Hilal Idulfitri Monitoring Held at 117 Points in Indonesia

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar (third from right), Deputy Minister of Religion Romo Muhammad Syafi’i (second from right), Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR Marwan Dasopang (second from left)(ANTARA FOTO/FAUZAN)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion held a monitoring of the hilal (rukyatul hilal) 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah or Eid al-Fitr on March 19, 2026 in 117 locations in Indonesia, the results of which will be discussed together in the isbat session.

Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religion, Abu Rokhmad, revealed that the isbat trial is an important forum that prioritizes prudence, scholarship, and unity of the people.

"As usual, the isbat hearing was preceded by a seminar on the presentation of the position of the crescent by the Hisab Rukyat Team of the Ministry of Religion. After that, a closed session was held to discuss the results of the rukyatul hilal that came from various regions, before finally being announced to the public," said Abu Rokhmad as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 16.

The isbat trial will be attended by various parties, including representatives of friendly ambassadors, the Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, the Supreme Court, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG).

Then, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bosscha Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Planetarium, experts in astronomy from Islamic community organizations, and members of the Hisab Rukyat Team of the Ministry of Religion.

He explained that based on astronomical calculations (hisab), on the day of rukyat or 29 Ramadhan 1447 H which coincides with Thursday, March 19, 2026, the height of the crescent moon in all regions of Indonesia is above the horizon with a range between 0°54'27'' to 3°7'52''. Meanwhile, the angle of elongation of the crescent moon ranges from 4°32'40'' to 6°6'11''.

According to him, the entire calculation system also shows that the ijtimak leading up to Syawal 1447 H occurred on March 19, 2026 at around 08.23 WIB. However, the determination of the beginning of Syawal is still waiting for the results of the rukyatul hilal which will be carried out in various regions of Indonesia.

"The initial determination of Syawal 1447 H will wait for the report of the results of rukyatul hilal from all regions which will then be discussed in the isbat session," he said.