Govt Urges Unity Amid Differences on Ramadan Start

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar on Tuesday, February 19, 2026, called on Indonesian Muslims to remain united and respect differing views over the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijri/2026, following the government’s decision on the first day of fasting.

Speaking after the isbat (confirmation) meeting in Jakarta, Minister Nasaruddin said differences in determining the beginning of the holy month should not undermine solidarity among Muslims.

“If some begin on a different day, let us respect them. Indonesia has long experience in responding to differences harmoniously. Do not let technical differences reduce our ukhuwah [brotherhood] as fellow Muslims,” he said, as quoted on the Religious Affairs Ministry's official website.

The government has set 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijri to fall on Thursday, February 19, 2026, based on astronomical calculations and crescent-sighting reports from 96 observation points nationwide.

However, Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations, announced that 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijri began on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, based on its own calculation method.

The organization uses the hisab hakiki wujudul hilal method, which relies solely on astronomical calculations and determines the start of a new lunar month once the crescent is positioned above the horizon at sunset, without requiring physical sighting.

Nasaruddin said the decision followed a long-standing mechanism that combines hisab (astronomical calculations) and rukyat (crescent sighting). He added that the move was intended to provide certainty for the public.

“This is not merely a technical consideration but part of the government’s responsibility to provide certainty for the people,” he said.

House of Representatives Commission VIII Speaker Marwan Dasopang said the meeting had reviewed the determination of Ramadan using both religious and scientific principles. Based on the team’s presentation, he said, the crescent remained below the horizon and could not be sighted.

“Based on the religious and scientific principles discussed, the crescent cannot be seen because its position is still negative,” Marwan said.

He also urged the public not to let methodological differences in determining the start of the Hijri month lead to division.

“Differences must not cause us to break apart. Let us respect one another and increase our acts of worship,” he said.

Marwan added that Commission VIII supports continued efforts by the ministry to bridge various approaches to determining the Islamic calendar, including discussions on a global Hijri calendar, to strengthen unity in the future.

The isbat meeting was attended by Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) leaders, the Islamic Community Guidance director general, representatives of Islamic organizations and officials from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Geospatial Information Agency and the Jakarta Planetarium. The ministry’s Hisab Rukyat Team also presented its nationwide observation and calculation results.