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Hilāl is an early marker of the beginning of the Hijriyah/Qamariyah. The existence of the new moon was used as a reference in the preparation of a system of Islamic calendar. The issue of the new moon it is still be an interesting thing to be studied. In fact there is a lot of research and discussion related with hilāl issues. However, it still has not found an appropriate formula to be used as a reference in creating a standardized system of the Islamic calendar. Currently, there are several criteria that offered to make the calendar system. In this paper, will be presented criteria and other perspectives in formulating a Hijriyah calendar, called the Criteria 29. Some examples of simple calculations and discussions in determining the first day of month of the Hijriyah presented briefly. This elaboration of “Criteria 29” hopefully can give an idea and different viewpoints in order to develop Hijriyah calendar.

Kalender Hijriyah Muhammadiyah disusun dengan menggunakan metode hisab wujûd al-hilâl tanpa membedakan fungsi kalender untuk ibadah dan muamalat atau administrasi. Tiadanya pembedaan fungsi kalender ini menjadikan kalender Muhammadiyah lebih menunjukkan kepastian dalam penetapan hari-hari besar keagamaan sehingga memberikan kemudahan dalam membuat perencanaan kegiatan yang bernuansa keagamaan. Meskipun demikian, masih beragamnya metode yang digunakan dalam penyusunan kalender yang ada di Indonesia menyebabkan penetapan hari-hari besar keagamaan khususnya bulan-bulan yang terkait dengan ibadah masih belum seragam. Perbedaan dalam penggunaan metode ini mempunyai implikasi fikih yang signifikan seperti puasa Ramadan, hari raya, puasa Arafah, kurban dan zakat. Tulisan ini akan membahas persoalan tersebut dengan menggunakan tiga pendekatan yaitu ilmu ushul fikih, ilmu astronomi, dan sosiologi. Abstract Muhammadiyah Islamic lunar calendar is composed on the methodological basis of the emergence of the Moon (wujud al-hilal). This method does not distinguish the function of calendar whether for worship, transaction or administrative objectives. The absence of such limit shows that the Muhammadiyah calendar system strives to put certainty in determining the dates of Islamic holidays so to make Muslims easy to prepare the events far before they are realized. However, unlike the Muhammadiyah, there are different methods of composing the Islamic lunar calendar amongst Islamic organizations in Indonesia. As a result, conflicts amongst Muslims often occur when determining the dates of Islamic worship and event. This, furthermore, has caused legal implication in Islamic law, such as in determining the beginning of the fasting month, the first day of idul fitri and the payment of zakat al-fitr, the fasting in the days of the hajj and the slaughtering of animals. This article will examines the issue of discrepancies in determining the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar seen from the perspectives of Islamic legal methodology (usul al-fiqh), astronomy and sociology.

Unification of the Islamic calendar was much needed and is a major requirement for Muslims today in the running of worship. Uniformity in to worship and celebrate Islamic holy days is something that has been long awaited. An expectation of the Islamic calendar is determining who has the certainty that a better and more organized for various purposes. However, it is in conflict with a different concept of the new moon from several groups paradigm respectively, both from the perspec tive of science and religion. Hilāl is one of the main sources in the preparation of the I slamic calendar. Currently, the definition of the new moon is very diverse. Which d efinition is used for the initial determination new month of hijriyah, both from the perspective of astronomy or fiqh, or combination of them. Therefore, the article is devoted to the redefinition of the concept of the new moon from the perspective of science and fiqh, that synergy occurs between fiqh and the astronomical new moon to determine new month of Islam. So that the unity of the Islamic calendar can be realized well.