Some Jember and Bondowoso residents begin fasting earlier than rest of Indonesia
The caretaker of the Mahfilud Dluror Islamic Boarding School, KH Ali Wafa, said in Jember on Tuesday that the community had already performed tarawih prayers on Monday evening and commenced fasting that day, followed by the entire congregation, alumni and local residents numbering in the thousands.
He explained that the determination of the start of fasting is based on a conviction using the khumasi reference system — from the Arabic word meaning five (khomsatun) — which is derived from the classical text Nushatul Majaalis by Sheikh Abdurrahman As-Shufuri As-Syafi'i, a method that has been practised for 198 years.
"The khumasi calculation system determines the start of fasting for this year by counting five days from the first day of fasting the previous year, so the beginning of Ramadan for the following year can also already be determined," he said.
In 2025, the start of Ramadan fell on a Friday, so counting five days from that date — Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday — places the beginning of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah on Tuesday for residents in the vicinity of the Mahfilud Dluror pesantren, which sits on the border of Jember and Bondowoso regencies.
The determination of the start of fasting at the Mahfilud Dluror pesantren is also based on the classical text Nushatul Majaalis wa Muntahobul Nafaais, which has been applied since 1826, and therefore does not use the hisab (astronomical calculation) and rukyat (moon sighting) methods employed by the government and Muhammadiyah.
"We hope that the difference in the determination of the start of fasting at the Mahfilud Dluror pesantren is also respected by other Muslims according to their respective convictions. There have been no problems thus far, as differences can be a blessing for the Muslim community," he said.
Meanwhile, based on Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Proclamation Number 2/MLM/I.0/E/2025, Muhammadiyah has determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Wednesday (18 February).
The government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, was scheduled to hold an isbat session on Tuesday afternoon. The session serves as the official forum for determining the start of Ramadan for Muslims in Indonesia, with proceedings beginning with a presentation on the position of the hilal (crescent moon) based on hisab data.
He explained that the determination of the start of fasting is based on a conviction using the khumasi reference system — from the Arabic word meaning five (khomsatun) — which is derived from the classical text Nushatul Majaalis by Sheikh Abdurrahman As-Shufuri As-Syafi'i, a method that has been practised for 198 years.
"The khumasi calculation system determines the start of fasting for this year by counting five days from the first day of fasting the previous year, so the beginning of Ramadan for the following year can also already be determined," he said.
In 2025, the start of Ramadan fell on a Friday, so counting five days from that date — Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday — places the beginning of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah on Tuesday for residents in the vicinity of the Mahfilud Dluror pesantren, which sits on the border of Jember and Bondowoso regencies.
The determination of the start of fasting at the Mahfilud Dluror pesantren is also based on the classical text Nushatul Majaalis wa Muntahobul Nafaais, which has been applied since 1826, and therefore does not use the hisab (astronomical calculation) and rukyat (moon sighting) methods employed by the government and Muhammadiyah.
"We hope that the difference in the determination of the start of fasting at the Mahfilud Dluror pesantren is also respected by other Muslims according to their respective convictions. There have been no problems thus far, as differences can be a blessing for the Muslim community," he said.
Meanwhile, based on Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Proclamation Number 2/MLM/I.0/E/2025, Muhammadiyah has determined that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah falls on Wednesday (18 February).
The government, through the Ministry of Religious Affairs, was scheduled to hold an isbat session on Tuesday afternoon. The session serves as the official forum for determining the start of Ramadan for Muslims in Indonesia, with proceedings beginning with a presentation on the position of the hilal (crescent moon) based on hisab data.