Based on astronomical calculations, the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) conveyed the position of the crescent moon in all regions of Indonesia on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, has not met the criteria for visibility of the crescent moon agreed by member countries of MABIMS (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore).
"So the date of 1 Ramadhan 1447 Hijriah in terms of calculation falls on Thursday, February 19, 2026," said Member of the Rukyat Calculation Team of the Ministry of Religion Cecep Nurwendaya in Jakarta, Tuesday, as reported by ANTARA.
Cecep explained the position of the crescent in Indonesia when the rukyat was in the range of minus 2 degrees 24 minutes 43 seconds to minus 0 degrees 55 minutes 41 seconds, with an elongation between 0 degrees 56 minutes 23 seconds to 1 degrees 53 minutes 36 seconds.
Meanwhile, the MABIMS criteria stipulates a minimum crescent height of 3 degrees and a minimum elongation of 6.4 degrees. With this position, the crescent is theoretically impossible to be seen because it is still below the horizon when the Sun sets.
The Indonesian government has been using the method of hisab and rukyat in determining the beginning of the Hijri month, especially Ramadan, Syawal, and Zulhijah.
Hisab serves as initial information, while rukyat becomes a confirmation in the isbat trial involving various parties, including astronomy experts, representatives of Islamic organizations, and related institutions.
The Isbat session was held at the Borobudur Hotel, Jakarta, on Tuesday, to officially determine the beginning of Ramadan. Currently, the Ministry of Religion is still waiting for the rukyatul hilal report from 96 monitoring points in Indonesia.
The series of isbat hearings began with a seminar on the position of the crescent at 16.30 WIB. Present, experts in astronomy and falak. The isbat session was held in closed session at 18.30 WIB, while the results were announced through a press conference at around 19.05 WIB.
Today's activity was attended by representatives of ambassadors of friendly countries, Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Supreme Court of Indonesia, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), as well as experts from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
In addition, there were also academics from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), representatives of planetariums, members of the Hisab Rukyat Team of the Ministry of Religion, astronomy experts from various Islamic community organizations, as well as leaders of Islamic organizations and pesantren.
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