Jakarta, NU Online
Determining the complete of Ramadan and the arrival of Eid al-Fitr is proving contentious in Indonesia, with religious authorities expressing concerns over potential manipulation of astronomical data. The debate centers on whether the sighting of the new crescent moon – a key factor in Islamic lunar calendar – meets established criteria for validity.
According to calculations by the Lembaga Falakiyah Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (LF PBNU), Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG), the crescent moon on Thursday, March 19, 2026, did not meet the criteria for visibility, specifically a height of 3 degrees and an elongation of 6.4 degrees. This determination is crucial as it impacts the official start date of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
KH Sarmidi Husna, a member of the PBNU Syuriyah Council, urged the Ministry of Religious Affairs to adhere to Peraturan Menteri Agama (Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation) No. 1 of 2026, which sets the criteria for the visibility of the new moon. “We strongly hope that the Ministry of Religious Affairs will be transparent and consistent with the MABIMS agreement (Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore) and the Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation (PMA) Number: 1 of 2026 as the legal basis,” he said on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
The standard of “imkanur rukyah” – the possibility of sighting the new moon – must be a prerequisite for accepting witness testimonies, Husna emphasized. If at least five different, definitive astronomical methods determine the moon is not visible, that determination should override any sighting claims.
Concerns have been raised about attempts to alter the data or change the established criteria for visibility in an effort to unify the date of Eid al-Fitr. Authorities allege there have been efforts to lower the elongation requirement to 6 degrees, and to replicate a successful sighting claim from the beginning of Ramadan 2025 by sending observation teams to Aceh.
“With the caveat that the data is not valid,” Husna added.
LF PBNU asserts that attempts to align Eid al-Fitr on March 20, 2026, are based on flawed logic. A meeting coordinated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs established that Eid al-Fitr will fall on March 21, 2026. KH Sirril Wafa, Chairman of LF PBNU, stated to NU Online on Sunday, March 15, 2026, that the position of the moon, according to all calculations, falls below the agreed-upon criteria.
Wafa also expressed concern over potential manipulation of calculations to force a different outcome. “What about the commitment that has been built and maintained by all stakeholders in their respective organizations?” he questioned.
LF PBNU is advocating for the completion of Ramadan, meaning it should last 30 days, concluding on Friday, March 20, 2026. Kiai Sirril emphasized the need for caution from the Ministry of Religious Affairs in determining the start and end of Ramadan.
“Decision-makers must prioritize caution and avoid recklessly manipulating figures to satisfy certain desires,” Kiai Sirril stated. “Remember, recklessness in determining the times of worship can lead to errors in speech or action, serving as a serious warning against the negligence that is condemned by Islamic law.”
LF PBNU hopes that the scholars within PBNU will remain committed to completing Ramadan 1447 H and establishing that 1 Shawwal 1447 H will fall on Saturday, March 21, 2026. According to the results of the National Halaqah PBNU in the field of religion, held several times in Java and outside Java, if the results of the Falakiyah calculations present that the position of the hilal has not yet been Imkan rukyat, while You’ll see parties who claim to see the hilal, then this recognition is rejected,” Kiai Sirril explained.
Data from the Falakiyah regarding the crescent moon on March 19, 2026, indicates it was above the horizon but did not meet the criteria for visibility. The highest crescent moon occurred in Sabang, Aceh, at 2 degrees 53 minutes, with an elongation of 6 degrees 09 minutes, and a duration of 14 minutes 44 seconds. The lowest crescent moon occurred in Merauke, South Papua, at 0 degrees 49 minutes, with an elongation of 4 degrees 36 minutes, and a duration of 6 minutes 36 seconds.
In Jakarta, at the PBNU building, the crescent moon was at 1 degree 43 minutes 54 seconds, with the sun setting at 12 degrees 03 minutes 24 seconds south of west, an elongation of 5 degrees 44 minutes 49 seconds, and a duration of 10 minutes 51 seconds. Conjunction occurred on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 08:25:58 WIB.
The sun set at 00 degrees 33 minutes 01 seconds south of west, with the crescent moon at 03 degrees 33 minutes 03 seconds south of west, and the crescent moon at 03 degrees 00 minutes 02 seconds south, tilted north. These calculations were performed using Nahdlatul Ulama’s contemporary, precise, and verified falak (hisab) method.
