Kemenag Calculation Team: Crescent Moon Does Not Meet Criteria, 1 Syawal 1447 H Falls on 21 March

The Calculation and Sighting Team of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) reported monitoring the position of the crescent moon this afternoon to determine Eid al-Fitr, 1 Syawal 1447 H, or Lebaran 2026. According to calculation, the crescent does not meet the criteria set by the Ministers of Religious Affairs from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS) in Indonesian territory.

“We observed it. The image is clear, all magenta, all red. If the curve from earlier is combined across the entire territory of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, it does not meet the MABIMS criteria for the start of the Qamariyah month; the colour is magenta,” said a member of Kemenag’s Calculation and Sighting Team, Cecep Nurwendaya, during a seminar that kicked off the isbat session at Kemenag in Central Jakarta on Thursday (19/3/2026).

Cecep stated that the crescent’s position in parts of Aceh Province has met the minimum altitude parameter of 3 degrees under MABIMS criteria, but it does not meet the minimum elongation parameter of 6.4 degrees. However, Cecep noted, MABIMS criteria require both the minimum altitude and elongation to be fulfilled.

“Thus, the date of 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah, according to MABIMS calculation, falls on Saturday Pahing, 21 March 2026 CE. The altitude is met, but the elongation is not. MABIMS requires both to be fulfilled. That condition is mandatory for both. No ‘or’, it’s ‘and’,” he said.

Nevertheless, Cecep emphasised that the calculation result is normative. He explained that the determination of Syawal in Indonesia is based on the sighting and calculation methods.

“This is calculation. Calculation is informative. Later, we will hear the results from sighting. Sighting is confirmation, sighting is the verification. As we know, in Indonesia, the determination of the start of Ramadan, Syawal, and Dhu al-Hijjah is customarily based on sighting and calculation methods. So, the calculation is already there; we await the sighting,” he said.

He continued that because it does not meet the criteria, the crescent is unlikely to be sighted. As its position is below the criteria.

“Theoretically, it is predicted to be impossible to sight because its position is below the crescent visibility criteria at sunset,” he revealed.

It is noted that the determination of Eid al-Fitr will be discussed at the isbat session scheduled for 18:00-18:45 WIB. The announcement of the isbat session results will be officially delivered at 19:25 WIB.