Crescent Moon Observation for Eid al-Fitr Conducted at 117 Sites Across Indonesia

Jakarta — The Ministry of Religion will conduct crescent moon observations (rukyatul hilal) for 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah or Eid al-Fitr on 19 March 2026 at 117 locations throughout Indonesia, with results to be discussed jointly in an isbat session.

Abu Rokhmad, Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religion, stated that the isbat session is an important forum that prioritises caution, scientific knowledge, and community consensus.

The isbat session will be attended by various parties, including representatives of friendly nations’ ambassadors, the Chairperson of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG).

Additionally, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bosscha Institute of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Planetarium, experts on Islamic astronomy from Islamic community organisations, and members of the Ministry of Religion’s Calculation and Observation Team will participate.

He explained that based on astronomical calculations (hisab), on the observation day or 29 Ramadhan 1447 H which falls on Thursday, 19 March 2026, the crescent moon’s elevation across all Indonesian regions will be above the horizon, ranging between 0°54’27” and 3°7’52”. Meanwhile, the crescent moon’s elongation angle ranges between 4°32’40” and 6°6’11”.

According to him, all calculation systems also indicate that the conjunction preceding Syawal 1447 H will occur on 19 March 2026 at approximately 08.23 Western Indonesian Time. Nevertheless, the determination of the beginning of Syawal remains pending the results of crescent moon observations conducted across various regions of Indonesia.

“The determination of the start of Syawal 1447 H will await reports of crescent moon observation results from all regions, which will then be discussed in the isbat session,” he said.