Seputarkarawang.com - Karawang, Efforts to monitor the new moon determining 1 Shawwal 1447 AH in the Karawang Regency area have been carried out optimally. Head of the Karawang Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Office, Dr. H. Sopian, S.Pd.I., M.Si., directly led the Hisab Rukyat Team to observe the western horizon from the rooftop of the Brits Hotel Karawang, Thursday (19/3/2026).In this observation, the team used sophisticated equipment assisted by the Karawang Regency Government, including two computerized telescopes and a theodolite to measure the azimuth angle and elevation of the setting sun. However, the monitoring results show that the position of the crescent moon in the Karawang sky is still very low. "Our task here is to monitor and report the results to the Central Ministry of Religion as material for the Isbat Session. For the past two years we have been supported by Brits Hotel to monitor from the height of their building," said H. Sopian at the monitoring location. The topometric crescent moon in Karawang is only 1.5 degrees. This position certainly does not meet the criteria of MABIMS (Minister of Religion of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) which requires a minimum crescent height of 3 degrees and an elongation of 6.4 degrees.
"A height of 1.5 degrees is astronomically still too low to be seen with the naked eye. The light of the hilal is still inferior to the light of the mega or syafaq. With conditions below 3 degrees, the hilal is predicted to be difficult to observe," explained H. Asep Jamaludin.The Head of the Public Welfare Section of the Karawang Regional Secretariat, Aep Saepudin, who was also present to accompany the team, emphasized that all monitoring results from Karawang had been sent to Jakarta. The people of Karawang are also advised to remain calm and follow the government's official decision.We are waiting for the final decision from the Minister of Religion as the government's representative. Whatever the outcome, hopefully it will increase the deeds of worship and faith of all Muslim communities in the country," he concluded.This event was also attended by various leaders of Islamic organizations in Karawang, district government officials, as well as local religious figures, who were together waiting for the certainty of victory day.
