MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Islamic civilization has made a lot of lasting impacts on world history for more than fourteen centuries. However, despite the progress of modern times and the global spread of its followers, Islam is facing a fundamental challenge, which is the lack of a unified global Hijri calendar.
Secretary of the Muhammadiyah Council for Religious Affairs and Tajdid Muhamad Rofiq Muzakkir said this issue goes beyond dates. It reflects a deeper problem of unity, especially in coordinating worship and religious life across different parts of the world.
“Every year, Muslims around the world wait for announcements to know when Ramadan or Eid will start. Without a unified global Hijri calendar, the beginning of Ramadan can vary by two, three, or even four days in different countries,” said Rofiq on Wednesday, June 11,
For example, in 1446 Hijri, Malaysia is expected to begin Ramadan on March 2, 2025, and Eid al-Fitr on March 31, while Saudi Arabia will start a day earlier, on March 1 and March 30 respectively. This difference can create confusion. A Malaysian Muslim who begins fasting in their home country and later travels to Saudi Arabia for umrah and Eid would end up fasting only 28 days. It is less than what is required. On the other hand, an Indonesian Muslim who starts fasting on March 1 and later celebrates Eid in Australia on April 1 may fast for 31 days.
“These inconsistencies not only create confusion but also affect the core of worship, which should unite the Muslim community,” added Rofiq.
Rofiq explained that Islam is a global religion with followers spread across the world, from rural areas in Indonesia to cities in the West. As a universal faith, Islam needs a universal calendar to help Muslims align their worship and daily lives regardless of where they live.
A unified global Hijri calendar, Rofiq argued, is not just a technical tool. It is a symbol of unity that can help bring Muslims together across geographic and cultural differences.
Muhammadiyah has responded to this challenge by promoting the unified global Hijri calendar, which uses precise astronomical calculations to predict Islamic dates far in advance with high accuracy. This system makes it possible for Muslims around the world to observe key religious events on the same day.
The objective of the implementation of the unified global Hijri calendar is more than to standardize time. It seeks to strengthen the unity of Muslims. It enables Muslims in different cities in the world such as Jakarta, Cairo, and London to have the same day to perform their fast.
Rofiq acknowledged that adopting the unified global Hijri calendar will take time. Differences in tradition, local practices, and cultural sensitivities should be addressed through dialogue and education. However, he believes it is a goal worth pursuing.
History shows that Muslims have built remarkable civilizations, suggesting that unity and progress remain achievable goals today. Through the unified global Hijri calendar, Muslims are not only organizing their time more effectively but also reinforcing their identity as a global community who unite in worship and are stronger in purpose.
