Muhammadiyah Sets 2025 Ramadan Start for March 1; What About Govt?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - , one of Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organizations, has announced that the first day of 1446 Hijri will be Saturday, March 1, 2025. This is based on calculations for Ramadan, Shawwal, and Zulhijjah 1446 H conducted by the Tarjih and Tajdid Council of Muhammadiyah's Central Leadership (PP).

Muhammad Sayuti, Secretary of PP Muhammadiyah, made the announcement during a live-streamed press conference on the official PP Muhammadiyah YouTube channel on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. He stated that in Indonesia, 1 Ramadan 1446 H falls on Saturday, March 1, 2025, and Eid al-Fitr, or 1 Syawal 1446 H, will fall on Monday, March 31, 2025.

PP Muhammadiyah also set three other important dates: 1 Zulhijjah 1446 H on Wednesday, May 28, 2025; Arafah Day (9 Zulhijjah 1446 H) on Thursday, June 5, 2025; and Eid al-Adha (10 Zulhijjah 1446 H) on Friday, June 6, 2025.

Based on Muhammadiyah's monitoring, the ijtima or meeting forum before Ramadan will occur on Friday, 29 Sha'ban1446 H or February 28, 2025, at 07:46:49 Jakarta time.

"The moon's elevation at sunset in Yogyakarta will be plus 4 degrees 11 minutes 8 seconds, so the crescent will already be visible. At sunset on Friday, February 28, 2025, the moon will be above the horizon throughout Indonesia, so the crescent will already be visible," said Sayuti.

Sayuti explained that Muhammadiyah uses the hisab method, which calculates the moon's rotation, to determine the start of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. The hisab method used is a true hisab with the Wujudul-Hilal criteria.

As stated in the Decree of the 23rd Tarjih National Conference in Padang in 2003, hisab has the same function and position as rukyatul hilal as a guideline for determining the beginning of Ramadan, Shawwal, and Zulhijjah.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs planned to hold an isbat or confirmation meeting to determine the beginning of Ramadan 1446 H on Friday, February 28, 2025. Director General of the Islamic Community Guidance, Abu Rokhmad, said that the isbat session is planned to be held at the ministry's H.M. Rasjidi Auditorium, Central Jakarta, and led by Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar. 

"As in previous years, this meeting will be attended by various parties, including representatives of Islamic mass organizations, (Indonesian Ulema Council), BMKG, astronomers, and representatives of the DPR and the Supreme Court.," said Abu Rokhmad in a written statement on Monday, February 10, 2025.

He encouraged the public to wait for the results of the isbat session and the government's official announcement regarding the start of Ramadan 1446 H. He said this aligns with the MUI's fatwa or edict No. 2 of 2004 on the Determination of the Start of Ramadan, Syawwal, and Zulhijjah. "We hope that Muslims in Indonesia can begin Ramadan together this year," he concluded.

Hanin Marwah, Oyuk Ivani S, and Khumar Mahendra contributed to the writing of this article.

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