Indonesia Sets Ramadan 2026 Start Date Amidst Differing Opinions

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs has officially announced that Ramadan 1447 Hijri will begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The decision follows an Isbat (confirmation) meeting held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, taking into account both astronomical calculations and physical sightings of the crescent moon.

Government’s Decision Based on MABIMS Criteria

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar stated that the determination was made after careful consideration of the position of the hilal (crescent moon). The government adheres to the MABIMS criteria – a standard jointly followed by the Religious Affairs Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore – which requires a minimum moon height of 3 degrees with an elongation of 6.4 degrees to officially recognize the start of a new month. Antara News reports that observations on February 17th showed the hilal’s position in Indonesia ranged between minus 2 degrees 24 minutes 43 seconds and minus 0 degrees 55 minutes 41 seconds, with an elongation between 0 degrees 56 minutes 23 seconds and 1 degree 53 minutes 36 seconds. Because these criteria were not met, the first day of Ramadan was set for February 19th.

Muhammadiyah’s Alternative Date

The decision differs from that of Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations, which has set the start of Ramadan for Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The Jakarta Globe notes this difference stems from varying methods used to calculate the beginning of the month.

Differing Methods and the Importance of Isbat

The Indonesian government utilizes a combination of hisab (astronomical calculations) and rukyat (physical sighting of the crescent moon) during Isbat meetings to determine the start of Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhu al-Hijjah. Voi.id emphasizes that the Isbat Session remains the only official government mechanism for determining the beginning of Ramadan. Minister Nasaruddin Umar highlighted the historical significance of the Isbat Session as the primary reference for the nation in determining important religious days.

Call for Wisdom and Respect

Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Amirsyah Tambunan acknowledged the differing dates as a natural occurrence and urged for wisdom and tact in responding to them. He referenced Imam Ghazali’s view that both hisab and rukyat are valid forms of ijtihad (independent reasoning), and emphasized the importance of mutual respect.

Key Takeaways

• Ramadan 1447 Hijri will begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026, according to the Indonesian government.
• The decision is based on the MABIMS criteria for crescent moon visibility.
• Muhammadiyah has announced the start of Ramadan for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, due to differing calculation methods.
• The Indonesian government emphasizes the importance of the Isbat Session as the official method for determining the start of Islamic months.