PBNU Sets 1 Muharram on 17 June 2026, Ministry of Religious Affairs Explains Date Difference

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has confirmed that 1 Muharram 1448 Hijriah falls on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. Nevertheless, the government respects the decision of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), which set the Islamic New Year 1448 H on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, based on the results of rukyatul hilal (moonsighting).

The difference in determination arises from the differing methods used to establish the start of the lunar month. Kemenag employs the imkanur rukyat approach, which refers to the MABIMS criteria, while PBNU based its decision on the physical sighting of the new moon, which was not observed, leading to the completion of the current month to 30 days (istikmal).

Head of the Public Relations and Public Communication Bureau at Kemenag, Thobib Al Asyhar, affirmed that the ministry respects PBNU’s decision.

Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Development at Kemenag, Arsad Hidayat, explained that the determination of 1 Muharram 1448 H on 16 June 2026 is based on the imkanur rukyat criteria agreed upon by the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS). This determination also adheres to Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation (PMA) Number 1 of 2026 concerning the Organisation of the Isbat Session. Article 4, paragraph (1) of the regulation states that the determination of the beginning of Ramadan, Syawal, and Zulhijah is conducted based on the imkanur rukyat criteria.

The MABIMS criteria require a minimum hilal altitude of 3 degrees and a minimum elongation of 6.4 degrees. According to astronomical calculations on 15 June 2026, the position of the hilal at the start of Muharram met the established parameters. Data showed the hilal altitude ranged from 0.92 degrees in Merauke to 4.02 degrees in Sabang, with the elongation angle ranging between 5.64 degrees and 6.98 degrees. With these parameters, most regions of Indonesia were deemed to have met the minimum MABIMS criteria, leading to the determination that 1 Muharram 1448 H falls on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.

Arsad Hidayat added that the MABIMS criteria are not only used to determine specific Hijri months but also serve as the basis for compiling the Indonesian Hijri Calendar.