Diverse Considerations in Determining 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah
The government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, has determined that 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah will fall on Saturday, 21 March 2026. This decision was conveyed by Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar during a press conference at the Isbat Session in the Ministry of Religious Affairs office, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 19 March 2026.
Hilal does not meet criteria
Nasaruddin Umar explained the government’s considerations for not setting 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah on 20 March 2026. He stated that, based on calculations, the height of the hilal does not meet the criteria set by the Ministers of Religious Affairs from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS).
Under the MABIMS criteria, he said, the hilal height must meet two main parameters: a minimum height of 3 degrees and a minimum elongation of 6.4 degrees.
However, based on calculation data, the height of the young crescent moon across all regions of Indonesia on Thursday was between 0 degrees 54 minutes 27 seconds and 3 degrees 7 minutes 52 seconds above the horizon. Meanwhile, the elongation was between 4 degrees 32 minutes 40 seconds and 6 degrees 6 minutes 11 seconds. “Based on calculations, the hilal today does not meet the criteria,” said Nasaruddin on Thursday night.
No reports of hilal sightings
In addition to not meeting the MABIMS criteria, Nasaruddin stated that, based on rukyatul hilal results from Aceh to Papua monitored at 117 points, no reports of hilal sightings were found.
Therefore, the government has decided to complete the Ramadan fasting worship for 30 days (istikmal). “Thus, it is agreed that 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah will fall on Saturday, 21 March 2026,” said the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque.
Results of the hilal sighting team seminar
Before determining that 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah falls on 21 March 2026, presentations from various institutions and falak experts in the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hilal Sighting Team had indicated the potential for differences in setting 1 Syawal this year.
Member of the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hilal Sighting Team, Cecep Nurwendaya, explained that in some regions like Aceh, the hilal height has indeed reached 3 degrees—meeting the MABIMS threshold. However, the elongation parameter does not yet meet the minimum requirement of 6.4 degrees. “Thus, based on calculations, 1 Syawal falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026 because the hilal does not meet the elongation,” said Cecep at the Hilal Position Seminar in the HM Rasjidi Auditorium.
In general, the hilal height in Indonesia ranges from 0.91 degrees to 3.13 degrees, with elongation between 4.54 degrees and 6.10 degrees. This condition theoretically makes the hilal difficult to sight.
The same sentiment was expressed by the Chairman of the Inter-Institutional Relations Division of the Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah Central Board, Julian Lukman. He stated that calculation results at several points also show the hilal does not yet meet visibility criteria.
In Jayapura, the hilal height was recorded at 1 degree 0’ 58.04’‘; in Pelabuhan Ratu 1 degree 39’ 0.57’‘; in Medan 2 degrees 36’ 40.78’‘; and in Lhoknga, Aceh 2 degrees 50’ 27.33’’, with elongation around 6.01 degrees.
Given these conditions, Ramadan is estimated to be completed at 30 days because it does not yet meet the MABIMS rukyah possibility criteria, namely a minimum hilal height of 3 degrees and elongation of 6.4 degrees.
The Isbat Session was attended by various parties
At the Isbat Session on Thursday night, Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Abu Rokhmad, said the session was attended by various parties, including ambassadors from friendly countries.
In addition, he continued, the Ministry of Religious Affairs involved Commission VIII of the DPR, the Supreme Court, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as well as falak and astronomy experts from various institutions in determining 1 Syawal this year.
MUI and DPR urge tolerance
Deputy Chairman of MUI Cholil Nafis urged Indonesian Muslims to maintain tolerance regarding differences in setting 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah. “Ladies and gentlemen, let us preserve our unity,” said Cholil at the press conference at the Ministry of Religious Affairs office on Thursday.
In line with Cholil, Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR Marwan Dasopang reminded the public across Indonesia to respect and honour differing views in determining the start of Syawal 1447 Hijriah.
He said that if there are organisations or communities celebrating Eid al-Fitr tomorrow, Friday, 20 March 2026, that decision must still be respected and tolerated as fellow Muslims. “Do not let it become a difference among us; let us maintain brotherhood well,” said the PKB politician.