The Indonesian government via the Ministry of Religious Affairs sets the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah on February 19, 2026, while Muhammadiyah begins on February 18, 2026. Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar urges the public not to let this difference cause division. He stresses the importance of unity among Indonesian Muslims.
At the press conference for the Sidang Isbat of 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah held at Hotel Borobudur in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar addressed the differing determinations of the fasting start between the government and Muhammadiyah. The government employed a combined method of hisab and rukyat, where calculations by the Kemenag's Hisab Rukyat Team indicated that the moon's position on 29 Sya’ban 1447 H, or February 17, 2026, did not meet MABIMS visibility criteria. These criteria require a minimum moon height of 3 degrees and elongation of 6.4 degrees, but results showed heights from minus 2.41 degrees to minus 0.93 degrees with elongations from 0.94 degrees to 1.89 degrees. Astronomically, the moon remains below the horizon at sunset, making sighting impossible.
Nasaruddin hopes this decision symbolizes unity. "We all hope that this decision allows all Indonesian Muslims to start fasting together, making it a symbol of Muslim unity in Indonesia that also reflects our unity as fellow citizens toward a better future," he stated.
He urged respect for differing beliefs. "And if there are Muslims among our citizens who might do things differently, it is based on their respective convictions, and we appeal to all society that such differences do not cause us to separate or differ in a negative way," he said. Nasaruddin added, "Let this difference become a beautiful collaboration; Indonesia has experience in being different yet remaining in beautiful unity."
Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah set 1 Ramadan on February 18, 2026, using a global hisab approach that references the moon's position in the Alaska region, sparking public discussion.
