JPA Daily Buzz - Edisi 31 2026

page 2 This practice originates from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), where Muslims were instructed to begin fasting and end fasting upon sighting the new moon. Because of this, moon sighting remains an important part of determining key Islamic dates, including: the beginning of Ramadan; Hari Raya Aidilfitri; and Hari Raya Aidiladha. In Malaysia, the process of observing the new moon is carried out in an organised and official manner. The observation is conducted by the State Moon Sighting (Rukyah) Committees at 29 official observation locations across the country. These sessions are led by the State Mufti, together with Islamic astronomy experts and officers from the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM). The observation sites are usually located in coastal areas or elevated locations that provide a clear view of the western horizon during sunset. Once the observations are completed and reports are compiled, the findings are presented to the relevant authorities. The official declaration of the beginning of Ramadan, Syawal or Zulhijjah is then made by the Office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, and announced to the nation through an official broadcast. CanWe Just Use a Telescope? A common question people ask is whether moon sighting can be done simply by looking through a telescope. The answer is YES . Telescopes and modern astronomical instruments are often used to assist the observation process. These tools help observers detect the very thin crescent moon that may be difficult to see with the naked eye. However, the process is not as simple as pointing a telescope at the sky. Observers must consider several important factors, including: the position of the moon the angle between the sun and the moon the altitude of the moon above the horizon weather conditions such as clouds or haze. All these factors determine whether the crescent moon can actually be seen. Interestingly, the crescent moon we look for during Ramadan or Syawal is not actually the first newmoon . In astronomy, the new moon phase occurs when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. At that moment, the side of the moon facing Earth is completely dark. This means the moon cannot be seen at all. The crescent that Muslims attempt to observe is actually the first visible sliver of light that appears after the newmoon phase. Sometimes this crescent is extremely thin, only about one percent illuminated and may only remain visible for a fewminutes after sunset before it sets again. That is why moon sighting can sometimes be challenging. Even slight differences in weather, haze or the moon’s position can affect whether the crescent becomes visible. If We Already Have a Calendar, Why Do We Still Look for the Moon? At this point, many people might ask a simple question. If the Islamic calendar already exists and scientists can calculate the position of the moon accurately, why do we still need to observe the crescent moon? The answer lies in the combination of religious tradition and scientific knowledge. Astronomical calculations can predict when the moon will appear above the horizon and whether it is likely to be visible. These calculations are used to produce the Islamic calendar that many people refer to throughout the year. However, in Islamic tradition, the beginning of certain months especially Ramadan, Syawal and Zulhijjah is closely linked to the actual sighting of the crescent moon , as practised since the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).