially set 1 Ramadan 1447 H on 18 February, as stated in Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Circular Number 2/MLM/I.0/E/2025 and the Tarjih and Tajdid Council Explanation Number 01/MLM/I.1/B/2025.
This determination uses the Unified Global Hijri Calendar (Kalender Hijriah Global Tunggal/KHGT) as a new method that has now become Muhammadiyah's official reference, replacing the wujudul hilal method previously used.
The implementation of the KHGT requires the integration of three main elements known as the Principle, Condition, and Parameter (PSP) framework.
One of its key parameters is that the crescent moon's position after conjunction (ijtimak) must reach a minimum altitude of 5 degrees and an elongation of 8 degrees at any point on the earth's surface, rather than being limited to a specific territory.
Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar said that none of the officers stationed at the 96 observation points across Indonesia reported seeing the crescent moon.
"There are no reports of the crescent moon being sighted," Nasaruddin said during the Isbat Session for the Determination of Ramadan 1447 H, held at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Tuesday (17 February).
The Minister also presented the position of the crescent moon based on hisab (astronomical calculation). According to him, the crescent moon's position across all of Indonesia remained below the horizon.
"The crescent moon's altitude across Indonesia ranged from minus 2 degrees 24 minutes 42 seconds — meaning it had not yet formed and remained below the horizon — to 0 degrees 58 minutes 47 seconds. So across the entire Indonesian archipelago, and indeed Southeast Asia, and even in discussions among governments of all Muslim-majority countries, not a single Muslim nation has met the criteria for the crescent moon's appearance, as it remains below the horizon," Nasaruddin said.
He also noted that based on Turkey's global hilal criteria, Ramadan had not yet begun on Wednesday (18 February).
"In determining the start of a lunar month, Indonesia uses the MABIMS hilal visibility criteria, namely a minimum moon altitude of 3 degrees and an elongation angle of 64 degrees — this is the standard," he said.
"Accordingly, based on the hisab results and the absence of any reports of the crescent moon being sighted, it has been agreed that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Thursday, 19 February," Nasaruddin added.
There is a difference this year between the government and Muhammadiyah regarding the start of 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah.
The Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah had determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah would fall on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Muhammadiyah officially set 1 Ramadan 1447 H on 18 February, as stated in Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Circular Number 2/MLM/I.0/E/2025 and the Tarjih and Tajdid Council Explanation Number 01/MLM/I.1/B/2025.
This determination uses the Unified Global Hijri Calendar (Kalender Hijriah Global Tunggal/KHGT) as a new method that has now become Muhammadiyah's official reference, replacing the wujudul hilal method previously used.
The implementation of the KHGT requires the integration of three main elements known as the Principle, Condition, and Parameter (PSP) framework.
One of its key parameters is that the crescent moon's position after conjunction (ijtimak) must reach a minimum altitude of 5 degrees and an elongation of 8 degrees at any point on the earth's surface, rather than being limited to a specific territory.