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THE Department of Mufti of Perak has urged Malaysian Muslims not to speculate on the date of 1 Syawal and to wait for official confirmation from the authorities.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the department emphasised that differences between expected dates on the Hijri calendar and official determinations are a normal part of Islamic astronomical practice.
“The Hijrah calendar distributed to the public is prepared based on calculated data to serve as an annual planning guide.
“However, the official determination of 1 Syawal depends on the hilal (new moon) sighting on the evening of 29 Ramadan and the declaration by the authorities.
“Any discrepancy between the calendar and official observation is not unusual within the Islamic system of determining months,” the statement said.
Perak’s Mufti Department explained that Malaysia uses an integrated approach combining rukyah (moon sighting) and hisab (astronomical calculation).
According to Islamic astronomical principles, a hilal visible above the horizon at sunset may potentially be sighted.
“However, in the Malaysian context, visibility depends on technical parameters such as the hilal’s altitude and the elongation—the distance between the moon and the sun.
“A hilal that is too low or near the horizon has a very weak chance of being seen physically, even if it theoretically exists. The presence of the hilal above the horizon does not automatically guarantee visual sighting,” the department added.
Weather conditions such as heavy cloud cover, haze, or atmospheric disturbances also pose significant challenges to observation.
“Even if calculations indicate the hilal could be visible, poor weather can prevent an actual sighting. Conversely, under exceptionally clear conditions—which are rare in Malaysia—the hilal may occasionally be sighted, demonstrating that official determination relies on both calculated data and real-world observation.
The department noted that the position of the hilal changes each year, and this year the Syawal hilal is lower and more difficult to observe than in 2022, making its visibility technically more challenging.
Ultimately, the official declaration of 1 Syawal depends on the actual sighting results, verification procedures, and announcement by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.
The Mufti’s Department encouraged early and organised preparations for Aidilfitri to avoid last-minute difficulties.
Public speculation has circulated on social media that 1 Syawal could fall on Friday, 20 March, rather than the previously expected Saturday, 21 March, echoing the situation in 2022 when Aidilfitri arrived a day earlier than anticipated. - February 28, 2026
