MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Secretary of the Muhammadiyah Council for Religious Opinion and Tajdid Muhamad Rofiq Muzakkir described the unified global hijri calendar as a bold and innovative religious initiative during the National Forum in Yogyakarta on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
In his presentation, Rofiq highlighted the religious basis, advantages, and deeper meaning of the unified global hijri calendar. He said that the calendar represents a modern symbol of Islamic unity and global cooperation and reflects Muhammadiyah commitment to offering practical solutions for uniting worship and civil timekeeping in today’s globalized world.
Rofiq explained that the unified global hijri calendar is a new idea that blends traditional Islamic practices, such as astronomical calculation (hisab) and the concept of unified moon sighting zones (ittiḥād al-maṭāliʿ), with new elements unprecedented in earlier religious interpretations.
“The unified global hijri calendar introduces the principle of ‘one day, one date’ across the world, recognizes the International Date Line, and sets a condition that the moon’s conjunction must happen before midnight GMT. This is a new approach that hasn’t existed previously,” he said.
Rofiq added that Muhammadiyah decision to support the unified global hijri calendar is a courageous step, especially considering Indonesia’s location in the eastern hemisphere. Unlike religious councils in North America or Europe that are located in the West, Indonesia often relies on moon sightings from those western regions to determine the start of the Hijri month.
Rofiq stressed that Muhammadiyah support for the unified global hijri calendar is based on strong religious reasoning and that the calendar offers clear benefits for Muslims today.
“The unified global hijri calendar answers the needs of our time, when Muslims are more connected globally than ever. It’s not just a guide for worship but also a way to shape a global Islamic perspective,” he said.
