MUI Urges Calm as Muharam 1448 Start Date Differs Between Government and NU
A discrepancy has emerged between the government and the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) regarding the determination of 1 Muharram 1448 Hijriah. In light of this situation, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has requested that the public avoid escalating the emerging differences.
MUI Secretary-General Amirsyah Tambunan emphasised that differences in determining the start of the Hijri year are natural and do not require excessive debate. “The differences in the start of the Hijri New Year do not need to be exaggerated,” stated Amirsyah Tambunan in a written statement on Tuesday (16/06/2026).
He invited the Muslim community to view the Hijri New Year as a momentum for ‘hijrah’—a transition from poor conditions to better ones in accordance with Islamic teachings. “For Indonesia, hijrah means renewing mental and moral attitudes, 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 added that the spirit of hijrah exemplified by Prophet Muhammad SAW 14 centuries ago should serve as a reminder 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 noted.
PBNU and Government Differ on Determination
The discrepancy arose after the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNlar) determined that 1 Muharram 1448 H falls on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. This determination was made because the results of the hilal sighting (rukyatul hilal) showed that the crescent moon was not visible at any monitoring points.
This information was conveyed through a letter released by the PBNU Falakiyah Institute. The letter stated that the hilal sighting was conducted on Monday, 29 Zulhijah 1447 H, or 15 June 2026, and resulted in no reports of the crescent moon’s appearance. “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 read.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has set 1 Muharram 1448 H to fall on 16 June 2026. Director of Islamic Affairs and Sharia Development, Arsad Hidayat, explained that the decision was based on the MABIMS imkanur rukyat criteria used by several Southeast Asian countries. This criterion requires a minimum hilal height of 3 degrees and a minimum elongation of 6.4 degrees. Calculations on 15 June 2026 showed the hilal height ranging from 0.92 degrees in Merauke to 4.02 degrees in Sabang, while the elongation angle was recorded between 5.64 degrees and 6.98 degrees.
“With these parameters, most regions of Indonesia have met the minimum MABIMS criteria. Therefore, the beginning of Muharram 1448 H falls on Tuesday, 16 June 2026,” Arsad told reporters on Tuesday (16/06).