Muhammadiyah Explains Process for Determining 1 Syawal 1447 H
The Tarjih and Tajdid Board of Muhammadiyah’s Central Leadership has explained the process for determining the start of Syawal 1447 Hijri, referencing the Decision of the XXXII National Deliberation on Tarjih of Muhammadiyah regarding the Global Single Hijri Calendar (KHGT).
“Through the KHGT system, Muhammadiyah establishes global criteria that achieve the unification of the Islamic month’s beginning throughout the world based on astronomical parameters met in any region,” said Hamim Ilyas, Chair of the Tarjih and Tajdid Board of Muhammadiyah’s Central Leadership, on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
Hamim stated that the system operates on the principle that the entire world is considered one unified entity, with the new month beginning simultaneously everywhere.
Hamim explained that the new month begins when, in any place in the world before 24:00 UTC, the criteria of 8-degree elongation and 5-degree moon height at sunset are met. If these criteria are only met after 24:00 UTC, the new month still commences provided the parameters are satisfied in a location on the American continent and the conjunction occurs before dawn in New Zealand.
Based on astronomical data obtained, all KHGT criteria for Syawal 1447 H have been met, establishing that 1 Syawal 1447 H falls on Friday Legi, 20 March 2026 Gregorian calendar. The astronomical data underlying this determination shows the conjunction occurred on Thursday Kliwon, 19 March 2026 at 01:23:28 UTC.
The first location meeting the parameters is located at coordinates 64° 59’ 57.47” N, 42° 3’ 3.47” E, where local sunset is 18:12:15 (UTC+3) or 15:24:03 UTC with a moon height of 6.49 degrees and moon elongation reaching 8 degrees.
This condition is also confirmed in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, which recorded sunset at 15:34:04 UTC with geocentric moon height of +06° 09’ 09” and geocentric elongation of 08° 05’ 24”, both exceeding the established minimum thresholds. Furthermore, dawn time in New Zealand on Thursday Kliwon, 19 March 2026, is recorded at 16:50:02 UTC, further confirming that the primary KHGT criteria have been met before the universal day change.
Hamim stated that Muhammadiyah views the unification of the global Islamic calendar as an imperative that cannot be delayed and is not merely an ideal concept divorced from reality. The KHGT implementation is viewed as a tangible manifestation of the organisation’s commitment and an open invitation to all elements of the Islamic community to understand and adopt it for civilisational benefit.
“This KHGT system is important as a solution to the uncertainty in world Islamic time coordination over the past fourteen centuries,” he said.
KHGT implementation is valued as an effort to repay a civilisational debt that Islam has accumulated over fourteen centuries. Throughout this period, the world’s Muslim community lacked a unifying calendar system, frequently finding itself trapped in global-scale timekeeping uncertainty.
“This explanation is hoped to serve as guidance for all members of the organisation and the general public to welcome 1 Syawal 1447 H with open hearts, a spirit of mutual forgiveness, and strengthened bonds of kinship,” Hamim said.