Chairman of Commission VIII: Ramadan 2026 Isbat Session Can Be Accountable, Hilal is Still "Minus"

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR, Marwan Dasopang, emphasized that the decision of the Isbat Session which determined 1 Ramadan 1447 H on February 19, 2026 was carried out through a mature and accountable process. He emphasized that the session was not just an annual agenda, but a forum that brought together religious principles and scientific principles before the government made a decision.

"The results of the discussion show that the position of the crescent is still below the horizon or minus, so that it is not scientifically possible to be deduced," said Marwan in a press conference for the Sidang Isbat Determination of the Beginning of Ramadan 1447 H in Jakarta, Tuesday (17/2/2026).

Marwan said the discussion was carried out through discussions with experts before producing a decision. He also alluded to future efforts to bring together various approaches to determining the beginning of the Islamic month, including the global Hijri calendar discourse, so that there is a wider harmony. Marwan added, in a number of countries, including Turkey, the crescent has not been seen at the same time.

As Chairman of Commission VIII, Marwan expressed support for the government's decision and invited Muslims to welcome Ramadan without making differences in methods a trigger for tension. "Let's worship with piety, carry out fasting with sincerity and honesty, so that Ramadan really brings improvement for ourselves," he said, quoted from the Kemenag website.

He said the certainty of the early date of Ramadan was important as a guide for Muslims in Indonesia, while hoping that this momentum would strengthen unity and the quality of community diversity.

It is known that this year Muhammadiyah has set the beginning of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah to fall on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. In the report from the official Muhammadiyah website, this determination is based on the Single Global Hijri Calendar (KHGT). KHGT is an international dating system that uses the criteria of one day one date around the world.