Jakarta - Indonesia on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 announced that Ramadan month at the Hijri Calendar 1447 falls on Thursday, 19 February 2026, marking the starting of fasting month for muslims, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar said in Jakarta.
The determination of the beginning of Ramadan month, an important measure for muslims across the globe as 30-day fasting during the month is an obligatory in Islam.
To determine the beginning of Ramadan month, the government of Indonesia, led by the Religious Affairs Ministry, held an official meeting to validate the position of a new month or known as Isbat meeting.
The government experts, Islamic scholars, astronomers and muslim organizations were involved in the isbat meeting that collects calculation and sighting from all parties before making the decision.
According to Minister Nasaruddin, from calculation and sighting, the visibility of the new moon, or hilal is still below the zero degree, has not matched the criteria of MAMBIS, agreement made by religious affairs ministers from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore in 1989 on religious standards for determining the beginning of Hijri months.
"Therefore, 1 Ramadan 1447 Hijri falls on Thursday, 19 February 2026," Minister Nasaruddin announced, hoping the determination would not bring segregation among the people of Indonesia, but harmony and united.
Some Indonesian muslim organizations have announced different date to start the month of Ramadan. Indonesia's second largest muslim organization Muhammadiyah determined the beginning of Ramadan would be on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.***
