Muhammadiyah and Persis Differ on Start of Ramadan Fasting
A number of Islamic mass organisations have set different dates for the start of fasting or 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah. Muhammadiyah will begin fasting on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, whilst Persatuan Islam (Persis) has set it for Thursday, 19 February. Meanwhile, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) will observe the hilal, or new crescent moon marking the start of fasting, on 17–18 February.
The Central Board of Persatuan Islam (PP Persis) has officially determined that the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Thursday, 19 February 2026. The determination is based on the calculations of PP Persis's Hisab and Rukyat Council, which employs the imkan rukyah method using astronomical criteria.
The decision is set out in Circular Letter No. 2317/JJ-C.3/PP/2026 concerning the start of Ramadan, Syawal and Zulhijah 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE, signed by PP Persis Chairman Jeje Zaenudin and Secretary General Haris Muslim in Bandung on 20 January 2026.
According to Persis, the ijtima (conjunction) at the end of the month of Sha'ban 1447 Hijriah occurs on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 at 19.01 Western Indonesian Time. However, at the time of maghrib across Indonesia, the moon's position remains below the imkan rukyah criteria. The moon's altitude ranges from -2 degrees 14 minutes 56 seconds to -0 degrees 51 minutes 32 seconds, whilst the moon-sun elongation distance ranges from 0 degrees 56 minutes 19 seconds to 1 degree 53 minutes 24 seconds.
"Based on hisab calculations, the hilal cannot yet be observed, therefore 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah is set for Thursday, 19 February 2026," said Jeje in the circular letter.
Persis has also determined that 1 Syawal or Eid al-Fitr falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026, and Eid al-Adha (10 Zulhijah) on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Muhammadiyah, through its central board proclamation number 2/MLM/1.0/E/2025, has set the start of fasting for Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The decision was issued on 22 September 2025. The proclamation explains that the ijtima (conjunction) ahead of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah occurs on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. However, based on the criteria of the global Hijriah calendar, the new month begins at sunset the following day. The same principle applies to the determination of the start of Syawal and Zulhijah, which have been carefully calculated.
Muhammadiyah has set Eid al-Fitr (1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah) for Friday, 20 March 2026, and Eid al-Adha (10 Zulhijah) for Wednesday, 27 May 2026. According to Muhammadiyah's official website, the determination is based on the principles, conditions and parameters of the Unified Global Hijriah Calendar, resulting from the 32nd National Deliberation of Muhammadiyah's Tarjih Council in Pekalongan in 2024.
Meanwhile, the BMKG will conduct simultaneous hilal observations on 17–18 February 2026 across various regions of Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua. The observations will employ computerised telescopes integrated with information technology. During the observation, the hilal's luminosity will be recorded by detectors on telescopes that automatically track changes in the moon's position on the western horizon. Observation data will be transmitted directly to BMKG's central server for storage and online dissemination via http://hilal.bmkg.go.id.
In Bandung, for instance, the BMKG Bandung Geophysics Station has scheduled hilal observations on 17–18 February 2026 at two different locations: the Albiruni Observatory at Universitas Islam Bandung (Unisba) and the Bosscha Observatory in Lembang, West Bandung Regency.
"Based on early hilal data for 17 and 18 February 2026, BMKG's hilal records, astronomical science, and weather forecast data, the early Ramadan 1447 Hijriah hilal in Bandung will not be observable on 17 February but has the potential to be observed on 18 February," said Head of the BMKG Bandung Geophysics Station Teguh Rahayu in a written statement on Sunday, 15 February 2026.
The Central Board of Persatuan Islam (PP Persis) has officially determined that the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Thursday, 19 February 2026. The determination is based on the calculations of PP Persis's Hisab and Rukyat Council, which employs the imkan rukyah method using astronomical criteria.
The decision is set out in Circular Letter No. 2317/JJ-C.3/PP/2026 concerning the start of Ramadan, Syawal and Zulhijah 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE, signed by PP Persis Chairman Jeje Zaenudin and Secretary General Haris Muslim in Bandung on 20 January 2026.
According to Persis, the ijtima (conjunction) at the end of the month of Sha'ban 1447 Hijriah occurs on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 at 19.01 Western Indonesian Time. However, at the time of maghrib across Indonesia, the moon's position remains below the imkan rukyah criteria. The moon's altitude ranges from -2 degrees 14 minutes 56 seconds to -0 degrees 51 minutes 32 seconds, whilst the moon-sun elongation distance ranges from 0 degrees 56 minutes 19 seconds to 1 degree 53 minutes 24 seconds.
"Based on hisab calculations, the hilal cannot yet be observed, therefore 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah is set for Thursday, 19 February 2026," said Jeje in the circular letter.
Persis has also determined that 1 Syawal or Eid al-Fitr falls on Saturday, 21 March 2026, and Eid al-Adha (10 Zulhijah) on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Muhammadiyah, through its central board proclamation number 2/MLM/1.0/E/2025, has set the start of fasting for Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The decision was issued on 22 September 2025. The proclamation explains that the ijtima (conjunction) ahead of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah occurs on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. However, based on the criteria of the global Hijriah calendar, the new month begins at sunset the following day. The same principle applies to the determination of the start of Syawal and Zulhijah, which have been carefully calculated.
Muhammadiyah has set Eid al-Fitr (1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah) for Friday, 20 March 2026, and Eid al-Adha (10 Zulhijah) for Wednesday, 27 May 2026. According to Muhammadiyah's official website, the determination is based on the principles, conditions and parameters of the Unified Global Hijriah Calendar, resulting from the 32nd National Deliberation of Muhammadiyah's Tarjih Council in Pekalongan in 2024.
Meanwhile, the BMKG will conduct simultaneous hilal observations on 17–18 February 2026 across various regions of Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua. The observations will employ computerised telescopes integrated with information technology. During the observation, the hilal's luminosity will be recorded by detectors on telescopes that automatically track changes in the moon's position on the western horizon. Observation data will be transmitted directly to BMKG's central server for storage and online dissemination via http://hilal.bmkg.go.id.
In Bandung, for instance, the BMKG Bandung Geophysics Station has scheduled hilal observations on 17–18 February 2026 at two different locations: the Albiruni Observatory at Universitas Islam Bandung (Unisba) and the Bosscha Observatory in Lembang, West Bandung Regency.
"Based on early hilal data for 17 and 18 February 2026, BMKG's hilal records, astronomical science, and weather forecast data, the early Ramadan 1447 Hijriah hilal in Bandung will not be observable on 17 February but has the potential to be observed on 18 February," said Head of the BMKG Bandung Geophysics Station Teguh Rahayu in a written statement on Sunday, 15 February 2026.