Lunar Eclipse During Ramadan: Is It a Sign of the Mahdi's Emergence?

A total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, coincided with Ramadan. There has been discussion among Muslims about whether the eclipse during Ramadan marks the appearance of Imam Mahdi. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) states that this eclipse can be observed in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Australia, and parts of the eastern United States. The head of the Da’wah and Pesantren Al-Bahjah Development Institute, Yahya Zainul Ma’arif, or Buya Yahya, explains and clarifies the issue regarding the appearance of Imam Mahdi in connection with the Ramadan eclipse. According to Buya Yahya, the coming of Imam Mahdi, particularly for Sunni Muslims, is something the community should believe. In Buya Yahya’s YouTube channel Al-Bahjah TV, on Wednesday 19 April 2023, he said that there are different groups with their own beliefs about Imam Mahdi. But Imam Mahdi, in our view among Sunni Muslims, exists. “In the Prophet’s words, the one whose name is the same as mine, Muhammad bin Abdullah. He will be born and descended from Fatimah, and will later become the imam who leads prayers, together with Sayyidina Isa Alaihissalam as the follower,” Buya Yahya said. Buya Yahya said that Imam Mahdi is what Muslims believe. However, he noted that there are others who believe in Imam Mahdi in a version that does not accord with Muslim beliefs. “We believe in it in whatever form it takes, because Imam Mahdi is mentioned in hadiths from authentic narrations; some say it does not reach the mutawatir level, which would preclude declaring someone a kafir, but we believe in the existence of Imam Mahdi,” he said. Buya said he is personally convinced Imam Mahdi will come. He explained that some scholars say Imam Mahdi arises from authentic hadiths, and therefore many believe it has not reached the mutawatir level. But Buya reminded that if the hadith is sound and true, it must be believed. “I am personally convinced, God willing, that Imam Mahdi will come. In the Sami’at scripture we present this. Our Imam Mahdi is listed as one of the major signs of the Day of Judgment, alongside the descent of Sayyidina Isa Alaihissalam,” Buya said.