FatwaFederal TerritoriesAstronomy & Calendar
BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-343: PENGAMALAN KAEDAH IMKAN AL-RUKYAH DI MALAYSIA
How is the Imkan al-Rukyah method practised in determining the start of Hijri months in Malaysia?
Short answer
Malaysia determines the start of Ramadan, Shawwal and Dhulhijjah through Imkan al-Rukyah, which combines moon sighting with astronomical calculation.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Bayan Linnas
- Topic
- Astronomy & Calendar
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Malaysia determines the start of Ramadan, Shawwal and Dhulhijjah through Imkan al-Rukyah, which combines moon sighting with astronomical calculation. The method uses MABIMS criteria agreed in 1992 and updated in 2021 to a moon altitude of at least 3 degrees and elongation of at least 6.4 degrees at sunset. The majority of jurists from the four schools hold that months are determined by sighting alone, while some scholars, including contemporary ones, accept calculation without restriction.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Di Malaysia, penentuan awal bulan hijri khususnya bagi Ramadan, Syawal dan Zulhijjah dilaksanakan melalui kaedah Imkan al-Rukyah, iaitu gabungan antara rukyah (pemerhatian hilal) dan hisab falak.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “BAYAN LINNAS SIRI KE-343: PENGAMALAN KAEDAH IMKAN AL-RUKYAH DI MALAYSIA”, 17 March 2026. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/bayan-linnas/6546-bayan-linnas-siri-ke-343-pengamalan-kaedah-imkan-al-rukyah-di-malaysia. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/imkan-al-rukyah-method-used-in-malaysia/