PERBEDAAN MAZHAB DALAM PENENTUAN AWAL RAMDAHAN DAN IDUL FITRI; KAJIAN FIKIH DAN ASTRONOMI

Abstract

This study examines the differences among Islamic legal schools in determining the beginning of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr by analyzing the epistemological distinctions between traditional rukyatul hilal observations and modern astronomical calculations. Using a qualitative library research approach, the study investigates classical fiqh literature, contemporary fatwas, and recent astronomical models to evaluate the extent to which each school accepts or rejects modern hisab as a legitimate determinant of the lunar month. The findings show that while contemporary astronomical techniques have achieved high accuracy in predicting crescent visibility, several schools that emphasize textual adherence continue to prioritize rukyat as the primary method. These epistemological divergences explain the recurring variations in lunar month determination in Indonesia. The study highlights the importance of integrating advances in astronomy with principled fiqh reasoning to build a harmonized framework for Islamic calendrical practice. The results also provide a foundation for future research aimed at developing criteria that bridge classical jurisprudence with empirical astronomical data.