KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Malaysia’s practice of sighting the hilal, or the faint crescent outlining a new moon, to determine the start of Ramadan, has been recognised worldwide, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan.
He said the recognition is due to the country’s systematic, authoritative approach that integrates Islamic astronomy with modern technology, in addition to the consistent, high-standard moon-sighting observations nationwide.
“Malaysia is known for high-quality hilal sightings and has become a reference for several countries. Many refer to the observations we carry out, and some even regard our observations as the best.
“This proves the development of the country’s talent and expertise in Islamic astronomy,” he told Bernama at the official Ramadan new moon sighting ceremony held by the Federal Territories Mufti’s Department (JMWP) here last night.
Zulkifli said the sighting was carried out at 29 locations from Sabah to Perlis, which shows the government’s aim to ensure the early determination of Ramadan dates is done systematically, transparently, and based on recognised methods.
He said the strengthening of the country’s knowledge of Islamic astronomy is further reinforced through strategic collaboration with several institutions of higher learning, including Universiti Malaya and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.
“Thank God, the development of Islamic astronomy in our country is very good. In universities, and even in terms of technology, we are integrating Islamic astronomy with other fields of knowledge and technology. The ‘Imkanur Rukyah’ approach, which is a combination of physical sighting (rukyah) and astronomic calculation (hisab), shows the compatibility between traditional Islamic disciplines and current scientific advances,” he said.
Meanwhile, JMWP falak committee member Shahrin Ahmad said the use of various high-precision optical instruments elevates the accuracy of sighting data, including high-powered telescopes mounted on computerised mounts, high-resolution CCD (charge-coupled device) cameras, and specialised astronomy software to accurately calculate the positions of the moon, sun and their elongation.
“We no longer rely solely on the naked eye. Technologies like automatic tracking systems and image analysis software help ensure sighting data are more accurate and can be verified.
“The use of this technology also allows sighting data to be coordinated in real time with the control centre before an official report is submitted to the relevant authorities for announcement. The combination of local Islamic astronomy expertise and technological sophistication makes Malaysia one of the countries with a reliable ‘hilal’ observation system in the region,” he said.
Federal Territories Mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil, meanwhile, said the new moon sighting ceremony is an important one that underscores the government’s concern for Muslims’ religious obligations.
“This decision affects millions of Muslims and, as such, it is carried out with full trust and responsibility,” Fauwaz said.
