Eid al-Fitr on Saturday! Religious Affairs Minister: Crescent Moon Not Visible from Papua to Aceh
Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar reported that monitoring teams spread across 117 points throughout Indonesia found no sightings of the crescent moon. Consequently, the determination of 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah or Eid al-Fitr falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026.
He explained that the establishment of the start of Syawal was conducted through a consultative mechanism, referring to the results of hisab (astronomical calculations) and rukyat (crescent moon observation) across Indonesia. The lack of visibility of the crescent moon by field teams reinforces the conclusion that Eid falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026.
“Teams placed at least at 117 observation points across Indonesia and the central reporting team have confirmed that the crescent moon was not visible at all points from Papua to Aceh. Not a single one saw the crescent moon,” said Nasaruddin during a press conference for the Sidang Isbat at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 19 March 2025.
Nasaruddin explained that based on hisab calculations, the crescent moon’s position on the observation day also did not meet the visibility criteria established by member countries of MABIMS (Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore). Those criteria require a minimum height of the crescent moon of 3 degrees and an elongation of 6.4 degrees.
The height of the crescent moon across all regions of Indonesia ranged from 0 degrees 54 minutes to 3 degrees 7 minutes, with an elongation angle between 4 degrees 32 minutes and 6 degrees 6 minutes. This condition makes the crescent moon theoretically difficult to observe.
“Thus, based on the hisab results and the absence of reports of a visible crescent moon, it is agreed that 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026,” stated Nasaruddin.
The Minister hopes this decision can serve as a moment of togetherness for Muslims in Indonesia in celebrating Eid al-Fitr, even if not celebrated simultaneously.
“May this decision enable all Muslims in Indonesia to begin and celebrate the holiday together, as a symbol of unity in welcoming a better future,” he concluded.