Naqsabandiyah Congregation in Padang Begins Ramadan Fasting Today
Members of the Naqsabandiyah Tarekat in Padang, West Sumatra, performed their first tarawih prayers on Monday evening, 16 February 2026. The prayers were held at the surau gadang in Pauh District, Padang, and attended by dozens of congregants.
"Tonight the congregation at the surau gadang performed the first evening of tarawih and witir prayers," said Buya Zahar, Imam of the Naqsabandiyah Tarekat Surau Baru.
He said the Naqsabandiyah Tarekat had determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. "Tomorrow [today] the congregation will have their pre-dawn meal and then observe a full day of fasting," he said.
Buya Azhar explained that the Naqsabandiyah Tarekat's determination of 1 Ramadan is based on a method combining hisab (astronomical calculation), rukyat (moon sighting), and analogical reasoning from religious texts. Based on these calculations, 1 Ramadan falls on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, one day ahead of the government's determination.
Nevertheless, he said this was not a problem as the difference was merely one of calculation methodology.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs will conduct observations of the early Ramadan 1447 H new moon on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at 96 locations across Indonesia.
The isbat session will be attended by various parties, including ambassadors from friendly nations, the Chair of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, representatives from the Supreme Court, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bosscha Observatory at ITB, Jakarta Planetarium, falak (Islamic astronomy) experts from various Islamic organisations, leaders of Islamic community organisations, Islamic boarding schools, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs' hisab rukyat team.
"Tonight the congregation at the surau gadang performed the first evening of tarawih and witir prayers," said Buya Zahar, Imam of the Naqsabandiyah Tarekat Surau Baru.
He said the Naqsabandiyah Tarekat had determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Tuesday, 17 February 2026. "Tomorrow [today] the congregation will have their pre-dawn meal and then observe a full day of fasting," he said.
Buya Azhar explained that the Naqsabandiyah Tarekat's determination of 1 Ramadan is based on a method combining hisab (astronomical calculation), rukyat (moon sighting), and analogical reasoning from religious texts. Based on these calculations, 1 Ramadan falls on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, one day ahead of the government's determination.
Nevertheless, he said this was not a problem as the difference was merely one of calculation methodology.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs will conduct observations of the early Ramadan 1447 H new moon on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, at 96 locations across Indonesia.
The isbat session will be attended by various parties, including ambassadors from friendly nations, the Chair of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, representatives from the Supreme Court, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bosscha Observatory at ITB, Jakarta Planetarium, falak (Islamic astronomy) experts from various Islamic organisations, leaders of Islamic community organisations, Islamic boarding schools, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs' hisab rukyat team.