JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Marwan Dasopang, supports the government's decision to determine 1 Syawal 1447 H to fall on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The support was conveyed after the Ministry of Religion held an isbat session and concluded that the crescent moon had not been seen at all monitoring points.
Marwan said that the authority to determine 1 Syawal was indeed handed over to the government through the Minister of Religion. However, the decision was not taken unilaterally. Before the isbat session, the government first held a seminar involving the public, experts, and scholars.
"Today, the isbat trial has been held. Even though it has been agreed that the one who will decide on one Syawal will be handed over to the government, which is entrusted to the Minister of Religion, the Minister of Religion still invites all people, experts, and scholars, to be together in a seminar," said Marwan, Thursday, March 19, 2026 as reported from the kemenag page.
According to Marwan, the forum provided a strong scientific basis. The results of the seminar were then tested again with field confirmation from 117 crescent monitoring points throughout Indonesia.
"At the seminar, the conclusion is that it is not possible to see the crescent moon. And confirmation after waiting for all regions of Indonesia, from east to west, also did not get confirmation and did not see the crescent moon," he said.
From the results, the government determined that 1 Syawal fell on Saturday, March 21. Marwan considered that the decision should be supported because it was taken through an open, scientific process, and involved many elements.
Even so, he also emphasized that differences of opinion in the community must still be respected. According to him, if there are Muslims who believe that 1 Syawal falls on Friday, it needs to be tolerated and should not be a source of division.
"Suppose there is a community that understands and believes that deciding that one Syawal tomorrow, Friday, can be tolerated, and this does not make a difference between us as Muslims, and let's keep the relationship well," said Marwan.
At the end of his statement, Marwan conveyed Eid al-Fitr greetings to Muslims.
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