Ministry of Religious Affairs Issues Official Guidance for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2026 Observance

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has issued Circular Letter (SE) Number 1 of 2026 providing guidance for the conduct of Ramadan worship and Eid al-Fitr (1447 Hijriah/2026 Gregorian calendar) and the designation of pilgrim-friendly mosques. This circular serves as a framework to ensure that Ramadan observance through Eid al-Fitr is conducted in an orderly, safe, and comfortable manner whilst upholding values of tolerance.

Additionally, Hindus will celebrate the sacred day of Nyepi, the Saka New Year 1948, on 19 March 2026, coinciding with the end of Ramadan. The Ministry’s circular urges Muslim communities to respect the Nyepi observance by maintaining order and tranquillity.

Key provisions of the circular include:

Muslims are urged to perform Ramadan worship with devotion, calmness, and understanding of the spiritual significance in accordance with Islamic teachings. Muslims are encouraged to increase religious observance during Ramadan and Eid takbir (declarations of God’s greatness) in mosques, prayer rooms, and other locations whilst maintaining order, security, and comfort.

Ramadan worship should serve as a means of spiritual purification (tazkiyatun nafs), character development, and strengthening spiritual awareness reflected in attitudes of patience, empathy, and social responsibility in daily life.

Religious sermons, brief addresses, and Friday homilies during Ramadan and Eid prayers should:

• Be delivered in a soothing, enlightening, and educational manner;

• Strengthen Islamic brotherhood, national unity, and religious moderation; and

• Avoid hateful rhetoric, provocation, partisan politics, or use as a vehicle for particular political interests.

Ramadan preaching and religious outreach via digital and social media should:

• Uphold ethics, courtesy, and religious responsibility;

• Avoid content that causes unrest and division within the faith community; and

• Utilise digital platforms as a means of education, exemplary conduct, and strengthening Islamic values that benefit all of humanity (rahmatan lil’alamin).

Preachers, scholars, and Islamic religious educators are expected to play an active role as guides for worshippers in meaningful Ramadan observance, agents of religious moderation, and guardians of calming and constructive religious narratives, whilst prioritising the principles of Safety, Health, Cleanliness, and Beauty (ASRI) in conducting religious activities.

Religious education and guidance during Ramadan should focus on:

• Guidance in worship and Qur’anic reflection;

• Strengthening family resilience; and

• Support for vulnerable groups, including the poor, elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Muslims are urged to maximise the practice of zakat (obligatory almsgiving), infaq (voluntary donations), and sadaqah (charity) during Ramadan as an expression of social responsibility and efforts to improve community welfare, with distribution that is well-targeted, transparent, and accountable.

Regarding the observance of Nyepi (19 March 2026), which coincides with the end of Ramadan, Muslim communities are urged to:

• Respect the Hindu observance of Nyepi by maintaining order, tranquillity, and a conducive atmosphere whilst supporting interfaith harmony;

• Ensure that Ramadan activities and religious observances in mosques, prayer rooms, and open spaces do not disturb Hindu worshippers in their practice of Catur Brata Penyepian (the Four Abstinences during Nyepi); and

• Demonstrate mutual respect, tolerance, and national brotherhood as an implementation of Islamic teachings that benefit all humanity.

Provisions for Pilgrim-Friendly Mosque Services

To support the comfort of travellers during the holiday exodus, mosque and prayer room managers along major travel routes are urged to provide Pilgrim-Friendly Mosque services by opening access 24 hours daily and offering adequate facilities. These include:

• Opening mosque and prayer room access 24 hours daily;

• Maintaining security of the facility and parking areas;

• Providing healthcare facilities;

• Ensuring environmental cleanliness, functional toilets, and adequate clean water supply;

• Providing charging stations for mobile phones and other communication devices;

• Providing suitable rest areas;

• Establishing an accessible information centre for travellers; and

• Providing drinking water and/or light refreshments for travellers.