Kemenag: Height of the Crescent in Indonesia Has Not Met the MABIMS Criteria

Member of the Hisab Rukyat Team of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Cecep Nurwendaya explains the height of the crescent moon in all regions of Indonesia / ANTARA / Sean Filo Muhamad

JAKARTA - Member of the Hisab Rukyat Team of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Cecep Nurwendaya explained that the height of the crescent moon in all regions of Indonesia has not met the criteria of the Minister of Religion of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS).

In a seminar ahead of the 1447 Hijri Isbat Session at the Ministry of Religion Office, Jakarta, Thursday, Cecep explained that the height of the crescent in Indonesia is between 0⁰ 54' 27" (0.91⁰) to 3⁰ 07' 52" (3.13⁰), with elongation at 4⁰ 32' 40" (4.54⁰) to 6⁰ 06' 11" (6.10⁰).

Referring to the MABIMS criteria, the beginning of the Hijri or Kamariah month is determined if the crescent has a minimum height of 3 degrees and the elongation or angular distance between the two celestial bodies reaches 6.4 degrees.

"If the curve is combined, in all regions of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia it does not meet the initial criteria of the MABIMS lunar month," said Cecep as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 19.

Therefore, he continued, 1 Syawal 1447 Hijriah falls on Friday, March 20, 2026 based on astronomical hisab science.

However, the method must be confirmed again by looking at the moon (rukyatul hilal) which is carried out in 117 locations in Indonesia, the results of which will be discussed together in the isbat session.

"In conclusion, all provincial capitals in the Republic of Indonesia and Sabang do not meet the MABIMS criteria (related) early in the month of Syawal 1447 Hijriah," he said.

Cecep emphasized that both the conditions of the hilal height and elongation must be fulfilled, because this height is influenced by the red light or twilight color that appears on the western horizon after sunset (maghrib) until the evening or shafaq.

"The lower the position, the sunset light will obscure, defeating the weak hilal light, the higher (the position of the hilal) the influence is smaller. Then, the elongation causes the thickness and thinness of the hilal. If the hilal is above 6.4 degrees, it is possible for the hilal to enter the visibility criteria," said Cecep Nurwendaya.