A Juridical Analysis of the Rejection of Rukyatul Hilal Testimony in the Determination of 1 Ramadan 1446 H by the Sharia Court of Jantho City

Abstract

This research is motivated by the rejection of rukyatul hilal testimony by the Mahkamah Syar’iyah of Jantho City in determining 1 Ramadan 1446 H, which raises questions regarding the conformity of religious court procedures with the Supreme Court’s Technical Guidelines. The study aims to analyze the legal basis of the rejection and its alignment with the normative provisions stipulated in the laws and regulations, as well as the Supreme Court Technical Guidelines Number 1711/DjA/SK.HK.00/IXL2024 on the Procedures for the Implementation of Rukyatul Hilal. This research employs a normative juridical method using statutory and conceptual approaches. The findings indicate that the court’s rejection was based on technical considerations related to the qualifications of the witnesses and the validity of the hilal observation process; however, it does not fully conform to the procedural standards outlined in the technical guidelines. Therefore, the study concludes that there is a disharmony between judicial practice and normative ideals, highlighting the need to strengthen guidelines for religious courts in handling the determination of the beginning of the lunar month.