Getting To Know Hisab And Rukyatul Hisab Methods In Determining 1 Ramadan

The Rukyat Hisab Team conducted hilal monitoring to determine the beginning of the month of Ramadan 1446 Hijri from the National Monument, Jakarta, Friday (28/2/2025). (ANTARA PHOTO/Bayu Pratama St/tom)

Minister of Religion (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar decided to fast Ramadan 1446 Hijriah in Indonesia starting on Saturday (1/3/2025), although hilal was not seen in the majority of Indonesia at the Isbat Session, Friday (28/2) evening.

"It was decided tonight in the trial that 1 Ramadan will be set tomorrow, God willing, March 1, 2025," said Nasaruddin Umar in a press conference after the session.

"Sorry we are late. We have to wait for the westernmost part of Indonesia, Aceh."

Muslims in Indonesia do have to wait longer to find out the first day of Ramdan this year. Cloudy weather in several regions in Indonesia is the main obstacle that causes the hilal cannot be monitored directly.

Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah, the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, since February 11, 2025, has determined that 1 Ramadan 1446 H falls on March 1, 2025. This was explained by the Secretary of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive, Muhammad Sayuti.

Muhammadiyah also announced Eid al-Fitr 1 Syawal 1446 Hijri on March 31, 2025.

The Isbat session has a significant history in religious and social life in Indonesia. This session was held to determine the beginning of the Hijri calendar month, especially those related to important worship of Muslims such as Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.

The Isbat session aims to provide legal and religious certainty to the community and reduce differences of opinion regarding the determination of the beginning of the month. There needs to be cooperation between the government and scholars to create unity and integrability in the community.

Like the Isbat session this year which was held behind closed doors, it was attended by representatives from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the DPR, and the Supreme Court (MA).

The trial agenda includes the presentation of the position of the hilal based on astronomical calculations and verification of the results of hilal observations from various monitoring locations throughout Indonesia.

The Isbat trial itself has been held since the 1950s, although at several sources it was first implemented in 1962. To determine the beginning of Ramadan, Isbat's trial is usually held on 29 Syaban.

Citing the website of the Ministry of Religion, it is important to hold an isbat session because Indonesia is not a religious country, nor is it a secular country. Indonesia cannot fully submit religious affairs to individuals or groups.

Isbat sessions are important because there are many Islamic community organizations (Ormas) in Indonesia who also have their respective methods and standards in determining the beginning of the Hijriyah month. Not infrequently the views of one another are different, along with the differences in the schools and methods used. Isbat trials become forums, forums, as well as decision-making mechanisms.

"This is what becomes more value that decisions are taken together, democratic values are very visible with the presence of all mass organizations present at the isbat session," said Director of Islamic Religious Affairs and Sharia Guidance (Urais-Binsyar) of the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance, Adib.

The two largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, are often different in setting the beginning of the Hijriyah month, especially Ramadan, Syawal, Zulhijah.

Researchers from the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, Suhanah, explained that the causes of the difference in the initial determination of Ramadan can be reviewed from the aspect of the method. Muhammadiyah uses the hisab method (calculation) in determining 1 Ramadan, while NU uses the rukyat method (observing the hilal directly).

These two groups are difficult to unite because they have different fiqh reasons for each other. For people in the Semarang City area, this difference has caused a lot of unrest for the general public," he said as quoted by Jurnal Harmoni.

Citing the MUI page, the reckoning means calculating. As the name suggests, determining the beginning of the month using the hisab method relies on calculating the factor or astronomical science.

The results of this calculation will later be used to ascertain the form of the hilal. In other words, the determination of the beginning of the month with the method of reckoning does not need to be done by looking at the hilal directly, but only using systematic calculations.

The reason Muhammadiyah uses this method is because one of them refers to Surah Ar-Rahman verse 5 which means sun and moon (swimming) according to calculations'.

Meanwhile, the hilal to determine the beginning of the new moon includes the thinst sickle arch at low altitude. The position of the hilal is above the western horizon after sunset and must be observable.

In observing the hilal using the rukyat method, there are three ways that can be done, namely observing with the naked eye, optical equipment or telescope assistance, to the latest optical device connected to the sensor or camera.

The method of rukyat to determine the beginning of the month is reflected in the sabda of Rasulullah SAW narrated by Imam Bukhari.

Although there are often differences in the determination of the beginning of the month through the methods of reckoning and rukyat, MUI emphasized that there is nothing wrong with these two methods because they both come from ijtihads of scholars.

In addition, MUI has also issued Fatwa Number 2 of 2004 concerning the Determination of the Beginning of Ramadan, Syawal, and Zulhijah. The fatwa requires Indonesian citizens to obey government regulations when there is a difference of opinion about the beginning of Ramadan.

In a press conference after the isbat session, Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar said the hilal was finally found in the westernmost province in Aceh. That was after the objective condition of the hilal from eastern, central, to western parts of Indonesia, on the tail of the island of Java it was not possible to witness the hilal.

"It turned out that the hilal in the westernmost province in Aceh had also been sworn in by the judge, thus 2 people who witnessed the hilal, coupled with inauguration, by local religious judges," explained Nassaruddin.

For Ramadan 1446 H, both Indonesia and Saudi Arabia started fasting on the same date, namely March 1, 2025. However, previously in the determination of the beginning of Ramadan or Eid al-Fitr in Indonesia, it was often different from Saudi Arabia. For example, in Ramadan last year, when the government of Saudi Arabia set the first fast to fall on Monday, March 11, 2024, while the Indonesian government through setting 1 Ramadan falls on Tuesday, March 12.

Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Research from the Center for Space Research of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Thomas Djamaluddin said the difference in determination was not caused by different criteria, but was caused by differences in decisions between the governments of the two countries.

"In principle, further to the west, the westerner countries can see the position of the moon being higher and the distance from the moon being further from the position of the sun," Thomas said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday (25/2/2025).

In theory, said Thomas, the western region has the potential to see the hilal greater than the eastern region.

"So it's actually natural when in Saudi Arabia it looks hilal, even though Indonesia has not (appeared), it's natural," he said.

For this year, both Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have designated March 1, 2025 as 1 Ramadan 1446 Hijri. However, the beginning of Ramadan fasting in Indonesia is different from neighboring countries, namely Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam which fell on Sunday, March 2.

The difference in the initial date of fasting between Indonesia and neighboring countries is because in the three countries there are no hilals, and the criteria for rukyat (hilal observations) are not fulfilled, which are guided by the Minister of Religion of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS). In MABIMS, the minimum hilal criteria are at three degrees and an elongation of 6.4 degrees.