MUI: Differences in Islamic New Year Start Date Should Not Be Exaggerated

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called for the difference in determining the start of the Islamic New Year 1448 H not to be exaggerated. PBNU has set a date differing from the government’s. “The difference in the start of the Hijri New Year need not be exaggerated,” said MUI Secretary-General Amirsyah Tambunan in a written statement on Tuesday (16/6/2026). Amirsyah invited Muslims in Indonesia to understand the meaning of the Hijri New Year. He explained that hijriah, derived from the word hijrah, is interpreted as a process of moving or changing from a less favourable state, behaviour, or environment towards a better one blessed by Allah SWT. “For Indonesia, hijrah means renewing mental and moral attitudes, strengthening unity, and upholding justice, so as to create a progressive, just, prosperous, and dignified national civilisation. The main pillars of transformative hijrah include change. First, hijrah of values, namely shaping the character of the nation’s children,” he said. He stated that Prophet Muhammad SAW laid the foundation for hijrah 14 centuries ago. He hopes the Hijri New Year becomes a moment for self-improvement. “Second, the spirit of hijrah is a momentum to improve self-identity with integrity, honesty, and to avoid practices of corruption, collusion, and nepotism,” he added. For context, the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) announced that 1 Muharram 1448 H falls on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. PBNU made this determination because the hilal was not sighted. According to the official NU website and the official Instagram account of the PBNU Falakiyah Institute on Tuesday (16/6), the announcement was conveyed via letter number 146/PB.08/A.II.11.13/13/06/2026. In the letter, the PBNU Falakiyah Institute stated it had conducted rukyatul hilal on Monday, 29 Zulhijah 1447 H, or 15 June 2026. All observation points reported not sighting the hilal. “As a follow-up, the beginning of the month of Muharam 1448 H coincides with Wednesday Kliwon, 17 June 2026 AD (starting Wednesday evening) on the basis of istikmal,” the letter stated. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has determined that 1 Muharram 1448 H falls on 16 June 2026. Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Guidance, Arsad Hidayat, stated that the hilal for the start of Muharam had met the imkanur rukyat criteria of the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS). The MABIMS imkanur rukyat criteria require a minimum hilal altitude of 3 degrees and an elongation of at least 6.4 degrees. Arsad stated that based on calculation results on 15 June 2026, the altitude of the hilal for the start of Muharam 1448 H at sunset ranged from 0.92 degrees in Merauke to 4.02 degrees in Sabang. Meanwhile, the elongation angle ranged between 5.64 degrees and 6.98 degrees. He said these conditions had met the MABIMS criteria. “With these parameters, most regions of Indonesia have met the minimum MABIMS criteria. Therefore, the start of Muharam 1448 H falls on Tuesday, 16 June 2026,” Arsad told reporters on Tuesday (16/6).