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Jakarta - BRIN Public Relations. Differences related to the determination of the beginning of Ramadan and Eid are still often debated to this day. The differences arise not because of hisab (calculation) and rukyat (observation) methods, but because of different criteria. Astronomy is here to make it easier to determine criteria that can be agreed upon.

Determining the beginning of the month requires criteria to be mutually agreed upon. Rukyat requires verification of criteria to avoid the possibility of false rukyat. Hisab cannot determine the beginning of the month without criteria. Thus, criteria become the basis for making a hisab-based calendar that can be used in rukyat forecasts.

BRIN Astronomy and Astrophysics Researcher Thomas Djamaluddin explained that the new moon (hilal) criteria adopted are criteria based on shar'i (religious law) arguments about the beginning of the month and the results of valid astronomical studies. The criteria must also seek the meeting point of rukyat observers and hisab observers, to become a common agreement. This includes the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS).

Thomas said that there is a potential for the beginning of Ramadan to be similar, if at sunset, March 22, 2023 in Indonesia the position of the moon has met the new MABIMS criteria, namely with a minimum height of 3 degrees and an elongation of 6.4 degrees (3-6.4). And at the same time it also meets the criteria for the Hilal (WH). Thus, the two criteria become uniform, both the 3-6.4 version and the WH that 1 Ramadan 1444 on March 23, 2023.

On the other hand, Thomas said that there are potential differences regarding Eid al-Fitr 1444. "This is because at the time of maghrib on April 20, 2023, there is potential in Indonesia that the position of the moon has not met the new MABIMS criteria. So, there is a potential difference, namely the 3-6.4 version, 1 Shawwal 1444 on April 22, 2023, while the WH version, 1 Shawwal 1444 on April 21, 2023," he explained.

The main reason for the recurring differences in determining the beginning of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha, Thomas explained, is because the criteria for the beginning of the lunar month have not been agreed upon. The main prerequisite for the unification of the lunar calendar is that there must be a single authority.

"The single authority will determine the criteria and date limits that can be followed together. While the current condition, a single authority may be realized first at the national or regional level. This determination refers to the boundaries of the region as one jurisdiction (wilayatul hukmi) according to the boundaries of state sovereignty. The criteria are sought to be mutually agreed upon," concluded Thomas.