Total Lunar Eclipse on 3 March: Ministry of Religion Invites Muslims to Perform Eclipse Prayer

The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) has invited Muslims to perform the eclipse prayer (khusuf al-qamar) during the total lunar eclipse that will occur on 3 March 2026, coinciding with 13 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah.

“A lunar eclipse is a sign of Allah’s greatness. Therefore, we urge Muslims in areas experiencing it to perform the eclipse prayer as a form of worship and self-reflection,” said Arsad Hidayat, Director of Islamic Affairs and Sharia Guidance at Kemenag, when confirmed from Jakarta on Monday.

Based on astronomical data, the eclipse can be observed throughout Indonesia at different times. Northern Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku, South-West Papua, West Papua, Papua, Central Papua, Highland Papua, and South Papua can observe the eclipse from Umbra I contact at 17:49 WITA or 18:49 WIT until Umbra IV contact ends at 21:17 WITA or 22:17 WIT.

Central Java, Special Region of Yogyakarta, East Java, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, South-East Sulawesi, and Gorontalo can witness the eclipse from Umbra II contact at 18:03 WIB or 19:03 WITA until it ends at 20:17 WIB or 21:17 WITA.

West Sumatra, Riau, Bengkulu, Jambi, Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung Islands, South Sumatra, Lampung, Banten, Jakarta, and West Java can view the eclipse at its peak from 18:33 WIB until it ends at 20:17 WIB.

Aceh and North Sumatra can observe the eclipse from Umbra III contact at 19:03 WIB until it ends at 20:17 WIB.

Arsad requested that the Ministry of Religion’s regional offices, religious leaders, scholars, Islamic community organisations, mosque imams, and local governments facilitate the eclipse prayer observance.

“We are instructing that the eclipse prayer can be well-coordinated and performed according to the estimated time of the eclipse in each region,” he said.

Arsad hopes that the momentum of the lunar eclipse during Ramadhan can strengthen solidarity and serve as a collective prayer for national salvation.

“In addition to performing the sunnah eclipse prayer, Muslims are encouraged to recite takbir and salawat (prayers of blessing), increase dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and istighfar (seeking forgiveness), give charity, and make supplications for the safety of the nation and state,” he said.