Fasting with the Government but Celebrating Eid with Muhammadiyah: There Are Risks
Jakarta, VIVA — The government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), has determined that the start of Ramadan 2026/1447 Hijriah falls on Thursday, 19 February.
This decision was followed by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). One day earlier, on Wednesday 18 February, Muhammadiyah had already commenced fasting.
Unlike last year, when the start of fasting was uniform, this year sees a difference in the beginning of Ramadan. As is well known, Muhammadiyah, which uses the astronomical calculation (hisab) method and Global Calendar Parameters (PKG), determined that 1 Ramadan falls on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Meanwhile, Kemenag, which combines the hisab and moon-sighting (rukyat) methods and also relies on the MABIMS criteria, set the start of fasting for Thursday. Likewise, NU, which prioritises the sighting of the new moon (rukyatul hilal), announced that fasting would follow the government's determination.
With the differing start dates for Ramadan 2026, a lighthearted question has emerged: "Is it permissible to start fasting with the government/NU, but celebrate Eid with Muhammadiyah?"
The answer is that there is a risk of falling short on fasting days. Here is why: in the Hijriah calendar, a month can only be 29 or 30 days long. There is no month lasting 28 days.
If one begins fasting on the later date — for example, 19 February — and then celebrates Eid following the earlier determination, there is a risk that the earlier Eid observance corresponds to a 29-day Ramadan. The result would be having fasted for only 28 days, or less than a full month.
Therefore, if one has chosen to begin fasting on 18 February — meaning one follows Muhammadiyah's hisab and PKG method — one must continue through to the end, following Muhammadiyah's determination of 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah. The same applies in reverse for those following the government or NU.
Regarding the difference in the start of Ramadan 2026, the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Anwar Iskandar, stated that differences in determining the start of Ramadan are entirely normal. Such differences fall within the realm of ijtihad (independent juristic reasoning) and are technical in nature, not matters of core doctrine.
"Differences are inevitable because they are of an ijtihadi and technical nature. Therefore, the possibility of starting or ending fasting on different dates can occur. However, the most important thing is to maintain unity as Muslims by fostering mutual understanding and mutual respect," he said, as quoted on Kemenag's official website.
This decision was followed by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). One day earlier, on Wednesday 18 February, Muhammadiyah had already commenced fasting.
Unlike last year, when the start of fasting was uniform, this year sees a difference in the beginning of Ramadan. As is well known, Muhammadiyah, which uses the astronomical calculation (hisab) method and Global Calendar Parameters (PKG), determined that 1 Ramadan falls on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Meanwhile, Kemenag, which combines the hisab and moon-sighting (rukyat) methods and also relies on the MABIMS criteria, set the start of fasting for Thursday. Likewise, NU, which prioritises the sighting of the new moon (rukyatul hilal), announced that fasting would follow the government's determination.
With the differing start dates for Ramadan 2026, a lighthearted question has emerged: "Is it permissible to start fasting with the government/NU, but celebrate Eid with Muhammadiyah?"
The answer is that there is a risk of falling short on fasting days. Here is why: in the Hijriah calendar, a month can only be 29 or 30 days long. There is no month lasting 28 days.
If one begins fasting on the later date — for example, 19 February — and then celebrates Eid following the earlier determination, there is a risk that the earlier Eid observance corresponds to a 29-day Ramadan. The result would be having fasted for only 28 days, or less than a full month.
Therefore, if one has chosen to begin fasting on 18 February — meaning one follows Muhammadiyah's hisab and PKG method — one must continue through to the end, following Muhammadiyah's determination of 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah. The same applies in reverse for those following the government or NU.
Regarding the difference in the start of Ramadan 2026, the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Anwar Iskandar, stated that differences in determining the start of Ramadan are entirely normal. Such differences fall within the realm of ijtihad (independent juristic reasoning) and are technical in nature, not matters of core doctrine.
"Differences are inevitable because they are of an ijtihadi and technical nature. Therefore, the possibility of starting or ending fasting on different dates can occur. However, the most important thing is to maintain unity as Muslims by fostering mutual understanding and mutual respect," he said, as quoted on Kemenag's official website.