Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs Declares March 1 as First Day of Ramadan
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has officially declared March 1 as the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, marking the beginning of the month-long fasting obligation for Muslims across the country.
Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar made the announcement at a press conference on Friday, confirming that the first day of Ramadan 1446 Hijri will fall on Saturday. The determination followed the isbat (confirmation) meeting, during which the hilal (crescent moon) was sighted above the required threshold by two sworn observers in Aceh.
This year, the ministry deployed observers to 125 observation points nationwide to ensure accurate moon sighting. The threshold for the hilal sighting was set at a minimum height of 3 degrees and an elongation angle of 6.4 degrees, in line with the consensus of religious affairs ministers from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS).
Minister Umar noted that while the determination aligns with Indonesia’s findings, it may differ from the decisions made by Singapore and Brunei, due to varying results from moon observation across different regions.
In his remarks, Umar expressed hope that the commencement of Ramadan would bring blessings and positive energy to the nation. He emphasized that the holy month not only nurtures spiritual connections with God but also encourages compassion toward others. “A Muslim must not only focus on God but should also care for fellow humans and the environment,” he said.
The isbat meeting, which began at 4:30 p.m. Jakarta time, included a presentation by experts on the hilal’s position based on astronomical data. The event continued with the Maghrib prayer before a closed session was held to finalize the determination of Ramadan’s start. The decision was then announced at the press conference, attended by representatives from religious organizations, astronomers, legislators, and ambassadors.
As Indonesia begins the holy month, the nation looks forward to the collective observance of fasting, reflection, and charity.
