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Ahmad Izzuddin
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Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy
Published by Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo Semarang
ISSN : 27751236     EISSN : 27752119     DOI : https://doi.org/10.21580/al-hilal
Core Subject : Religion, Science, Social,
Religion Astronomy Earth & Planetary Sciences Physics Social Sciences
Al-Hilal Journal is a scientific journal published in April and October per year by the Islamic Astronomy at the Faculty of Sharia and Law, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Walisongo, Semarang colaboration with Asosisasi Dosen Falak Indonesia (ADFI). Articles published in this journal are the results of empirical research in Islamic Astronomy (such as qibla, salat times, Islamic Calendar, Eclipse and others), and its approaching on other area studies (mathematics, physics, astrophysics, social, politics, anthropology, ethnography and others). This journal has specifications as a medium of publication and communication of Islamic Astronomy ideas derived from theoretical and analytical studies, as well as research results in the field of both natural and social science. The editor hopes that writers, researchers and legal experts will contribute in this journal.
Arjuna Subject : Fisika dan Astronomi - Fisika dan Astronomi (Lain-Lain)
Articles 8 Documents
 1 
Search results for , issue "vol. 8 no. 1 (2026)" : 8 Documents clear
Astronomical Verification of the Prophet Muhammad’s Birth Date: Revisiting the Surakarta Palace Senin Pon Tradition Purwanto Purwanto; Sayful Mujab
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.30028

Abstract

The Surakarta Palace preserves a long-standing tradition that associates the birth of Prophet Muhammad with Monday Pon (Senin Pon) in the Dal year cycle, forming the basis of the Grebeg Mulud commemoration. Despite its cultural significance, the historical and astronomical foundations of this tradition have received limited scholarly attention. This study examines the relationship between the Surakarta Palace Senin Pon tradition, classical Islamic historiography, and astronomical chronology. Employing a qualitative library research design, the study integrates historiographical analysis, cultural-textual analysis of Javanese calendrical manuscripts, and astronomical reconstruction based on contemporary ephemeris calculations. The findings indicate that while the Monday birth of the Prophet is widely supported by classical sources, the reconstructed chronology of Rabīʿ al-Awwal in the Year of the Elephant suggests that Monday corresponded more plausibly to the 10th rather than the 12th of Rabīʿ al-Awwal. Nevertheless, the persistence of the Senin Pon tradition reflects the role of the Javanese calendar in preserving sacred historical memory through ritual continuity and cultural transmission. This study contributes to Islamic astronomy by integrating historical astronomy, Islamic historiography, and Javanese calendrical traditions within a single analytical framework.
Ḥadīd al-Baṣar in the Thought of Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī and Its Implications for Ru’yat al-Hilāl Testimony in Indonesia Khairul Anaam; M. Basthoni; Maruf Maruf; Ahmad Syifaul Anam; Rupi'i Rupi'i
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.26975

Abstract

The determination of the Islamic lunar month through ru’yat al-hilāl remains contested in Indonesia, particularly when individual testimony conflicts with established visibility criteria (imkān al-ru’yah). This study examines the concept of ḥadīd al-baṣar in the thought of Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī and its implications for moon sighting testimony in Indonesia. Using qualitative library research and Fazlur Rahman’s double movement theory, this study reconstructs the historical background of Ibn Ḥajar’s view and contextualizes it within contemporary practice. The findings show that his concept was shaped by Shāfi’ī legal methodology, early astronomical knowledge, and the absence of optical instruments. Testimony based on ḥadīd al-baṣar cannot serve as a general legal basis but may be personally binding. In Indonesia, such testimony is not institutionally accepted when it contradicts official visibility criteria.
Religious Moderation in Addressing Qibla Direction Deviation: A Case Study of Al-Munawwar Grand Mosque in Tulungagung, Indonesia Ahmad Musonnif; Muhammad Mufti al Anam; Muhammad Rizki Syaifudin Irsyad; Mohammad Amirudin
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.28690

Abstract

The qibla direction is a fundamental requirement in Islamic prayer, yet its misalignment often generates debate at the community level. The Al-Munawwar Grand Mosque in Tulungagung, Indonesia, exhibits a deviation of approximately 30°, leading to differing responses among religious leaders, Islamic organizations, and government institutions. Previous studies have largely focused on technical-astronomical accuracy or social conflict, while limited attention has been given to the role of religious moderation in managing such disputes. This study aims to analyze stakeholders’ responses to qibla deviation and to formulate resolution strategies grounded in religious moderation. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis. Thematic analysis reveals three dominant orientations: rigid groups demanding absolute precision, moderate groups advocating gradual adjustment through deliberation, and tolerant groups emphasizing the sufficiency of jihat al-ka’bah. The findings suggest that integrating religious moderation with modern astronomical technology provides an effective framework for resolving qibla disputes, preserving worship validity, and sustaining congregational harmony.
Islamic Prayer Time Calculation in High-Latitude Summer: A Computational Approach Using the Ittibāʿ Aqrab al-Bilād Method in Iceland Mayrisa Andriyani; Siti Nurwilda; Sofiyah Sofiyah; A’isyah Wulandari; Wahyu Ningtiyas Mergianti; Nurissaidah Ulinnuha
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.29337

Abstract

Determining Islamic prayer times in high-latitude regions is challenging, particularly during summer when continuous twilight prevents the Sun from reaching required depression angles below the horizon. This condition causes conventional solar-angle-based methods to produce undefined (NaN) values for Fajr and Isha. This study proposes a computational approach to address this limitation using Reykjavik, Iceland, as a case study. Astronomical calculations based on solar position parameters are applied to determine Dhuhr, Asr, and Maghrib. At the same time, the ittibā’ aqrab al-bilād method is used to resolve Fajr and Isha by referencing London as the nearest region with normal day–night cycles. The method is implemented in a GUI-based prayer time calculator. Validation shows that the computed times have acceptable deviations, averaging 14–15 minutes compared to established applications, with larger discrepancies for Isha due to persistent twilight. This study offers a practical, computational, and jurisprudential solution to determining prayer times in extreme latitudes.
Assessing the Accuracy of Approximated Ephemeris Data for Prayer Time Calculations Emye Tegar Handhita; Marwa Marwa; Fatum Abubakar; Ziaulrahman Mushkalamzai; Muhammad Fadhly
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.30892

Abstract

Prayer (ṣalāh) is an obligatory act of worship in Islam, with its timing determined by astronomical parameters derived from ephemeris data. Although many mobile applications are available to calculate prayer times, most depend on internet connectivity, limiting their usability in certain conditions. As an alternative, prayer times can be determined independently using the hisab method, which requires ephemeris data. This study proposes using approximated ephemeris data and evaluates its accuracy in prayer-time calculations. A quantitative computational approach was employed by developing a Microsoft Excel-based model to generate approximated ephemeris data and calculate prayer times. The approximated data were compared with official ephemeris data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia over one year (2026) across multiple locations. The results indicate that the approximated ephemeris data produce only minor deviations, resulting in prayer time differences of a few seconds. These findings demonstrate that the approximation method can be reliably used, and the developed Excel-based tool provides a practical solution for offline prayer time determination.
Qibla Direction Accuracy in Bangka Belitung Mosques: An Astronomical–Geospatial Study Reno Ismanto; Ahmad Fadholi; Priyanggo Karunia Rahman; Ahmad Zulpan
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.30969

Abstract

Accurate Qibla orientation is essential for the validity of Muslim prayer; inconsistencies in both traditional and modern determination methods continue to produce significant inaccuracies, particularly in archipelagic regions. This study assesses the accuracy of Qibla direction in mosques across the Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia, and evaluates the methods used to determine it. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining field measurements of 70 mosques using the solar shadow (istiwā’ainī) method and GPS-based applications with semi-structured interviews. Measured orientations were compared with geodetically calculated azimuths, and spatial distribution patterns were analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The results show that only 30% of mosques are accurately aligned (≤2° deviation), while 54% are less accurate and 16% are significantly misaligned (>10°). GIS-based analysis reveals spatial variability in deviation patterns, indicating unequal access to technical knowledge and measurement tools. This study contributes to integrating astronomical, geodetic, and geospatial approaches for Qibla determination and highlights the need for standardized verification practices in geographically fragmented regions.
Rashd al-Qiblah in the Pesantren Tradition of Islamic Astronomy: The Contribution of Muhammad Faqih Maskumambang Susiknan Azhari
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.31230

Abstract

This article examines Muhammad Faqih Maskumambang's contribution to the transmission and practice of Rashd al-Qiblah within the pesantren tradition of Islamic astronomy in Java. Using a qualitative approach through historical-textual analysis and intellectual history, this study analyzes the socio-religious context of qibla determination in early twentieth-century pesantren communities and the role of Rashd al-Qiblah as a practical observational method. The study finds that Rashd al-Qiblah in pesantren traditions functioned not only as a technique for determining qibla orientation, but also as a medium for religious education, communal participation, and the transmission of practical astronomical knowledge. Unlike many contemporary studies that focus primarily on computational accuracy and digital verification, this article highlights the social and educational dimensions of observational astronomy in Indonesia. The study argues that Muhammad Faqih Maskumambang's contribution reflects the adaptive character of pesantren-based Islamic astronomy in mediating between scientific observation, religious authority, and everyday ritual practice in Muslim society.
Reconstructing al-Farghānī’s Southern Astrolabe: A Philological and Astronomical Study for Equatorial Observations in Indonesia Fajrullah Fajrullah; Nur Faizah
Al-Hilal: Journal of Islamic Astronomy Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)
Publisher : Fakultas Syari'ah dan Hukum UIN Walisongo

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.21580/al-hilal.2026.8.1.31866

Abstract

This study reconstructs al-Farghānī’s concept of the southern astrolabe through an interdisciplinary approach combining Arabic philology and computational astronomy. Focusing on the sixth chapter (al-Naw’ al-Sādis) of Kitāb al-Asturlāb, the research aims to examine the technical relevance of the southern astrolabe for equatorial observations in Indonesia. The study employs philological methods, including codicological description, transliteration, textual emendation, and annotated translation, integrated with stereographic projection analysis and astronomical computation. The findings demonstrate that the conventional northern astrolabe produces severe geometric distortion when representing southern celestial objects at low latitudes, causing major navigational stars to fall beyond the instrument’s physical limits. In contrast, the southern astrolabe provides a proportional projection of southern stars within the equatorial circle, making it more suitable for observers in the Indonesian archipelago. This study contributes to the historiography of Islamic astronomy by demonstrating the continued scientific relevance of al-Farghānī’s geometrical framework for contemporary equatorial Islamic astronomy studies.

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