Epistemological Change in MUI Fatwas; Religious Authority and Hijri Calendar Unification in Indonesia

Muhammad Rasyid; Muhammad Awaludin

doi:10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.2.32558

Authors

Muhammad Rasyid Institut Agama Islam Darul Ulum Kandangan, Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2026-1012
Muhammad Awaludin Universitas Islam Negeri Mataram, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3387-406X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.2.32558

Keywords:

MUI fatwas, Hijri calendar unification, epistemological change, religious authority

Abstract

This study examines epistemological and institutional changes in the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) fatwas on determining the beginning of the Hijri month by comparing the 1980 fatwa with MUI Fatwa No. 02 of 2004. Using a qualitative, library-based approach, the study applies Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis, Kuhn’s concept of paradigm change, and Abou El Fadl’s theory of religious authority to analyze the fatwas’ legal reasoning, treatment of astronomical knowledge, and allocation of decision-making authority. The findings reveal a significant reorientation in the 2004 fatwa, which more explicitly integrates astronomical calculation (ḥisāb) and crescent-moon sighting (ru’yat) within a government-led framework and establishes consultation involving the MUI, Islamic organizations, and relevant institutions. However, this development does not, by itself, establish a paradigm shift in the strict Kuhnian sense or ensure agreement among Muslim organizations. Differences in Indonesian calendrical practice during 2022–2026 illustrate the continuing challenges of unification despite the implementation of the New MABIMS crescent visibility criteria. The study argues that unifying the Hijri calendar requires not only astronomical criteria but also shared understandings of jurisprudential principles, legitimate authority, and collective decision-making procedures.

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