Isbat meeting conducted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has determined the beginning of fasting or 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijriah to fall on Thursday, February 19, 2026, as the crescent moon was not visible during observation on Tuesday. The initial determination of the holy month of Ramadan was made based on the results of the Isbat determination meeting led by Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
The high position of the crescent moon seen negative in Indonesia indicates that the moon’s position is still below the horizon. According to Nasaruddin, the absence of a visible crescent moon led to the agreement that 1 Ramadan would begin on February 19, 2026. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) revealed several facts about crescent moon observation for determining the start of the Hijriah month.
BMKG explained on Instagram that the crescent moon is the first visible moon after the conjunction phase. Therefore, not all crescent moons can be called Hilal. Additionally, the window of time for the crescent moon to appear is very brief, only a few minutes after sunset. A slight delay can cause it to be missed. Also, weather conditions play a crucial role in crescent moon observations. Thin clouds in the sky can make the moon invisible, making weather data from BMKG essential to support observations.
Crescent moon observations involve not only visual surveillance but also scientific calculations. The height of the moon and its elegance are crucial parameters according to the criteria agreed upon by the MABIMS countries. The MABIMS criteria are used to determine the beginning of the Hijriah month, with requirements for the moon’s position to reach a height of 3 degrees and an elongation angle of 6.4 degrees. This criteria is an update from the previous criteria, which had a height of 2 degrees and an elongation angle of 3 degrees. Furthermore, modern telescopes and specialized digital cameras are now used in crescent moon observations, enhancing the precision of the results. Rukyat or crescent moon observation is performed at sunset on the 29th of the Hijriah month.
