Islamic Ruling Assembly for Eid al-Fitr 2026 Scheduled for 19 March; Government and Muhammadiyah Observances May Differ

Jakarta — The Director of Islamic Religious Affairs at Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Ministry (Kemenag), Arsad Hidayat, addressed the likelihood of a discrepancy between the government and Muhammadiyah in determining Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri.

Currently, Arsad stated that the crescent moon’s position at the end of Ramadan, based on astronomical calculation (hisab), does not yet meet the crescent visibility criteria established by MABIMS member states (Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore).

“Based on hisab calculation, for altitude between 0 to 3 degrees — the highest is in Aceh — and for elongation between 4 to 6 degrees. The altitude might be met but the elongation angle still falls short,” Arsad said during a press conference on current issues at the Religious Affairs Ministry office in Central Jakarta on Monday (9 March 2026).

Although the crescent moon’s altitude may potentially meet requirements, the elongation aspect has not yet reached the minimum threshold established in MABIMS criteria.

For this reason, Arsad said, 1 Syawal 1447 Hijri or Eid al-Fitr 2026 between the government’s determination and Muhammadiyah’s stands a chance of differing again, as occurred with the determination of the start of Ramadan.

Nevertheless, Arsad asked the public to continue monitoring the results of the ruling assembly decision to be held on 19 March 2026.

Previously, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) estimated that Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri or Lebaran 2026 could fall on different dates.

Based on astronomical calculation, the government’s version of Eid al-Fitr 1447 H is estimated to fall on 21 March 2026.

This refers to the crescent moon’s position at sunset on 19 March 2026 in the Southeast Asian region, which does not meet MABIMS criteria (the Religious Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore).

Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah’s central board had already set the start of Ramadan, Syawal, and Dhul-Hijjah 1447 Hijri through Statement Number 2/MLM/I.0/2025.

The statement explained that the conjunction (ijtimak) preceding Syawal 1447 H occurs on Thursday, 30 Ramadan 1447 coinciding with 19 March 2026 at 01:23:28 UTC.

At sunset on the day the conjunction occurs, before 24:00 UTC there are regions on Earth that meet the Global Calendar Parameters (PKG) 1, namely moon altitude greater than 5 degrees and moon elongation greater than 8 degrees.