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

PBNU has set the start of the 1448 H New Year differently from the government. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has advised that such discrepancies should not be exaggerated.

“The difference in the start of the Hijri New Year does not need to be blown out of proportion,” said MUI Secretary General Amirsyah Tambunan in a written statement on Tuesday (16/06/2026).

Amirsyah invited Muslims in Indonesia to reflect on the meaning of the Hijri New Year. He explained that ‘Hijriah’, derived from the word ‘hijrah’, signifies the process of moving or changing from an unfavourable state, behaviour, or environment towards one that is better and blessed by Allah SWT.

“For Indonesia, hijrah means renewing mental attitudes and morals, strengthening unity, and upholding justice, thereby creating a progressive, just, prosperous, and dignified national civilisation. The main pillars of transformative hijrah include change. First, a hijrah of values, which involves shaping the character of the nation’s youth,” he said.

He noted that Prophet Muhammad SAW laid the foundation for hijrah 14 centuries ago, and expressed hope that the Hijri New Year would serve as a moment for self-improvement.

“Second, the spirit of hijrah is a momentum to improve identity through integrity and honesty, and to avoid the practices of corruption, collusion, and nepotism,” he added.

For information, the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) announced that 1 Muharram 1448 H falls on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. PBNU established this date because the hilal (new moon) was not visible.

According to the official NU website and the official Instagram account of the PBNU Falakiyah Institute, the announcement was made via letter number 146/PB.08/A.II.11.13/13/06/2026 on Tuesday (16/06).

In the letter, the PBNU Falakiyah Institute stated that they conducted the rukyatul hilal (moon sighting) on Monday, 29 Zulhijjah 1447 H, or 15 June 2026. All monitoring points reported that the hilal was not visible.

“As a follow-up, the beginning of the month of Muharram 1448 H coincides with Wednesday Kliwon, 17 June 2026, based on the principle of istikmal,” the letter stated.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has determined that 1 Muharram 1448 H falls on 16 June 2026. The Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development, Arsad Hidayat, stated that the hilal for the start of Muharram met the imkanur rukyat criteria for the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS).

The MABIMS imkanur rukyat criteria require a minimum hilal height of 3 degrees and an elongation of at least 6.4 degrees. Arsad noted that based on calculations on 15 June 2026, the height of the hilal for the start of Muharram 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 stated that these conditions met the MABIMS criteria.

“With these parameters, most parts of Indonesia have met the minimum MABIMS criteria. Therefore, the start of Muharram 1448 H falls on Tuesday, 16 June 2026,” Arsad told reporters on Tuesday (16/06).