Idulfitri Falls on March 31, 2025, as Indonesia’s Government Concludes Moon Sighting Process
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id – Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Ministry has confirmed that Idulfitri, marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, will be observed on Monday, March 31, 2025. The decision comes after national moon sightings on Saturday evening concluded that the new moon is not yet visible.
The official determination was announced after a government-led deliberation known as Sidang Isbat, attended by representatives from religious councils, the House of Representatives' Commission VIII, and Islamic civil society organizations.
“The 1st of Syawal 1446 Hijri falls on Monday, March 31, 2025,” said Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar during a press conference held at the ministry’s headquarters in Jakarta.
The Sidang Isbat, held on Saturday, March 29, followed reports from observatories and religious institutions across all provinces. Based on astronomical calculations, the moon’s altitude ranged from minus three to minus one degrees, with an elongation angle of just one degree—conditions that render the moon invisible to the naked eye.
Minister Nasaruddin explained that these conditions did not meet the criteria established by the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, collectively known as MABIMS. According to MABIMS, the crescent moon (hilal) must be at least three degrees above the horizon with an elongation angle of 6.4 degrees to be considered visible for determining the new month.
“Since these standards were not met, we have agreed to complete the fasting month of Ramadan and begin Syawal on Monday,” the minister added.
A falakiyah observer from Al-Hidayah Basmol Islamic boarding school explains the moon sighting procedure at Musyari’in Mosque, West Jakarta, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Photo: Investortrust/Dicki Antariksa.
The Ministry’s decision aligns with the Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic organizations, which relies on a mathematical and astronomical calculation method known as hisab. Muhammadiyah had previously declared that Idulfitri would fall on the same date—March 31, 2025.
The coordination of this moon sighting effort involved religious boarding schools such as Pondok Pesantren Al-Hidayah Basmol in West Jakarta, where falakiyah (astronomical) observers closely monitored the horizon using telescopic equipment.