Gov’t Announces Ramadan to Start Tuesday Sunday, March 10, 2024

The Government has announced the first day of Ramadan 1445 Hijri/2024 to fall on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

This announcement is based on the decision of the isbat (confirmation) meeting for the beginning of Ramadan 1445 Hijri led by Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, at the office of Ministry of Religious Affairs, Jakarta, Sunday (03/10).

“Based on the hisab (astronomical calculation) of the hilal (crescent moon) position in several regions in Indonesia, it is above the horizon but does not meet the new MABIMS criteria. In addition, there are no reports of hilal sighting, so the isbat session has unanimously decided that the first of Ramadan 1445 Hijri will fall on Tuesday, March 12, 2024,” the Minister said in a press conference after the meeting.

The isbat meeting is a mechanism used by the Ministry to deliberate with various parties, ranging from astronomy experts, parliament, to representatives of Islamic organizations throughout Indonesia, to determine the beginning of the lunar months, especially Ramadan, Shawwal, and Zulhijah.

“The principle of deliberation in this isbat meeting is based on the results of hisab and rukyat (observation) carried out by the Hisab Rukyat Team of Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and confirmed by a number of Ministry of Religious Affairs officers in the regions, which we have stationed at no less than 134 spots throughout the country,” he said.

Based on the Hisab Rukyat Team report, the altitude of the hilal in all parts of Indonesia is at minus 0 degrees 20.2 minutes to 0 degrees 52.09 minutes with an elongation of 2 degrees 14.78 minutes to 2 degrees 41.84 minutes. The position has not met the hilal visibility criteria agreed upon by MABIMS members.

“Indonesia, together with ASEAN countries included in MABIMS, namely Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, agreed in 2021 that the criteria for hilal visibility, known as imkanurrukyah, is that of 3 degrees with an elongation of 6.4 degrees,” he said.

In his statement, the Minister also expressed hope that all Muslims in the country can practice the Ramadan fasting with solemnity. (UN) (FI/MMB)