Ministry of Religious Affairs: Isbat Session Embodies State Presence and Public Education

JAKARTA — Director General of Islamic Community Guidance (Bimas Islam) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), Abu Rokhmad, has stated that the implementation of the Isbat Session represents the state’s presence in facilitating the religious needs of the community whilst upholding the principle of public benefit.

“The Isbat Session is a form of state presence to facilitate religious communities in practising their faith in matters that have implications for public life. Certainty in worship is important because it affects office operations, public services, banking, and other public interests,” said Abu Rokhmad on Friday (13 February 2026).

Abu Rokhmad said the Isbat Session also serves as a means of public education, emphasising that the determination of the lunar calendar must be carried out carefully as it relates to the use of public spaces that demand order and regularity.

He noted that the Isbat Session is not intended to sharpen differences but rather serves as a means of education or tarbiyah (moral instruction) for the public regarding methods of determining the beginning of the lunar month.

“The government endeavours to integrate the hisab and rukyat methods in determining the position of the hilal (new crescent moon) at the start of Ramadan, Syawal, and Zulhijah with precision. The Isbat Session serves as a scientific forum and a platform for consensus in determining the beginning of these months,” he said.

“I believe both methods have a strong foundation and should not be set in opposition to one another. That is why Kemenag holds the Isbat Session to integrate both through consensus among religious scholars, jurisprudence experts, and astronomers,” Abu Rokhmad explained.

In response to allegations of budget wastefulness in conducting the Isbat Session, Abu Rokhmad affirmed that the principles of efficiency and collaboration remain paramount. “Some members of the public consider the Isbat Session to be wasteful or israf. We firmly state that this is not true. Its implementation prioritises budget efficiency, and the 96 hilal observation points are the result of collaboration with various parties who fund the process independently,” he said.

Abu Rokhmad expressed hope that any differences that may arise would not cause public unrest, particularly as differences in determining the start of Ramadan are not unprecedented in Indonesia. “We have weathered many differences of opinion and, praise be to God, things have gone well. Therefore, let us respect and appreciate one another,” Abu Rokhmad said.

The Isbat Session is a significant moment for determining the start of Ramadan. Previously, Kemenag also organised Hilal Observation Coaching as a means of public education, as explained by Abu Rokhmad at the Joyful Ramadan press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (10 February 2026).

The Isbat Session was attended by various parties, including ambassadors from friendly nations, the Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), ITB’s Bosscha Observatory, the Jakarta Planetarium, as well as falak (Islamic astronomy) experts and leaders of Islamic mass organisations.