Ministry of Religious Affairs Team States Eid al-Fitr 2026 Expected on 21 March, Crescent Moon Does Not Meet Criteria

JAKARTA - A member of the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Hilal Sighting Team, Cecep Nurwendaya, stated that the position of the crescent moon in Indonesia does not yet meet the MABIMS criteria for determining 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijri or Eid al-Fitr 2026. Based on calculations using MABIMS criteria, 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijri is expected to fall on Saturday, 21 March 2026. “Thus, 1 Shawwal 1447 Hijri, according to MABIMS calculations, coincides with Saturday Paing, 21 March 2026 CE,” explained Cecep on Thursday (19/3/2026). He elaborated that the MABIMS criteria require two main parameters: a minimum crescent height of 3 degrees and a minimum elongation of 6.4 degrees, both of which must be met simultaneously. “On 29 Ramadan 1447 Hijri or 19 March 2026, in parts of Aceh Province, the crescent height has already reached 3 degrees. However, the elongation does not yet meet the minimum threshold of 6.4 degrees,” said Cecep. Consequently, no region in Indonesia meets both parameters at once. This leads to the theoretical prediction that the crescent cannot be sighted during the hilal observation. “In Indonesia, the determination of the start of Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhu al-Hijjah uses the methods of calculation and sighting. Calculations serve as initial information, while sighting provides verification,” he concluded.