The Indonesian government will hold an isbat session to determine the beginning of Ramadan 2025 today (Friday, 28 February). The session will take place at the Haji Mohammad Rasjidi Auditorium at the headquarters of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Central Jakarta.
The isbat session consists of three main activities. First, the presentation of crescent moon position data based on astronomical calculations. Second, verification of the results of rukyatul hilal from various monitoring points across Indonesia. Finally, deliberation and decision-making will be announced to the public.
The crescent moon monitoring was conducted at 125 locations throughout Indonesia. The results of this monitoring will serve as the basis for determining the start of Ramadan.
According to the preliminary hisab data for Ramadan 1446 H, ijtimak occurred on Friday, 28 February 2025, at approximately 07:44 AM Jakarta time. On the same day, the height of the crescent moon across Indonesia was above the horizon, ranging between 3° 5.91′ and 4° 40.96′, with an elongation angle between 4° 47.03′ and 6° 24.14′.
The full schedule for the isbat session to determine 1 Ramadan is as follows:
- 4:30 PM Jakarta time – Seminar on the position of the crescent moon (open to the public and live-streamed on Bimas Islam’s YouTube channel)
- 6:30 PM Jakarta time – Implementation of the isbat session (closed to the public)
- 7:05 PM Jakarta time – Press conference to announce 1 Ramadan 1446 H (live-streamed on the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs’ YouTube channel)
On Thursday (27 February), the Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, commented on the possibility of a difference in the start of Ramadan between the government and Muhammadiyah for the year 1446 H/2025. He noted that while predictions can be made about the start of fasting, he emphasised that fasting should not be postponed if the hilal has been sighted.
“Yes, everyone can make a prediction. But if someone sees the [hilal], then why should the [fasting] be postponed? If you haven’t [seen the hilal], then we shall discuss,” said Umar.